From the Human Rights Campaign
HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH DIVISIVE BILL TO DISTRACT FROM VOTERS' PRIORITIES
"Congress today was sent an historic message to focus on terrorism and it
focused on discrimination instead," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques.
WASHINGTON - By a 233 to 194 vote, the House today passed the Marriage
Protection Act, a dangerous and discriminatory measure that would strip
the federal courts of jurisdiction over challenges to the Defense of
Marriage Act and block access for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender community to the judicial system. This vote took place just
after the 9/11 Commission issued its final report sharply criticizing
Congress. Also, polling data released this week affirms that the American
public opposes the politics of division.
"Congress today was sent an historic message to focus on terrorism and it
focused on discrimination instead," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. "We
will work to ensure that this measure is soundly rejected in the Senate.
Like the Federal Marriage Amendment, this bill attempts to undermine our
constitutional system for political gain."
A memo released this week by pollster Stan Greenberg warns President Bush
and Republicans that politics of division is hurting them in very tangible
ways. Any gains being made for President Bush among the
religious-conservative extremist base are being exceeded by gains for
Senator Kerry among even larger groups of voters, including Republican
moderates - who are 40 percent of electorate and over 50 percent of the
persuadables. Behind the shifts of theses groups to Kerry, Greenberg cites
Iraq and "discomfort with the president's cultural politics."
Every major poll shows the American people want Congress focused on issues
like rising health care costs, the poor growth in jobs and the war in
Iraq. Same-sex marriage and the Federal Marriage Amendment rank last on
the list.
"While some politicians push discrimination, American voters have no
appetite for division," added Jacques.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender political organization with members throughout the
country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and
educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and
safe at home, at work and in the community.