Gay Marriage Amendment

Gay Marriage Amendment

Perhaps this amendment should be called the polarizing amendment. In an election year in which each candidate talks about bringing the two Americas together, the Gay Marriage Amendment was designed to do the exact opposite. A tactical strategy designed to alienate his opponents, George Bush pursued support for this amendment in order to gain moderate voters. If Bush was serious about the sanctity of Marriage he would drop his running mate and focus on state courts.

In a heated debate during the 2000 elections with VP candidate Joe Lieberman (who is against gay marriage) Dick Cheney spoke out criticizing such an idea. His view was that the decision should be left up to the states as he appeared sympathetic to gay unions. However, Last month he “said he would support ‘whatever decision’ Bush makes.” Why the apparent flip-flop. Cheney’s daughter, Mary, is an open lesbian. It’s interesting to watch Cheney sell his daughter out for Republican votes.(1)

Why is it impossible for a Gay marriage amendment to pass? Never in the history of the United States has an amendment passed limiting rights of the citizens. In order for the constitution to be altered, thee-quarters of all states have to back it, as well as two-thirds majority in both the house and senate. While some might argue that this is obtainable, it should be remembered that Republicans, not Democrats, are split on the subject. In last week’s Senate vote to move the amendment forward this year, it was blocked due to a few prominent Republican Senators voting against it. Interestingly enough, a few Democratic Senators did not even bother showing up to the voting knowing the split between the GOP party.(2)

The real question that should be asked is: do we really know what banning Gay Marriage does? Does it prohibit Gay couples from adopting children? Nope, this is already legal and this amendment would not reverse this. Does it prohibit Gay couple from sharing medical benefits? Nope, most companies have changed the wording on forms from “spouse” to “partner”. Does it stop Gay couples from living together? Nope. OK, so what then are we fighting about? The benefit that a legal marriage would provide for the gay couple involves transferring assets upon death and taxes. Now you need to ask yourself, is letting less then 1% of the people not marry worth dividing this great nation?