Thursday, February 12, 2004
PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY February 12, 2004
Dear Activist,
President Bush is about to try to divide Americans again, this time by giving discrimination against gay men and lesbians a constitutional mandate.
It is expected that the president will soon announce his support for a federal constitutional amendment requiring discrimination against same-sex couples and their families, according to reports in the Washington Post. While we don't know exactly when the official announcement will be made, this much is clear: Bush's Religious Right allies have demanded a Rove-style White House offensive for this amendment, and Bush appears ready to serve up the political red meat.
The fight to save our Constitution will be months, perhaps years, long, but the battlefield is being chosen now as this story breaks. Our voices for fairness must be heard alongside the president's, not days later.
First, sign the Save Our Constitution Petition to Congress urging legislators to oppose the anti-family marriage amendment.
http://www.pfaw.org/go/save_our_constitution/
Forward the petition to friends, family and neighbors so that the strength of our opposition is apparent from the earliest hours of this campaign.
Second, and just as important, send immediate feedback to local media about the president's plans to disfigure our founding document with this discriminatory amendment.
http://www.pfaw.org/go/FMA_reaction/
These are first steps, but it is crucial that we take them now, as the political and media storm is gathering. We need a rapid response to Bush's expected announcement, rather than a response to the media's next-day coverage.
This issue should not be a political football or an election-year sound bite. Bush may be campaigning for re-election, but we are campaigning for things larger and more meaningful: fairness, dignity and equality for all.
We expect the White House to spin any support for a constitutional amendment as moderate, respectful and compassionate. We must declare these truths to Congress and all Americans:
There is no "moderate" way to write discrimination into the Constitution.
There is no "respectful" way to amend the Constitution to permanently assign one group of Americans to second-class citizenship.
There is no "compassionate" way to deny the children of gay parents the stability and legal protections that can only be offered by marriage.
Americans gave their tears, sweat and lives over two centuries to remove discrimination from our Constitution. We don't want to go back, and, with your help, we won't.
Sign the Save Our Constitution Petition
http://www.pfaw.org/go/save_our_constitution/
React immediately with letters to local media
http://www.pfaw.org/go/FMA_reaction/
PETITION:
No Discrimination in Our Constitution
Sign the Petition
Fight the Anti-Family Marriage Amendment!
Forward this message to friends!
According to news sources, President Bush will soon endorse a federal constitutional amendment requiring discrimination against same-sex couples and their families. We are starting a campaign today with one purpose: defeating this discriminatory amendment to our Constitution.
Help frame the debate:
send a letter
to local media reacting to the president's divisive scheme. Bush may be campaigning for re-election, but we are campaigning for things larger and more meaningful: fairness, dignity and equality for all.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
ACLU Calls on Action Network Members to Take Action on Two Issues
1) Stop the Radical Religious Right from Amending the U.S. Constitution
"Spurred by the recent Massachusetts State Supreme Court decision against discrimination, the Bush Administration and some members of the radical religious right are aggressively campaigning to amend the U.S. Constitution to deny the right to marry to same-sex couples in committed relationships. Just today, the Bush Administration signaled that the President will endorse this mean-spirited measure.
"The Massachusetts ruling recognized that gay and lesbian Americans serve in our military, keep our communities safe as firefighters and police officers, staff our hospitals, build our cities and pay taxes. The Massachusetts court ruled that the state cannot deny to gay couples the same marital legal rights in pensions, health insurance, hospital visitations and inheritance that other committed couples enjoy.
"The radical religious right wants to write intolerance into the U.S. Constitution and forbid equality to these citizens. As a nation we have periodically struggled with the question of marriage -- the last law prohibiting people from different races from marrying was overturned only 35 years ago -- but we have never taken the step of amending the Constitution to define marriage. Revising the Constitution to incorporate discrimination is wrong and should be rejected."
Click here for more information.
2) Urge Congress to Oppose Overreaching and Punitive Crime Laws
"Less than 18 months after the Senate passed rational and balanced federal juvenile justice legislation, two Senators have introduced a new punitive bill that would expand the use of the death penalty and create new ill-defined crimes.
"Under this proposed legislation, people could be convicted and sentenced to death for ill-defined illegal participation in a gang, which could be as few as three people. The law's loose definitions and expansion of the death penalty would increase the probability that people are wrongly convicted and possibly even convicted.
"This legislation would interfere with the right to a fair trial. Astounding as it sounds, this measure could also allow people to be given felony convictions for hanging out with people who later go out and commit a crime. "
Click here for more information.
1) Stop the Radical Religious Right from Amending the U.S. Constitution
"Spurred by the recent Massachusetts State Supreme Court decision against discrimination, the Bush Administration and some members of the radical religious right are aggressively campaigning to amend the U.S. Constitution to deny the right to marry to same-sex couples in committed relationships. Just today, the Bush Administration signaled that the President will endorse this mean-spirited measure.
"The Massachusetts ruling recognized that gay and lesbian Americans serve in our military, keep our communities safe as firefighters and police officers, staff our hospitals, build our cities and pay taxes. The Massachusetts court ruled that the state cannot deny to gay couples the same marital legal rights in pensions, health insurance, hospital visitations and inheritance that other committed couples enjoy.
"The radical religious right wants to write intolerance into the U.S. Constitution and forbid equality to these citizens. As a nation we have periodically struggled with the question of marriage -- the last law prohibiting people from different races from marrying was overturned only 35 years ago -- but we have never taken the step of amending the Constitution to define marriage. Revising the Constitution to incorporate discrimination is wrong and should be rejected."
Click here for more information.
2) Urge Congress to Oppose Overreaching and Punitive Crime Laws
"Less than 18 months after the Senate passed rational and balanced federal juvenile justice legislation, two Senators have introduced a new punitive bill that would expand the use of the death penalty and create new ill-defined crimes.
"Under this proposed legislation, people could be convicted and sentenced to death for ill-defined illegal participation in a gang, which could be as few as three people. The law's loose definitions and expansion of the death penalty would increase the probability that people are wrongly convicted and possibly even convicted.
"This legislation would interfere with the right to a fair trial. Astounding as it sounds, this measure could also allow people to be given felony convictions for hanging out with people who later go out and commit a crime. "
Click here for more information.
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