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DignityUSA
PO Box 376
Medford, MA
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tel: 800.877.8797
202.861.0017
fax: 781.397.0584
email:
info@dignityusa.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information: Matthew Gallagher
202.861.0017 (Office)
301.325.7650 (Cell)
July 14, 2004
DignityUSA Applauds Senate Vote Against Constitutional Amendment
Washington, DC —The Leadership of DignityUSA applauds the vote today of the United States Senate in voting down an attempt to write discrimination against same-gender couples into the U.S. Constitution through the Federal Marriage Amendment.
DignityUSA has joined scores of civil rights, religious organizations and government leaders across the political spectrum in opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment as an unprecedented discriminatory action with sweeping consequences. The leaders and members of DignityUSA adopted a resolution on same-gender marriage in August 2003, stating:
"As Americans, we remind our fellow citizens of a foundational principle of our form of government: all are created equal. Consistent with the pursuit of liberty and justice for all, same-sex couples should have full and equal access to the rights and responsibilities bestowed by civil marriage.
"As Catholics, we remind our Church of a foundational conviction of our faith: God is love and all who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them. The love that brings and binds two people of the same, or opposite sex, together has a divine source. It is therefore sacramental in nature and should be celebrated as such by our Church."
“Justice has beaten back partisanship and political games in this election year”, stated Matthew Gallagher, Executive Director of DignityUSA. “The Senate has done the honorable thing by preventing any affirmation of this discriminatory and divisive effort. Despite intense lobbying by religious leaders, the Senate wisely applied the principle of the separation of church and state in this matter.”
“We’re especially pleased that the usually influential support of the Catholic bishops was unsuccessful in this shameful bid for official discrimination,” Gallagher continued.
DignityUSA is the nation's foremost organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics, their families, friends and supporters. Founded in 1969, it is an independent nonprofit organization with members and chapters across the country.
DignityUSA works for full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the life of the Church and Society. www.dignityusa.org
