FROM HRC:
Take Action!
I called my Senators to oppose the FMA!
CALL YOUR SENATOR: 1-877-762-8762! And then let us know that you called by quickly completing the information on this page so we can keep count.

What to say when youcall...Use your own words, or use ours: "My name is YOUR NAME from YOUR ADDRESS. I am calling to urge the Senator to oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment when it comes to a vote next week. The proposed amendment to our founding document is unnecessary, discriminatory, and undermines the principles upon which our Constitution was written. As my elected official in Congress, I hope that you will concentrate on more important matters such as the struggling economy, the war in Iraq, and health care, rather than devoting time to a discriminatory, unnecessary amendment. Thank you."


~

U.S. Senate begins debate on constitutional marriage ban


The Senate waded into an election-year debate on Friday over whether to write into the Constitution that "marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman." Its strongest proponents say a constitutional amendment is the only way to prevent federal courts from hearing cases that challenge a federal law disallowing same-sex unions. With such an amendment, they say, a court wouldn't be able to rule that gay marriage is legal. "Some would define this as the ultimate culture battle," said Republican senator Sam Brownback. But many Democrats are describing the debate as a political diversion orchestrated for the weeks running up to the presidential nominating conventions this summer. "It's all about politics, folks. Let's face it," said Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat. "We're going to go on to gay marriage before the Democratic convention so some people can cast a vote that might hurt them in their election. Shame on us."

Senators fighting for the Federal Marriage Amendment, which is backed by President Bush, would have to secure a two-thirds vote--67 of the Senate's 100 members--to pass it. Some supporters questioned Thursday whether they had even the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural hurdles. "We're going to have to see how that vote comes out," said Sen. Wayne Allard, the Colorado Republican who drafted the proposed amendment. Senate majority leader Bill Frist urged senators to begin informal debate on the legislation Friday and said debate would continue Monday and Tuesday with a goal of voting Wednesday.