Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Same-sex marriage debate hots up
President Bush has announced his support for a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage in the United States.
Citing "defiance of the law by local officials," Bush said, "Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass and to send to the states for ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife."
Efforts in Congress to pass an amendment have intensified in the wake of the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision that only full and equal marriage rights for homosexual couples will pass constitutional muster in the state. Under the decision – and barring a constitutional amendment – same-sex weddings will begin in Massachusetts in May.
President Bush has announced his support for a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage in the United States.
Citing "defiance of the law by local officials," Bush said, "Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass and to send to the states for ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife."
Efforts in Congress to pass an amendment have intensified in the wake of the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision that only full and equal marriage rights for homosexual couples will pass constitutional muster in the state. Under the decision – and barring a constitutional amendment – same-sex weddings will begin in Massachusetts in May.
