CNSNews.com
Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003

Sen. Wayne Allard of Colorado sponsored the Federal Marriage Amendment along with co-sponsors Sam Brownback of Kansas and Jeff Sessions of Alabama.

The Alliance For Marriage, the group that drafted the proposed amendment, said its introduction in the Senate confirms that momentum is growing for a constitutional defense of marriage - especially in light of the recent court ruling in Massachusetts that cleared the way for same-sex couples to legally marry.

"Americans believe that gays and lesbians have a right to live as they choose, but they don't have a right to redefine marriage for our entire society," said Matt Daniels, president of the Alliance for Marriage.

He noted that a Federal Marriage Amendment introduced in the House in May now has 100 co-sponsors.

But homosexual advocacy groups said they are outraged, and they accused Republicans of grossly misusing the U.S. Constitution.

"The U.S. Constitution is no place to play election-year politics, particularly when our nation is facing other critical issues such as an uncertain economy, threats to our homeland, the safety of our troops in Iraq and skyrocketing health care costs," said HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch in a press release.

The Constitution should only be used to expand individual rights, not to single out a group of Americans for discrimination, Birch added.

But supporters of traditional marriage say a constitutional amendment is the only way to protect the institution of marriage from courts that go beyond their constitutional mandates.

The Family Research Council is urging conservatives to contact their senators during the holiday recess to express support for the Federal Marriage Amendment.

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