why does this guy insist on pissing me off SO much
Bush speech angers gay Americans
Tom Musbach, PlanetOut Network
Wednesday, February 2, 2005 / 08:26 PM
In a stronger attack on marriage equality this year, President George W. Bush delivered a State of the Union speech on Wednesday that specifically called for a constitutional amendment to forbid marriage rights for same-sex couples, and many LGBT groups reacted with anger.
"Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be redefined by activist judges," the president said. "For the good of families, children and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage."
Last year, he alluded to same-sex marriage, particularly the Massachusetts ruling to grant marriage equality, by saying, "If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process."
The return of the marriage issue during Wednesday's speech, delivered on Groundhog Day, struck some Democrats and LGBT Americans as a troubling repetition, recalling the film "Groundhog Day." Others were disappointed because he contradicted his recent remarks that a proposed amendment may not be necessary this year, as long as the federal Defense of Marriage Act remains in effect.
"Once again, President Bush contradicts himself," said Steven Fisher, communications director of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). "Sadly, once again he valued the extremism of a few over the greater good of protecting all Americans, including LGBT families whose well-being are jeopardized by this proposal."
"History will severely judge any president who casually calls for such a radical rewriting of our Constitution without thought of its consequences," said Dave Noble, executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats. "This president lacks the comprehension of the struggles faced by American families due to his discriminatory policies."
In his lead-in to the marriage issue, the president invoked themes of family, faith and values, which conservative political blogger Andrew Sullivan called an "appalling" transition.
"So I -- as a gay person -- am somehow a threat to 'family and faith'? How dare he?" Sullivan wrote. "What about my family and my faith?"
In 2004, a proposed constitutional amendment to bar same-sex couples from marrying failed in both the Senate and the House.
President Bush also called for the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act, which the HRC commended on Wednesday night.
"If a sliver of hope could be gleaned from his words tonight," Fisher said, "it was in his stated commitment to helping those with HIV/AIDS, and we will work with him to make the fight against this disease as strong as possible. We hope his actions match his words."