News

Log Cabin Republicans Call on Congress to Reject Anti-family Amendment

Forces of Intolerance Push Discriminatory Amendment after Admitting Defeat is Inevitable

September 29, 2004

(Washington, DC) – On Thursday September 30th the United States House of Representatives is expected to debate an anti-family marriage amendment. "There are real challenges facing America today, and the House should be committed to working to address these challenges. Our Representatives should be talking about cutting taxes, winning the war on terror, and securing our children's future. A nation united in our war against terror does not need to be distracted by a divisive culture war pushed by the radical right," said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Guerriero.

"The forces of intolerance have already admitted that they do not have any where near the two-third's support necessary to pass this discriminatory Amendment," said Chris Barron, Political Director for Log Cabin Republicans. "If you do not have the votes, and you have admitted you don't, then why would you be forcing this issue on the American people? The answer is simple; these folks are playing politics with our Constitution."

The amendment, which was previously known as the Federal Marriage Amendment, was recently re-named Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ 106). "In a move that can only be described as desperate and laughable the radical right has changed the name of this anti-family amendment in yet another attempt to play politics with our Constitution. The American people are smart enough to see what is really going on here, a discriminatory amendment by any other name is still the same old tired discriminatory amendment," said Guerriero.

The language in the House amendment mirrors the language that was rejected in the Senate when a bi-partisan coalition of opponents forced the far right to abandon a vote on the merits of the amendment. The language of HJ 106 reads:

"Marriage in the United States shall consist solely of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any state, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."

The language makes it clear that civil unions created through the Constitutional process, such as those proposed in Massachusetts, as an alternative to civil marriage, will not be permitted. Additionally, other civil union legislation and even domestic partner benefits may be threatened. "The amendment's drafters do not support civil unions and are not going to support any legislation that does. It is a classic Trojan horse," concluded Guerriero.

Log Cabin Republicans have been leading a coordinated effort to defend the Constitution. This campaign includes television advertisements, which can be viewed at www.logcabin.org, prints ads, the most intense lobbying effort in its history, and the grassroots mobilization of Log Cabin members across America.