Free Republic

Adding sexual orientation to hate crimes will destroy America as we know it. First it would put homosexuality above religious freedoms, a violation of the first amendment. Second it would be giving special rights to a class of people, recognized only by there deviant behavior. It would be similar to saying that it will be a hate crime to call someone a criminal when they steal your car. Third. The phrase "sexual orientation" is made up by homosexuals to try to make themselves look less filthy than they really are. The purpose of the phrase is to take the spotlight...

Gay marriage is not on the horizon in Michigan and there is no need for voters to amend the state constitution in a way that would unfairly harm some citizens. In drafting Proposal 2 to ban same-sex marriage, the Citizens for the Defense of Marriage went well beyond what was necessary to achieve that goal. For example, if the proposal is adopted Nov. 2, it could end health and other benefits extended by some public employers to gay couples, and perhaps encourage private companies to do likewise. Additionally, language in the proposed amendment threatens those same domestic partner benefits for...

The numbers on the "for" side from recent referendums protecting traditional marriage are telling: Hawaii (69.2 percent), Alaska (68.1 percent), Nebraska (70.1 percent), Nevada (67.1 percent), Missouri (70.7 percent), and Louisiana (77.8 percent). Next month, Ohio will be among as many as 11 states allowing voters to cast a ballot on an amendment to their state constitution banning same-sex marriage and civil unions.

LOS ANGELES, September 27, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Democratic Presidential candidate, John Kerry, granted an exclusive interview to the national homosexual activist magazine, The Advocate, on September 16. In the preamble, Advocate writer Chris Bull describes Kerry as "an ardent gay rights supporter." "One of the original cosponsors of legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation," he continues, "Kerry has achieved a nearly unblemished voting record on the issue. In 1996 he was the only senator up for re-election to vote against the antigay Defense of Marriage Act. Three years earlier he went before the Senate Armed Services Committee to testify...

Petro Opposes Gay-Marriage Ban Amendment Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro becomes the first Republican state official to formally oppose Issue 1, saying he fears that the anti-gay marriage amendment will harm Ohio’s economy. As Ohio’s chief attorney, Petro shares the opinion that the amendment would prevent Cleveland Heights and public colleges from continuing to offer domestic-partner benefits. Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery, meanwhile, supports the issue, while Gov. Bob Taft is undecided.

The House of Representatives is expected to take action on the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) possibly this week. Today, September 20 has been dubbed "Congressional Call-in Day" to encourage people to contact their congressman politely persuading them to stand for marriage and vote in favor of the FMA. The legislation, H.J.Res. 56 was introduced by Rep. Musgrave (R-CO) and requires a 2/3 majority to pass the House. As you recall, in July the FMA failed to receive even the required votes to end debate in the Senate and was never brought up for a vote on the merits. However, since...

If Texas cannot criminalize sodomy, Utah should not be able to criminalize polygamy, argued the attorney for three adults who want to live together as husband and wives. The three filed a lawsuit after they were denied a marriage license by the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office in December. They ask that the county clerk be required to issue the marriage license, and they seek a declaration that the state’s criminal and civil bans of polygamy are unconstitutional. “What my clients want is to be able to enter into that relationship without the stigma of being branded as criminals,” civil-rights...

Missouri voters turned out in record numbers Tuesday to express in the privacy of a voting booth what many polite Americans are reluctant to say publicly - that marriage is between a man and a woman. Under normal circumstances, the vast majority of people would slap their foreheads at this point and say, "Duh." But these are not normal times and so "normal" goes underground, emerging only at election time to find expression through the ballot. In Missouri, an unprecedented number of people turned out to vote for a state constitutional amendment clarifying the definition of marriage. The amendment passed...