QUOTE
Allard to revive marriage measure
Proposed ban on same-sex unions to be reintroduced
By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News
January 24, 2005
WASHINGTON - The fight over same-sex marriage is about to vault to the top of the congressional agenda today, when U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard plans to reintroduce a measure that would define marriage nationally as being between one man and one woman.
Last year's version of the proposed constitutional amendment was shelved after a hard-fought procedural vote, when it gained only 48 of the 60 votes needed to bring it up for final approval.
Allard's measure, called the Marriage Protection Amendment, faces fierce opposition from gay and lesbian groups and human rights organizations that equate it to adding discrimination to the U.S. Constitution.
"We've never institutionalized a slap against a community in the Constitution before, and there's no reason to do it now," Julie Tolleson, spokeswoman for Equal Rights Colorado, said Sunday evening.
Allard said he believes Republican Senate leaders will send a different message today. He expects his amendment to be designated Concurrent Resolution 1, indicating at least symbolically that it is the top legislative priority.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/stat...3493186,00.html
Proposed ban on same-sex unions to be reintroduced
By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News
January 24, 2005
WASHINGTON - The fight over same-sex marriage is about to vault to the top of the congressional agenda today, when U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard plans to reintroduce a measure that would define marriage nationally as being between one man and one woman.
Last year's version of the proposed constitutional amendment was shelved after a hard-fought procedural vote, when it gained only 48 of the 60 votes needed to bring it up for final approval.
Allard's measure, called the Marriage Protection Amendment, faces fierce opposition from gay and lesbian groups and human rights organizations that equate it to adding discrimination to the U.S. Constitution.
"We've never institutionalized a slap against a community in the Constitution before, and there's no reason to do it now," Julie Tolleson, spokeswoman for Equal Rights Colorado, said Sunday evening.
Allard said he believes Republican Senate leaders will send a different message today. He expects his amendment to be designated Concurrent Resolution 1, indicating at least symbolically that it is the top legislative priority.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/stat...3493186,00.html
Top priority? It's good to know nothing more serious is facing this nation than placing a discriminatory amendment in the U.S. constitution to remove rights no federal court has ever upheld (DOMA was upheld last week in federal court)
