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Anti-Family Constitutional Amendment
Anti-Family Constitutional Amendment
We should not be surprised that the radical right is using its last desperate weapon against gays and lesbians. With public opinion polls showing increased support for inclusion and fairness, the extreme right is desperately trying to scare the American people. Fear is all they have left. Our nation's history shows fear and bigotry will eventually lose to liberty and fairness. However, we still must forcefully counter any attacks coming from the radical right. Our best weapons are logic and fairness.
Since the United States Supreme Court's landmark Lawrence decision, which provides basic constitutional protection for gays and lesbians, the radical right has been pushing for an anti-gay amendment to the United States Constitution. Both the U.S. House and Senate overwhelmingly rejected the amendment in 2004, but the anti-family has been introduced again in this Congress. The proposal says:
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.
To become part of the Constitution, this amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate. Then, three-quarters of state legislatures must support the amendment. It is not easy to amend the Constitution, but we must take this threat seriously.
We base our opposition to an amendment on the principles of American freedom outlined in our Constitution. History will not look back kindly on this assault of our Constitution. The anti-family constitutional amendment would turn back the clock on our basic rights by denying not only civil marriage equality, but also civil unions and possibly even domestic partnerships. That is why Log Cabin opposes this attack on our sacred Constitution. Log Cabin understands that sharp disagreements exist about how to recognize gay and lesbian families. This is a new and complex issue for all Americans. We encourage a healthy national dialogue. Log Cabin will fight this anti-family constitutional amendment all across this county, state by state, if we must. We will use our political resources to stop any effort to write discrimination into our Constitution.
