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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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Europe's beginning to look better and better!!!
You said when you'd die that you'd walk with me every day
And I'd start to cry and say please don't talk that way
With the blink of an eye the Lord came and asked you to meet
You went to a better place but He stole you away from me
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...or Canada.
We do not remember days...we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese
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Why? Why is it that a few homophobes can ruin things?
I almost cried when I read this... I tried for so long to defend Americans to the rest of the world. But the country that has treated me like a 2nd class citizen, but has taken me in none-the-less is putting me on the platform again. The more I watch what happens here, the more I long for my native Europe. When I'm in Europe, I become a European again... And I am taken as one of the locals. Because I am a European, by blood, by birth, by thought.
You said when you'd die that you'd walk with me every day
And I'd start to cry and say please don't talk that way
With the blink of an eye the Lord came and asked you to meet
You went to a better place but He stole you away from me
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indeed. i think when i finish up my externship this summer, i'm doing it. i have no idea how much it's going to cost me to move to another country (canada), or to get a passport, or what the hell i'll have to do in court to remove shiloh from not only michigan, but also the COUNTRY, but i'll be damned if i'm going to have her grow up in a place like this, if people don't pull their heads out of their asses.
my void does not want.
-- 2.13.61.
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The Amendment Process
There are essentially two ways spelled out in the Constitution for how it can be amended. One has never been used.
The first method is for a bill to pass both halves of the legislature, by a two-thirds majority in each. Once the bill has passed both houses, it goes on to the states. This is the route taken by all current amendments. Because of some long outstanding amendments, such as the 27th, Congress will normally put a time limit (typically seven years) for the bill to be approved as an amendment (for example, see the 21st and 22nd).
The second method prescribed is for a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments. These amendments are then sent to the states to be approved by three-fourths of the legislatures or conventions. This route has never been taken, and there is discussion in political science circles about just how such a convention would be convened, and what kind of changes it would bring about.
Regardless of which of the two proposal routes is taken, the amendment must be approved by three-fourths of states. The amendment as passed may specify whether the bill must be passed by the state legislatures or by a state convention. See the Ratification Convention Page for a discussion of the make up of a convention. Amendments are sent to the legislatures of the states by default. Only one amendment, the 21st, specified a convention.
(\\__/) 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 love San Francisco, and most of California. The problem is that it is still part of the "Union". I wish you the best of luck, Heathyr.
You said when you'd die that you'd walk with me every day
And I'd start to cry and say please don't talk that way
With the blink of an eye the Lord came and asked you to meet
You went to a better place but He stole you away from me
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Steve
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Really getting into it |
Location: London, England
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 465
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Not only Europe. It was announced yesterday that the Israel army has finally agreed to draft into its ranks young people who are declared HIV positive. The only difference will be that they will not be allowed to serve in combat units.
This is indeed progress, because the army in Israel is a very important social instrument and young people who are not drafted are considered "outsiders". Now you can be 18 years old, HIV-positive and "in".
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America is NOT the land of the free, at least not for a gay man like me. I felt much more free in Germany in all the small ways that really count. Being able to walk hand in hand with my Boyfriend for example. America is so backwards in it's sexually repressed ways.
I hope we grow up soon, this crap is getting old.
Remember, someone out there loves you,
Kevin
::-)
"Be excellent to each other, and, party on dudes"!
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I suppose that it was only a matter of time........ 
