Information
The recent Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry has sparked national debate. A backlash—which has been building momentum since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that decriminalized gay sex in Lawrence v. Texas —is already widespread.
The media has repeatedly cited a poll that says 59 percent of Americans oppose gay marriage, and an August 2003 article in the Village Voice notes the pervasiveness of the anti-gay backlash even before the Massachusetts decision.
While the importance of this issue is obvious from an equal rights standpoint, young feminists must also be aware of the role same-sex marriage will play in the upcoming elections. The right has been actively pushing for an antigay constitutional amendment, in an attempt to motivate the base in November. To effectively tackle this effort to undermine equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans, we need to make sure that our candidates support same-sex marriage, and remain cognizant of the right’s intentions.
While some women cannot legally marry because of their sexual orientation, others are in danger of being coerced to do so because of economic circumstances. The Bush administration wants to waste 1.5 billion dollars of federal welfare funds on unproven marriage promotion programs over the next five years, instead of programs that directly help women escape poverty like job training, education, and child care. Not only are these programs invasive—marriage is a fundamentally private decision—but they are also dangerous. Up to 60 percent of women on welfare have been in an abusive relationship; marriage promotion programs give economically desperate women financial incentives to stay with their abusers. Furthermore, the administration is sending a disturbing message to women in poverty: You don’t need a job; you need a man.
Take Action!
To learn more about gay marriage, visit the Human Rights Campaign at www.hrc.org. As America’s largest gay and lesbian organization, the HRC provides a national voice on gay and lesbian issues, effectively lobbies Congress, mobilizes grassroots action in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect a fair-minded Congress, and increases public understanding through innovative education and communication strategies. To learn more about marriage promotion, you can visit NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Links
Alternatives to Marriage Project
The Alternatives to Marriage Project (AtMP) is a national nonprofit organization advocating for equality and fairness for unmarried people, including people who choose not to marry, cannot marry, or live together before marriage.
Human Rights Campaign
As America’s largest gay and lesbian organization, the Human Rights Campaign provides a national voice on gay and lesbian issues. The HRC effectively lobbies Congress, mobilizes grassroots action in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect a fair-minded Congress, and increases public understanding through innovative education and communication strategies.
Legal Momentum (Formerly NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund)
Legal Momentum pursues equality for women and girls in the workplace, the schools, the family and the courts, through litigation, education, and public information programs.
Marriage Promotion Information
Unmarried America: An Equal Rights Organization
Unmarried America engages in education and advocacy for America’s 86 million unmarried and single adults, including solo singles, single parents, domestic partners, roommates, and unmarried families. The organization seeks fairness for unmarried employees, consumers, and taxpayers as well as more recognition of unmarried voters.
