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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2004)
manto« is ax* F r iu li] ï M n n e w s T he anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment fell short Sept. 30 of the two-thirds majority required for passage in the U .S. House. The vote saw 227 representatives sup port the measure and 186 oppose it, while 20 did not vote. The House has been highly polarized along party lines throughout most of this session of Congress, hut this vote showed an unusual degree of crossing the aisle in both directions. Black and Hispanic members of both parties were disproportionately among those who sim ply skipped the vote, while many voted for it. A total of 27 Republicans opposed the amendment. They generally represent districts from the Northeast or West Coast. But 36 Democrats crossed the other way and voted for the amendment. Among the more troubling votes was that of Harold Ford, 34, a dynamic African American representative from Ten nessee who many believe has a greater political future ahead of him. The 2 1/2 hours of debate that preceded the vote had all of the freshness of a Nick at Nite rerun o f a decades-old sitcom, but none of the entertainment value. Social conservatives trotted out their old bromides of the horrors that same- sex marriage would unleash upon the nation. “We are here today to protect marriage” that is “ordained by G od,” claimed Mike Pence, R-Ind. He declared that in last year’s decision striking down state sodomy laws, the U .S. Supreme Court “strongly signaled” the right to same-sex marriage, which is why the amend ment is necessary. Todd Aiken, R-Mo., asserted that “whole cities have suffered decline and crime” because of a weakening of the traditional family. He said Upcoming PA BA Events: After Hours: Wednesday, Oct. 20, 6:00-8:00pm Wild Abandon 2411 SE Belmont A H ouse D ivided Federal Marriage Amendmenf vote exposes irreconcilable differences by Bob Roehr your view" when it comes to marriage and families. “ I’m sorry that Rush Limbaugh has been divorced three times, but it ain’t my fault,” he said. “We feel [love] with someone of the same sex, male or female, and we look at your institution of marriage, and we see the joy it brings, we see the stability it brings to society. How do we hurt you if we share in it?” This am end U .S . Rep. Harold Ford of Tennessee was among the ment “plays to the Democrats who crossed the aisle to vote for the Federal worst fears of the elec Marriage Amendment torate,” said John that this amendment was “brought on by Conyers, D-Mich. “Everybody knows it is going nowhere” activist judges” and that not adopting it would “deny children a mom and a dad.” because the Senate refused to U .S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., noted pass it, and it is only being that the speakers highlighted at prime time dur brought forward to mobilize the ing the Republican National Convention in social conservative base on Elec tion Day. New York were all opposed to amending the Constitution. He cited Vice President Dick Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., offered Cheneys comments that people should be free a spirited defense of gay and lesbian Ameri to enter into relationships and that states may cans, saying they are members of our families in differ on how to handle those relationships. every single congressional district. “They Openly gay U .S. Rep. Barney Frank, deserve to be treated fairly.” D-Mass., called the amendment “an undemo Cheryl Jacques, president of the Human cratic act that says that no state can differ from Rights Campaign, called the debate and vote "We feel [love] with someone of the same sex, male or female, and we look at your institution of marriage, and we see the joy it brings, we see the stability it brings to society. How do we hurt you if we share in it?" Luncheon: Biz Builders: I- Every Tuesday morning, 7-8:30am at Cyberccino, 2130 NE Broadway II- Every Thursday evening, 6:30-8pm at Cyberccino, 2130 NE Broadway Kathy Ira, Broker “ «... U~,. 'v ,.V' PO RTLAND AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION YiHir (>I.BT Chamber of ( Commerce B o b ROEHR is a free-lance reporter based in Washington, D .C . PABA s primary purpose is to establish and maintain a business and professional association for the GLBT community and our allies. Wednesday, Nov. 10, 11:30-1pm @ the Embassy Suites, Downtown Speaker: Dean Marriott, Director, Dept, of Environmental Services: "Working for Clean Rivers." Find out about Oregon’s plan and your role in it. Iw / “a pathetic attempt to distract voters from the issues that matter.” The Republican leadership seemed to recog nize the double-edged nature of the issue and perhaps took that into account in scheduling the vote for the same day as the first presidential debate. It assured that social conservatives would trumpet the news among their flock even while the mainstream media limited coverage to a smaller story buried deep inside the paper. “Republican leaders have shamelessly admit ted that they pushed this amendment so that they could create a wedge issue to benefit their candi dates in this election,” said Dave Noble, executive director of National Stonewall Democrats. “The small minority of Democrats who could not understand that fact, and who voted for this amendment, do not deserve the support of our community." Barry Lynn, execu tive director of Ameri cans United, added: “T his amendment posed a grave threat to the separation of church and state, and I’m delighted that it — Barney Frank failed. Some religious traditions perform same-sex unions, and some do not. 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