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<% IssueDate = "2/27/04" IssueCategory = "Events" %> GayToday.com - Top Story

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U.S. Senator John Kerry Supports Massachusetts Marriage Ban

Presidential Hopeful's Anti-Marriage Rhetoric Widely Deplored

Major Groups Express Dismay; Timidity and Cowardice Charged

Compiled by GayToday

Sen. Kerry on the cover of EXP magazine

Boston, Massachusetts-In the wake of Senator John Kerry's recent expression of support for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages in Massachusetts, veteran gay activist Bob Kunst, President of HillaryNow.com has attracted media attention here by accusing George W. Bush of an internal attack on America while leading Democratic candidates "such as John Edwards have either gone AWOL on the issue of gay marriages, or, in the manner of John Kerry, have joined Bush, helping him gay bash."

"Kerry's cowardice on the gay marriage issue now finds him standing behind Bush's war on American gays, lesbians, bisexuals and heterosexuals," Kunst told GayToday, "and the very thought of listening to Kerry's pompous voice for four years is giving me nightmares. I can't even stand listening to him for four minutes."

Bob Kunst isn't the only movement activist who is unhappy with Kerry's stance.

Matt Foreman, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director said:

"We disagree strongly with Senator Kerry's statement that he would support amending the Massachusetts Constitution to prohibit same sex marriage so long as the amendment 'provides for partnership and civil unions.' As the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court so eloquently stated, 'The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom, if ever, equal.'

"Many times in his public career," continued Foreman, "Senator Kerry has stepped forward to advocate for equal rights for all Americans. We urge him to do so now, even in the heat of a campaign for the nation's highest office."

Dave Noble, Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats said:

"Senator Kerry is wrong. We're disappointed and upset that he would endorse this measure. Amending a constitution is the most drastic step that can be taken. Senator Kerry has been a strong supporter of our community. We need him to now stand with us to fight any attempt to treat our families unequally.

"Like the rest of the American public, we need to help Senator Kerry understand that there are major, substantial differences between civil unions and marriage. Civil unions do not provide the 1,049 federal benefits that only full marriage equality can guarantee."

Human Rights Campaign President Cheryl Jacques released the following statement:

"Senator Kerry's endorsement of a discriminatory amendment in Massachusetts is deeply disappointing," said Cheryl Jacques, HRC president. "Make no mistake, civil unions single out a group of people for second-class treatment. That is discrimination, and it does not belong in any Constitution.

"While we acknowledge the Senator's strong opposition to a federal constitutional amendment, supporting a divisive measure in his own state is exceptionally disheartening and frankly muddies the water on his actual position. Candidates who say they are against marriage for same-sex couples - but for civil unions - must clarify and affirm their support for the more than 1,000 federal benefits, rights and responsibilities that marriage provides but that civil unions do not.

"Marriage - not civil unions - unlocks the door to important federal protections. Civil unions do not provide Social Security survivor benefits - a system we pay into but that our survivors can't access. Civil unions do not allow an employee access to the Family and Medical Leave Act - a law that allows an employee to take time off of work to care for a sick loved one without fear of losing their job.

"Civil unions do not ensure fair taxation on a partner's health insurance or retirement savings. Civil unions are not portable and are currently recognized in only one state - Vermont. When a couple in a civil union leaves Vermont, they are strangers under the law. This list of protections goes on and on."

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