Carrie Baker

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 30, 2006 – Another fight for GLBT rights is about to begin as President Bush starts to gain support for the upcoming anti-gay marriage amendment that he plans to push forward.

President Bush will hold a press conference on June 5th 2006 where it is expected that he will ask America for their support on the Federal Marriage Amendment that will deny marriage rights to same sex couples.  June 5th also happens to be the same day that the proposed amendment is slated for introduction by Republican Senator Bill Frist within the Senate.  The press conference is taking place in the White House Rose Garden which has traditionally been a place for discussions of unity and justice in our nation’s history.  

The amendment, which garnered much public discussion, began dividing the country in 2004 and has remained relatively quiet within George Bush’s camp until earlier this year when the amendment began creating buzz yet again. 

The effects of the amendment are far reaching and devastating.  Not only would same sex couples be barred from marrying within any state, it would block legislation for states to allow same sex marriages and it would annul marriages within the state of Massachusetts, currently the only state in the US that allows same sex marriage.  The amendment could also block civil unions and perhaps override domestic partner laws that are currently in effect.
The FMA was originally introduced by Senator Wayne Allard.  The Amendment specifically reads “Marriage in the United States shall consist only 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."

While the issue of the marriage amendment was largely supported by the Republican Party in the 2004 election, the party is deeply divided on the issue at this time.  First Lady Laura Bush told “Fox News Sunday” earlier this month that, “The American people want a debate on the issue. I don't think it should be used as a campaign tool, obviously.  It requires a lot of sensitivity to just talk about the issue — a lot of sensitivity.”  President Bush, obviously, supports the legislation while Vice President Dick Cheney does not.  Cheney’s daughter Mary is a lesbian who has been fighting against the proposed amendment while promoting her new book, Now It’s my Turn. 

Remarks by President Bush today were as follows, “Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife. The amendment should fully protect marriage, while leaving the state legislatures free to make their own choices in defining legal arrangements other than marriage.”
The Federal Marriage Amendment is an issue that will continue to divide our country.  Many Republicans as well as Democrats feel that writing discrimination into the constitution is wrong and that using gay marriage as a political strategy is even worse.