Defeat for President Bush and FMA proponents
Washington, D.C. -
By a vote of 49 to 48 the Federal Marriage Amendment was defeated this morning when the U.S. Senate rejected an effort to end debate and proceed to a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage federally and for every state as only between a man and a woman.
Sixty votes were required to proceed, and 67 votes would have been required on a vote on the merits. Two years ago, a similar amendment failed at the same stage by a vote of 48 to 50.
Republican Senators Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire changed their votes from 2004 and moved to vote against the amendment. While Republicans gained four seats in 2004, the number of pro-amendment votes went up by only one today.
"Today is a tremendous victory for the core American values of equality, fairness and nondiscrimination. Once again, a bipartisan bloc soundly rejected this immoral constitutional amendment seeking to dehumanize and hurt lesbian and gay Americans and their families," said Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Sixty votes were required to proceed, and 67 votes would have been required on a vote on the merits. Two years ago, a similar amendment failed at the same stage by a vote of 48 to 50.
Republican Senators Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire changed their votes from 2004 and moved to vote against the amendment. While Republicans gained four seats in 2004, the number of pro-amendment votes went up by only one today.
"Today is a tremendous victory for the core American values of equality, fairness and nondiscrimination. Once again, a bipartisan bloc soundly rejected this immoral constitutional amendment seeking to dehumanize and hurt lesbian and gay Americans and their families," said Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
