[News-releases] Bush Comes Out Against Gay Marriage: FeministsContinue Fight for Equal Marriage Rights

NOW Press Office
202-628-8669 Rebecca Farmer, x 116
202-785-8576 (fax) 

Bush Comes Out Against Gay Marriage: Feminists Continue Fight for Equal
Marriage Rights

July 31, 2003

"George W. Bush talked out of both sides of his mouth yesterday when he
touted his opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples while also
preaching the importance in 'our society to respect each individual, to
welcome those with good hearts,'" said National Organization for Women
(NOW) President Kim Gandy. 

"While the Christian Coalition applauds Bush's 'courage' for saying that
marriage should be defined as only between a woman and man, NOW condemns
his lack of compassion," Gandy said. "Bush has essentially said that
lesbians and gays should be tolerated, even while labeling them 'sinners,'
but they still don't get equal rights. I've got news for you Bush:
withholding basic rights is not tolerance."

"In reality mere tolerance is not enough," Gandy said. "As California
Assembly member Jackie Goldberg told her legislative body in early June, 'I
want your acceptance, but I don't need it. I need equal protection under
the law.'" Heterosexual couples are afforded a number of legal protections
and benefits through marriage, which are inaccessible to committed same-sex
couples.
Benefits of civil marriage include access to health care and medical
decision making for your partner and your children; parenting rights;
Social Security, taxation, inheritance and other government benefits; as
well as the simple ability to pool resources to buy or transfer property
without adverse tax treatment.

"Marriage is a legal issue, not an ideological playground. It's not about
what you believe or don't believe--this is about what is fair and just,"
Gandy said. "Right-wing opposition to same-sex marriage is the new
miscegenation. The civil rights movement of the 1960's fought for
interracial couples to be able to marry--and they won. We're fighting for
marriage rights again, this time for same-sex couples. And we, too, will win."

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