On July 12th, The Human Rights Campaign assailed an attempt by a
coalition of religious political leaders to propose a federal anti-gay
constitutional amendment that would deny any legal recognition of gay
relationships and forever deprive gay families of fundamental protections.
“This proposed constitutional amendment is an attempt by a misguided
group who believes that to strengthen the concept of family, they must tear
gay families down,” said Donna Payne, HRC constituency field organizer, at a
press conference countering the effort. “This attempt to rewrite our
Constitution to deny a group of Americans equal rights is wrong. It is
morally vacuous, spiritually vacant, intellectually dishonest and we
believe, not what our forefathers intended when they wrote the
Constitution.”
A group of religious political activists known as the Alliance for
Marriage released the text of what they call the “Federal Marriage
Amendment” that they say will be introduced in Congress.
“Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and
a woman,” reads the proposed amendment. “Neither this constitution or the
constitution of any state, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to
require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon
unmarried couples or groups.”
HRC joined with religious leaders at a press conference to
respond to the anti-gay group’s efforts. Speaking at the press conference
were HRC’s Donna Payne; Rabbi Jonathan Biatch, Beth El Hebrew Congregation;
Rev. Michaele Moore, God’s Living Spirit Church; and Rev. Phil Matthews,
Metropolitan Community Church-DC.
“It is amazing – with all the real problems out there – this group has
elected to expend time and money with a constitutional amendment that
attacks people who only want love each other, share responsibility and
lifelong commitments,” said Payne. “This is an unnecessary attack on lesbian
and gay Americans that would create a constitutionally mandated second class
of American citizens.”
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