Action Alert
Tell Your Representatives: Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment!
The House of Representatives will vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment
(FMA) Thursday, September 30. The AHA has been actively fighting the FMA
since its inception through coalition work, public statements, and
activating our chapters and membership.
Action
Please call your representatives to encourage them to oppose the FMA and any
other amendment or legislation that excludes, discriminates against, or
restricts the rights of a group of American citizens on the sole basis of
their sexual orientation. Humanist voices must be heard at this critical
juncture, so call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 877-762-8762 and ask
to speak with your Representative's office, or find the direct number by
visiting www.house.gov.
We also encourage you to write letters to your local papers explaining your
opposition to the FMA. Please keep us informed of the actions that you take.
And thank you for ensuring that Humanists play an integral role in this
important fight.
Background
The Federal Marriage Amendment warrants opposition for a variety of reasons.
According to their own documents, those in favor of the FMA claim that it is
needed to prevent marriage from being "redefined," but the AHA contends that
the FMA redefines the Constitution by adding inequality and discrimination
to its principles. By defining marriage as between a man and woman the FMA
forces second-class citizenship upon gay and lesbian Americans. The stakes
are both symbolic and legal because, according to the General Accounting
Office, marriage is connected to over 1,000 federal and approximately 300
state rights, privileges, and benefits. While the FMA's Religious Right
supporters say the amendment is needed in order to "protect children," they
conveniently overlook the fact that the children of gays and lesbians feel
the damaging legal effects of this denial of rights.
The timing of the vote is highly politicized, as the presidential election
looms and is designed to solidify the conservative base and serve as a
divisive wedge issue for Democrats.
The FMA is driven by religious conservatives and prioritizes certain
religious beliefs over others and over those without religion. The FMA would
violate the proud, longstanding American tradition of church-state
separation. Currently, the First Amendment protects churches from having to
perform marriage ceremonies with which they do not agree, but the FMA would
egregiously enshrine a particular religious view of marriage in our
Constitution. The AHA opposes this unfair use of the governments hand to
favor some religious views over others by designating same-sex marriage as
unconstitutional.
Remember to Call Your Representatives and Tell Them to Oppose the Federal
Marriage Amendment.
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