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Marriage Amendment Introduced In Senate
by Paul Johnson
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau Chief
Posted: November 25, 2003 8:06 p.m. ET
(Washington, D.C.) A bill to amend the Constitution to bar same-sex marriage was introduced in the Senate late Tuesday, just as Senators were preparing to leave for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
The legislation, called the Federal Marriage Amendment, is sponsored by would Colorado Republican Wayne Allard and co-sponsored by Republicans Sam Brownback of Kansas and Alabama's Jeff Sessions as co-sponsors.
The amendment would define marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
The Human Rights Campaign called the measure outrageous.
"Our Constitution has guided our nation since the inception of our country and should never be used to single out a group of Americans for discrimination,” said HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch.
“This is a reprehensible misuse of that document, which should only be used to expand individual rights. These Senators are engaged in an exploitive and dangerous election year ploy and wiser leaders must stand up to them," Birch said in a statement.
"The U.S. Constitution is no place to play election year politics, particularly when our nation is facing other critical issues such as an uncertain economy, threats to our homeland, the safety of our troops in Iraq and skyrocketing heath care costs. Gay and lesbian citizens work hard, pay taxes and deserve the same rights as every other American."
The Senate bill differs from a similar GOP bill in the House that has more than 100 sponsors. The Senate version would allow state legislatures to provide benefits for same-sex couples, but block courts from requiring them to do so. The House version would deny civil unions and prevent states from providing benefits to same-sex couples.
The Senate action follows last week's ruling by Massachusetts' highest court that barring same-sex marriage violates the state constitution and must be remedied by legislators.
And so it begins.....
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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I suppose that it was only a matter of time........ 
