Advocacy Groups Blast Attempt to Amend U.S. Constitution Bill would Disallow States Permitting Same Sex Marriages |
Compiled By GayToday
Lambda Legal described the bill as "misguided" and "cynical." "We agree with the proponents of the constitutional amendment that marriage is important, and that's precisely why every loving couple and family needs access to it," said David Buckel, senior staff attorney and coordinator of Lambda Legal's Marriage Project. "To take the extraordinary step of amending the Constitution to prohibit states from giving gay couples and their children the legal protections they need and deserve is an affront to justice," Buckel added.
Lambda Legal pointed out that many families can be strengthened by the rights and responsibilities that civil marriage provides. For example, with marriage a spouse can:
"It is sad that a few members of Congress would rather engage in a misguided and cynical political ploy than speak out for support for all loving couples and families," Lambda Legal's Buckel stated. "Fortunately, more and more Americans are recognizing that our government should be supporting all families, regardless of whether the parents are gay or not," he added. [Two thirds of Americans believe that same-sex couples will win the freedom to marry. (Wall Street Journal/NBC, September 1999).] |