USA

 A Shameful Stand

Have your say!
Visit our new "Forum" where you can post your comments.

You have the option of "signing up" to the forum or to post views as a "guest"

While "free speech" is encouraged, please bear in mind libel etc. Any posts deemed libellous under the laws of England and Wales will be removed. Also, offensive posts will be removed.

Yesterday, the President of the United States endorsed a constitutional amendment barring the legal recognition of same-sex marriages - a shameful stand that violates the president's pledge to be a "uniter, not a divider."

History will record that President Bush has played to the worst of politics - pitting one group of Americans against another. A constitutional amendment as proposed by President Bush would mark the first time in U.S. history an amendment has been used to deny legal rights to a minority group within this country.

The President has taken exactly the wrong stand. The promise of this nation is "liberty and justice for all." By his actions today, the President has squandered an opportunity to expand the rights of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens in a regrettable effort to pander for re-election votes.

The reality is that same-sex marriage in no way threatens the marriages of our heterosexual friends and neighbours. Every year, Metropolitan Community Churches perform more than 6000 same-sex weddings which celebrate love, commitment and relationship. These are noble ideals which should be honoured and celebrated - not attacked and denigrated.

Our community must now face the very real threat of increased hostility because of the President has fanned the flames of divisiveness. That LGBT communities have long been targets of anti-gay hate crimes and violence, and the use of LGBT people as a wedge issue to gain votes will only feed hatred in this country.

The predominantly gay Metropolitan Community Churches know something about the effects of hate. As I reported to the White House Conference on Hate Crimes, 21 MCC churches have been the targets of firebombing and arson, and many more have been vandalized and desecrated in anti-gay hate crimes - solely because of the sexual orientation of our members. The President's actions leave our people fearful, and subject to a new wave of anti-gay discrimination.

Hatred, bigotry, and discrimination must not be enshrined in our nation's Constitution. Today I call upon all people of goodwill to reject the politics of divisiveness and to unequivocally oppose this proposed constitutional amendment.

Metropolitan Community Church website
 

25 February, 2004