– June 3, 2006

Vote on Federal Marriage Amendment Slated for Tuesday, June 6

E-mails, calls, faxes needed NOW!

The U.S. Senate is slated to vote as early as Tuesday, June 6, 2006 on S.J. 1, a measure that would amend our Constitution to prohibit same-sex unions.

If approved, this legislation would be the first time in American history where the amendment process was used to limit individual rights. For more background on this issue, see this Flash Line article.

The proposed amendment declares:

“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.”

In order to take effect as a constitutional amendment, the measure must have a 2/3 majority in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and then be ratified by at least 38 state legislatures.

It is vital that S.J. 1 be stopped in the Senate. The House is more disposed to approve this sort of intolerant legislation, and religious groups will work hard to enlist support by lawmakers in the individual states. A resounding “NO” vote by the U.S. Senate would be an important step in de-railing this unfair and discriminatory legislation!

Talking Points

• This measure would prevent same-sex couples across the country from achieving equal access to the rights and privileges that are part of the institution of marriage.
• The proposed amendment is unprecedented in American history. Our Constitution has been amended on only 17 occasions, and generally those amendments have expanded rights. Women obtained the voting franchise and slavery was abolished by this process. The only time Americans lost rights through the amendment process was the enactment of Prohibition – and that foolish legislation was overturned. With S.J. 1, however, our Constitution would be altered to restrict individual rights and undermine equal protection! It penalizes a group of Americans by denying them the rights and privileges available to others through the legal protections of marriage.
• The amendment could affect important Supreme Court decisions since it weakens the notion of equal protection. In 1967, for instance, the high court struck down a Virginia statute which prohibited interracial marriage (LOVING v. VIRGINIA). In 2003, the court ruled in LAWRENCE v. TEXAS that a state law punishing “sodomy” as a consensual act between adults was unconstitutional.
• The amendment is part of a broad political campaign to mobilize religious groups and constituencies in time for the November and 2008 elections. Religious Right leaders have boasted that they want to get legislators "on the record" over the incendiary issue of gay rights. We need to support those many lawmakers speaking out against this bigotry!

Contact the U.S. Senate Now

Senators are under enormous pressure from religious groups like James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” to vote for this discriminatory legislation. Our lawmakers need to hear from the other side! We urge you to contact U.S. Senators from your state NOW with E-mails, faxes and phone calls!

• Tell your Senator(s) to vote NO on S.J. 1, the federal marriage amendment! Let them know that you support individual rights, and oppose religion-based discrimination being included in our U.S. Constitution!
• Be concise and polite.
• Ask for response to your concerns! Be sure to include your name and address in all of your communications with public officials.
• Share your letters and replies on this web site
• Spread this Action Alert!

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