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Gay Marriage
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
No amendment... just a good debate.
President Bush says he wants a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being ONLY between a man and a woman. This right on the heels of gay marriages in San Francisco and a court ruling in Massachusetts. Both sides of the debate are passionate with their arguments. The President says we need to preserve the meaning of marriage and that's impossible if gays are allowed to wed. We don't think the constitution ought to be changed to make that point. People should be able to draw their own conclusions, state by state


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Gay marriage decision splits along expected lines
03/03/2004
By ANNE M. PETERSON  / Associated Press
Multnomah County's decision to grant same-sex marriages was embraced by gays and lesbians in Portland — the liberal county's seat — while many state officials and others took a wait-and-see approach.
The county, which includes Portland, announced late Tuesday that the majority of the Board of Commissioners supported a "policy change" to same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses.Local officials called a news conference for Wednesday morning. Afterward the county was to start issuing the licenses.


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this site also has a poll.. go fill it out now...!

Despite rally, state Senate drops gay marriage issue
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate refused by the narrowest of margins Tuesday to let lawmakers consider a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Lawmakers voted 17-16 to kill the proposal despite an emotional rally by supporters that drew hundreds of people to the State House.


Legal, civil rights arguments fuel gay marriage debate
Capitol Hill-AP --Congress today wades into the debate over gay marriage, taking the first steps in what's sure to be a divisive election-year battle. The Senate Judiciary Constitution subcommittee will focus on whether judges are overstepping their bounds and eroding traditional marriage.


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Governor backs ban on gay marriage
By NANCY BADERTSCHER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/02/04
Gov. Sonny Perdue generally has avoided the barrage of e-mails, telephone calls and faxes that have trailed those immersed in Georgia's legislative debate on banning gay marriages. Perdue waded into the debate for the first time Monday, in a statement voicing support for the proposed state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. But his staff said that, in recent weeks, he has heard much more from the public about the state budget and predatory lending than the gay marriage amendment.
 
Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) said Perdue's low-key stand is appropriate. "The Legislature and the governor have had an agreement," Johnson said. "We don't need his involvement in everything."


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If you live in the boston area, call you lawmakers today... call now..to not let the constitution be changed out of fear..!!


Lawmakers backing gay marriage poll colleagues
By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff, 3/3/2004
With a consensus on gay marriage still eluding Beacon Hill, legislators who back same sex-marriage are polling colleagues in search of support for their efforts to block a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban it.

On Monday, a dozen or so lawmakers -- all of whom back the Supreme Judicial Court's ruling legalizing same-sex marriage -- met privately at the Unitarian Universalist Association headquarters next to the State House to devise a questionnaire to determine the mood of the Legislature before it reconvenes a constitutional convention next week.


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Upton says no need for Constitutional ban on gay marriage
The Associated Press
3/3/04 6:50 AM
ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Fred Upton says there is no need to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage.
The St. Joseph Republican said the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act already allows states to refuse to recognize gay marriages sanctioned by other states. Michigan law is aligned with that federal law. "No one's challenged that law, which means Michigan law prevails," Upton told The Herald-Palladium for a story Tuesday.