GLAA applauds D.C. Council for unanimously passing
resolution opposing Federal Marriage Amendment
[Note: On April 22, 2004 at 4:00 p.m., D.C. Councilmembers David Catania and Jack Evans
held a
press conference
noting the April 20, 2004, passage of the "Sense of the Council on Opposing a Federal
Marriage Amendment Resolution of 2004." They were joined by GLAA Treasurer Bob Summersgill,
George Washington University graduate students who had proposed the resolution, and others.]
Statement for the press.
April 22, 2004
Good afternoon, I am Bob Summersgill, the Treasurer of the Gay and lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. (GLAA).
On behalf of GLAA, I would like to thank the Council of the District of Columbia for unanimously introducing and passing the "Sense of the Council on Opposing a Federal Marriage Amendment Resolution of 2004."
This strong statement by all 13 members of the Council adds weight to a growing chorus of public officials across the country of all parties who oppose writing discrimination into America's most important document.
The Federal Marriage Amendment would define marriage as a discriminatory institution, placing it in the pantheon of disgraceful and discarded laws of our history. No better than Jim Crow laws, restrictions on Chinese immigrants, bans on immunizations of immigrant children, and the range of laws that made women chattel.
Laws that define any group as second-class citizens are fundamentally un-American. The Federal Marriage Amendment demeans us all and tarnishes marriage's status as an institution to be honored and respected.
GLAA appreciates the work of Councilmembers David Catania, Jack Evans and Jim Graham who worked with GLAA and others to craft appropriate language for the resolution. All of the councilmembers deserve a round of applause for passing this strong and unanimous resolution.
GLAA is also pleased to recognize George Washington University graduate students Lauren Daniels, Dave DeCicco, Emmanuella DuPlessy, Pedro E. Flores, Amy Freireich, and Blaine Rummel. These students first proposed an anti-FMA resolution as part of a project in their class "Government-Citizen Relations and the Future of Public Administration." It is their final course in the Master's program in Public Administration (MPA) at GWU. All will graduate this May.
We all need to work end the threat of the Federal Marriage Amendment. D.C. lacks a formal role in the constitutional amendment process, but we can make a difference. We need to talk to our families and our friends across the country and elicit their support in stopping amendment. We must not be complacent.
Persuading family and friends will take patience and perseverance. We have reason, evidence and justice on our side. We must win this battle one mind and one voter at a time. We can't afford to put off these difficult conversations any longer.
The important thing is to take people's concerns seriously. We have to reach them where they are. We have to make the connections -- not just come out, but convince.
Again, our thanks to all of the councilmembers for this important resolution.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2004
CONTACT: Blaine Rummel
(202) 297-1149
-- PR 15-751 urges Congress not to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution --
(Washington, D.C.) - A local lawmaker, gay rights advocates, and spiritual leaders today applauded the Council of the District of Columbia for unanimously passing a resolution opposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban gay marriage. PR 15-751, which was introduced last month by Council members Jack Evans (Ward 2) and David Catania (At Large), and received unanimous co-sponsorship, passed the council on Tuesday.
PR 15-751 is a response to President Bush's recent declaration of support for an amendment to the constitution that would deny to gay and lesbian couples more than 1000 federal marriage rights enjoyed by heterosexuals. These rights include hospital visitation, Social Security survivor benefits, and family leave.
"It is very important the Council go on record opposing the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution. I condemn President Bush's embrace of this reactionary measure," said Councilmember Jack Evans. "The Constitution's role is to safeguard the civil rights and civil liberties of our citizens - not to divide Americans, deny rights or enshrine lesbians and gays as second-class citizens. Although we don't have a vote in Congress, it's important for the DC Council to stand up on behalf of our citizens and condemn these efforts to amend this fundamental document of American freedom."
Joining Evans were local gay rights advocates and spiritual leaders.
"This is a strong statement against writing discrimination into the Constitution," said Kevin Davis, President of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C. "We applaud the Council for their unanimous resolution."
"All individuals - gay, straight, black, or white - are created equal in the eyes and image of God," said John Wimberly, Pastor of Western Presbyterian Church. "The government has no moral authority to deny gay and lesbian Americans the rights of marriage just because it doesn't like who is standing at the altar."
"The law is enshrining one theological conception of marriage, heterosexual, and denying other religious understandings of marriage," continued Wimberly. "This is a violation of the separation of religion and state."
According to the 2000 Census, Washington, D.C. is home to 3,678 same-sex partner households.