Georgia Senate Committee Approves Gay Marriage Amendment
Wed. February 11, 2004 12:00 AM by 365gay.com
Atlanta, Georgia -
A bill to amend the Georgia constitution to bar same-sex marriage is headed to the Senate floor for a vote.
The bill was approved Wednesday in an emotional committee meeting that heard heard from people on both sides of the issue.
Atlanta City Council president Cathy Woolard, who is openly gay, told senators that their time would be better spent worrying about more pressing issues, such as a balanced budget and better education system.
"[I suggest] That you leave this marriage discussion right now where it was when we came to the Capitol in January," she said.
Georgia law already bans gay marriages in Georgia, but Sen. Mike Crotts (R-Atlanta) the author of the amendment said the measure was needed because "activist judges" could overturn the law.
Crotts said the amendment would solidify the marriage definition "assumed by the writers of the state and federal constitutions."
But some Democrats on the committee disagreed.
"What are you going to do about people who beat your brains out...that's what we need to be up here trying to do. Not trying to come out here and discriminate against people because they have made a choice of how they want to live their lives. That's being hypocritical," said Sen. Nadine Thomas (D-Ellenwood).
The bill will need a two-thirds vote to pass the full Senate floor and then move to the House where it will also require a two-thirds vote to pass. After that, the amendment would have to be ratified by voters at the polls in November.
©365Gay.com® 2004
The bill was approved Wednesday in an emotional committee meeting that heard heard from people on both sides of the issue.
Atlanta City Council president Cathy Woolard, who is openly gay, told senators that their time would be better spent worrying about more pressing issues, such as a balanced budget and better education system.
"[I suggest] That you leave this marriage discussion right now where it was when we came to the Capitol in January," she said.
Georgia law already bans gay marriages in Georgia, but Sen. Mike Crotts (R-Atlanta) the author of the amendment said the measure was needed because "activist judges" could overturn the law.
Crotts said the amendment would solidify the marriage definition "assumed by the writers of the state and federal constitutions."
But some Democrats on the committee disagreed.
"What are you going to do about people who beat your brains out...that's what we need to be up here trying to do. Not trying to come out here and discriminate against people because they have made a choice of how they want to live their lives. That's being hypocritical," said Sen. Nadine Thomas (D-Ellenwood).
The bill will need a two-thirds vote to pass the full Senate floor and then move to the House where it will also require a two-thirds vote to pass. After that, the amendment would have to be ratified by voters at the polls in November.
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.