Senate Takes Up Anti-Gay Amendment Today 
by Paul Johnson
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau Chief


(Washington) The Senate begins debate today on the Federal Marriage Amendment with a vote expected early next week.

The measure was to come to the floor Monday, but Republican supporters, anxious to squeeze Democrats in an election year quietly moved the bill up on Thursday.

Sources in the Republican Party told 365Gay.com that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn) wanted the debate to begin before the weekend to allow churches to drum up support and have their congregations begin a massive blitz Monday on senators to support the proposal. 

Also, by beginning the debate today the issue will blanket the media over the weekend and reduce the amount of air time that Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry would get. Since announcing John Edwards as his running mate earlier this week Kerry has monopolized much of the news coverage.