USA: Critics assail President George W. Bush proposal on gay marriage ban

Record ID: 278409

  • Title: USA: Critics assail President George W. Bush proposal on gay marriage ban
  • Date: 6th June 2006
  • Summary: (BN01) NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 5, 2006) (REUTERS) STREET IN CHELSEA
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADTHIDHCEOSHQUDRDN80RG4TZP
  • Story Text: President George W. Bush on Monday (June 5) urged the Senate to pass a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The issue has been a Bush's agenda since his 2004 re-election campaign.
    The Senate has continued to debate a proposed amendment against gay marriage, though it is believed to have little chance of passing.
    "This national question requires a national solution. And on an issue of such profound importance, that solution should come not from the courts, but from the people of the United States," Bush said at a White House speech.
    "An amendment to the Constitution is necessary because activist courts have left our nation with no other choice. When judges insist on imposing their arbitrary will on the people, the only alternative left to the people is an amendment to the Constitution, the only law a court cannot overturn," he added.
    Bush spoke out in favour of a ban on gay marriage during the 2004 presidential election race, when the issue's appearance on local ballots helped turn out Republican supporters in key states, but some conservatives complain that he has done little more than talk about it.
    He is raising his profile on the issue as he grapples with approval ratings near 30 percent, a low for his presidency.
    Bush once could count on overwhelming conservative support but the Iraq war and several political blunders have cost him some of that backing, leaving many Republicans fearful of losing control of Congress to Democrats in November.
    The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the amendment along party lines on May 18. But it must pass both houses of Congress by a two-thirds majority and then be approved by at least 38 states to become law. A similar measure failed in 2004.
    The bill's sponsor, Sen. Wayne Allard, a Colorado Republican, has acknowledged he has far fewer than the 67 votes needed to win passage.
    New York's gay community reacted strongly against President George W. Bush's support for a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Many residents of the city's Chelsea district, an area with a large population of gay men and women, criticised Bush for using the ban to appeal to conservatives and draw attention away from more important political matters.
    "I think it's horrible to make an actual amendment into the Constitution and I think it's mainly for political reasons, for Bush trying to get leverage towards the conservative side," said Hunie Kwon.
    Julie Goldman said she didn't think Congress was ready to pass such a law.
    "I don't think they are. I think even the people who are against gay marriage, people still don't want to screw with the Constitution. I think. I hope. But then again, they hate us, so I don't know," she said.
    At least 13 states have passed their own amendments banning gay marriage. Vermont and Connecticut have legalised civil unions. Just over half of all Americans oppose same-sex marriage, a March poll by the Pew Research center showed.
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