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Tracian · Site Admin Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 109

Judith and Beverly
In Support of Equal Marriage:
Committed Couples Tell Why Discrimination in the Constitution is Wrong
In Poland, Indiana, Judith and Beverly have lived together for twenty-nine years. Although they are fortunate in that the company from which Judith retired offers domestic partner benefits, she recognizes that "we haven't experienced significant problems since we've spent lots of money on legal documents to protect each other." Yet she also notes, "Financially, my partner would get more social security if she could draw on my benefits."

Judith writes, "The proposed amendment seems to be government sponsored gay bashing. This has inspired me to step up and tell our story at every opportunity. My partner is concerned about our safety as we live in a rural area in southern Indiana. It has also made us determined to marry for our 30th anniversary, [even] if we have to go to Canada." She also deeply appreciates the support of their Unitarian Universalist congregation in the struggle for equal marriage: "Our congregation helped to inspire me to action. They are officially a Welcoming Congregation and the presence of an out lesbian minister convinced my partner that this was the place for us. The sister of a gay man suggested the Civil Marriage Is A Civil Right Task Force to work to defeat a marriage discrimination amendment in Indiana. There are as many family members and friends of the GLBT community on the task force as there are GLBT persons. The task force is supported by the entire congregation."

You can add your voice to those speaking out to stop discrimination from being written into the Constitution. In response to debate on the proposed "Marriage Protection Amendment" set for Congressional vote this spring, the Unitarian Universalist Association has launched Standing on the Side of Love 2006: No Discrimination in the Constitution, a campaign focused on mobilizing Unitarian Universalists to speak out against this hurtful and discriminatory amendment.

NOW is the time to act. Go to the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy's website for comprehensive information on how to contact your elected representatives. Meet with members of your congregation to organize a "Standing on the Side of Love Sunday" service along with letter writing to follow the service. If you are a same sex couple either enjoying the benefits of equal marriage or civil union, or seeking the protection of the law for your relationship, please tell us your story. The proposed federal amendment is about ALL our lives, for what affects one group of people affects us all.

Visit the UUA's Standing on the Side of Love 2006: Defeat the Federal Marriage Amendment resource page for comprehensive resources to support your work as an advocate who stands on the side of love. MORE >>

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Celia d'Oliveira and Meg Soens at their fall 2004 wedding at First Parish in Lexington, MA.
Photo by Rob Schneider
In Support of Marriage Equality:
No Discrimination in the Constitution
In response to debate on the proposed "Marriage Protection Amendment" set for Congressional vote this spring, the Unitarian Universalist Association has launched Standing on the Side of Love 2006: No Discrimination in the Constitution, a campaign focused on mobilizing Unitarian Universalists to speak out against this hurtful and discriminatory amendment. The UUA has opposed discrimination against gay, lesbian, and bisexual people since 1970. We know from our religious experience of worshipping and being together that what unites us as families and as people is much greater than what divides us. We need policies that will help create as many stable, healthy families as possible—not impose definitions of what constitutes a family. As a religious tradition dedicated to promoting democracy and justice, we believe that the proposed amendment would hurt thousands of families and children, turn the Constitution into an instrument of religious discrimination, and eviscerate the principle of equal protection.

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© Copyright 2006 Unitarian Universalist Association
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Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet Again
Bright Blessings,
Tracian

http://www.myspace.com/wiccanoflochlomond

bangoskank · star constellation Joined: 12 May 2006 Posts: 43

A gay marriage ban in the US Constitution isn't going to happen. While I believe Bush hates homosexuals, I think he was simply paying lipservice to get votes with the proposal. There has been no serious effort to get this ammendment passed. Heck, they don't even mention the ammendment anymore, they stopped right after the election.
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"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." – Voltaire.

Lyvia · new Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 3 Location: New England

Well, it may not pass but the Republicans are sure trying to use it as a political tool (as we saw yesterday).

It's still important to speak out. Many states have written discrimination into their state constitutions and here in MA, opponents are trying to stop gay marriage. The more voices that are raised for equality, the more lawmakers will listen. The other side is getting signatures and writing letters and calling legislators and going state by state to try to ban gay marriage. I've personally witnessed legislators changing their minds on the issue based on the amount of pressure they are under. One former gay marriage opponent changed his mind after a meeting with a married lesbian.

I love how supportive UU churches are.

DurhamDawg · Sliver STAR Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 225

hey, how bout that thing in California? 3 cheers for the golden state!