Sweet Tart
07-02-2008, 09:13 AM
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?date=2008/06/30/2
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama took a strong stand this weekend against a constitutional amendment to appear on California's ballot in November that would effectively overturn the state Supreme Court's recent decision legalizing same-sex marriage. In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, read Sunday at the annual Pride Breakfast, Obama wrote, "I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law . . . that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states.
"For too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect," the senator wrote.
Obama stated his support for "extending fully equal rights and benefits (http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2008/06/20/3) to same-sex couples under both state and federal law" and reiterated his desire to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and "don't ask, don't tell" as well as legislation to protect LGBT Americans against hate crimes and employment discrimination.
He closed the letter by congratulating those who have chosen to celebrate their love by getting married. (The Advocate)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama took a strong stand this weekend against a constitutional amendment to appear on California's ballot in November that would effectively overturn the state Supreme Court's recent decision legalizing same-sex marriage. In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, read Sunday at the annual Pride Breakfast, Obama wrote, "I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law . . . that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states.
"For too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect," the senator wrote.
Obama stated his support for "extending fully equal rights and benefits (http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2008/06/20/3) to same-sex couples under both state and federal law" and reiterated his desire to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and "don't ask, don't tell" as well as legislation to protect LGBT Americans against hate crimes and employment discrimination.
He closed the letter by congratulating those who have chosen to celebrate their love by getting married. (The Advocate)