For Immediate Release
February 28, 2004
Contact
R. Zeke Fread
Coordinator &
Organizer
DontAmend Tampa Bay, DATB
DontAmend Tampa Bay Opposes Bush's
Endorsement of FMA, Show Your Opposition at March 20, 2004
Rally
President Bush has declared war once again,
however, this time it is not against any foreign or domestic terrorist
groups or to protect the
interests and lives of American's. It is a political war against the equal
rights of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
Americans. In his bid to serve a second term as our President,
he is trying to confuse
the American voters into believing that the issue of gay marriages, is the
biggest threat to America. To do this, he has dispatched
his spin commando's to spread the word through the
media, that granting the equal right to marry to GLBT Americans will destroy
our country. He has also called upon his
conservative and religious rights
reservists to assist in fighting this war against GLBT rights. What is
most
alarming about this, is that it is working. Recent
polls have shown that support for a constitutional amendment that would state
that "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and
a woman. Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any State, nor state
or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal
incidents thereof
be conferred upon unmarried couples or
groups,' is gaining dramatically.
With events taking place in San
Francisco, Massachusetts and elsewhere in states across America, it has seemed
that we were getting closer to marriage equality more than ever. However, we may
be seeing our dream of marriage equality evaporating right before our eyes, as
more and more Americans are buying into Bush's, Ultra-Conservatives and
Religious Rights groups anti-gay political agenda. This will have a
devastating effect on not only our equal right to marry, but, the equal rights,
benefits and protections gained over the last decade. If they succeed in gaining
passage of the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, this
will only be the beginning of their
efforts to strip us of any and all equal rights gains made.
No matter how difficult it may be to amend the
constitutional, which requires two-thirds of both houses of Congress to vote in
favor of a constitutional amendment of it passage and must be ratified by
three-fourths of the states. We must not believe for a minute, that passage of
this constitutional amendment is not the possibility. We must presume that this is a very real possibility and take
immediate action to prevent this amendment from being passed and ratified. Apathy or hiding our heads in the sand can
and will be our downfall.
We must join together in our efforts in
opposition to this anti-gay rights constitutional amendment. We must have our
voices heard loud and clear. To do this, we and our supporters have
to contact our lawmakers and make them aware of our strong to this attempt
to amend our constitution to add discrimination of GLBT's. Hold marriage
equality activities, events, protests and/or rallies, so, that the American
people hear our voices and not only those who support stripping GLBT's of our
equal right and make us second class citizens.
I would ask that you join with DontAmend Tampa Bay
and the many pro-gay rights groups and organizations across the country, and get
personally in evolved in activities taking place in fighting the Federal
Marriage Amendment, FMA.. DATB is organizing a second rally on March 20,.to express opposition to President Bush's endorsement
of the FMA and your participation is needed. Our Valentines Day of Action
rally was a great success and the media coverage received was extensive and
extremely positive.
We can make this second rally even more successful,
but, your help and participation is the key to accomplishing this,
please,
make attending the rally a priority. A
location to hold the rally is our greatest need and any assistance in
helping to organize the rally would be much appreciated.
Contact DATB by email: dontamend@tampabay.rr.com. Time is
short and there is much to do to make the rally a reality. Your response to my
recent request to hold a second rally was excellent, however, if you haven't
made
a commitment to help organize or attend rally,
please, do so now.
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