Urgent!! – Call Your U.S. Senator to Express Opposition to the
Proposed Federal Marriage Amendment

This week, the U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment (S.J. Res. 30/ S.J. Res. 40). The Lawyers' Committee has joined with over 120 national organizations in opposition to the proposed Constitutional amendment.

While the Lawyers’ Committee does not take a position for or against same sex marriage, we do oppose any efforts to amend the Constitution to express stigmatization and discrimination. The Constitution has been amended only 17 times in the past. The Amendments have historically served to clarify, expand, or strengthen the rights of individuals in society, not to exclude or discriminate against minority groups. To amend the Constitution as proposed is contrary to the purposes for which the document exists.

The Senate needs to know that we are strongly opposed to the Federal Marriage Amendment. The Lawyers' Committee is calling on all members of the Board of Directors and the Trustees, Local Affiliates and our friends and colleagues to take immediate action on this issue.

What is Needed?
Contact members of the Senate to inform them that you firmly oppose S.J. Res. 30/ S.J. Res. 40. Call both of your home Senators, as it is extremely important at this time to counteract the activities of the bill’s supporters. The number for the Capitol Hill switchboard is:
202-225-3121

Important Points:
1. A Broad Coalition opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment. Even Bob Barr, the author of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has publicly opposed the FMA calling it “unnecessary and needlessly intrusive and punitive.” Further, DOMA remains the law of the land. This law already bars the federal government from recognizing a same sex marriage and does not require states to recognize same sex marriages licensed in other jurisdictions. DOMA has never been invalidated by any court in the country.

2. Congress should be focusing on other priority issues such as health care, education, the economy, homeland security, and the war in Iraq.

3. The amendment would serve to override the principles of federalism because it prohibits state courts from interpreting their own state constitutions consistently with the state’s own history and precedent. It would contradict the framework of our governmental system by discriminatorily intruding into the traditional authorities of the states in matters of family law.

Target States:
Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, Alaska, Nebraska, Arkansas, North Dakota,
and South Dakota

PLEASE SEND THIS ACTION ALERT TO COLLEAGUES, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BAR.

Action Alert Archives