New movement for the civil rights of gays and lesbians
Spreading the fight for gay marriage
By Elizabeth Schulte | March 12, 2004 | Page 2
THE BATTLE for equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians is sweeping through the streets and city halls of cities coast to coast. This new civil rights movement began with thousands of couples lining up after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that the city would issue same-sex marriage licenses, despite state laws prohibiting them. When George W. Bush made his outrageous announcement February 24 that he would push for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, it only added fuel to the fire.
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Republicans and Democrats preach "family values" hypocrisy
Behind the attack on gay marriage
March 12, 2004 | Page 8
DAVID THURSTON and SHARON SMITH explain the roots of the right wing’s offensive against the right of gays and lesbians to marry.
"AMONG THE likeliest effects of gay marriage is to take us down the slope to legalized polygamy," wrote Stanley Kurtz in the conservative Weekly Standard. Antigay demonstrations have featured prominent Christian fundamentalists who quote the Old Testament like it was written yesterday.
Using demonstrations, e-mail campaigns and more, Christian Right forces have mobilized pressure on Republicans who were hesitant to take a stand for an antigay marriage amendment. But this "family values" crusade--which hides behind slogans like "Let the People Decide" in Massachusetts--has a clear ideological agenda: stoking homophobia and other forms of bigotry.

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Conservatives, GLBTs both say 'wildfire' helps their side