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WASHINGTON - March 2 - Dear Task Force Friends: Stand up for equality! Fast on the heels of Bush's endorsement of the blatantly discriminatory so-called "federal marriage amendment," Congress is now moving to write discrimination into the Constitution. Among the first steps in this process are congressional hearings. Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 3 at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing entitled "Judicial Activism vs. Democracy: What are the National Implications of the Massachusetts Goodridge Decision and the Judicial Invalidation of Traditional Marriage Laws?" As our sister organization, Family Pride Coalition said, based on that title, it should be no surprise that the witness list is stacked with those who will argue that marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples somehow endangers "traditional marriage" laws. The Committee Chairman did not invite gay and lesbian couples or their families to testify. (It's easier to demonize gays and lesbians and their families when they're not in the room.) However, these hearings are public. The media will be there. We're asking you to be there as well. Attend the hearing and by your presence remind Congress of the human cost of this misguided proposal. There are certain to be crowds of people from both sides of this issue in attendance at the hearing tomorrow, and while you may not get a seat in the hearing room, your presence outside the Dirksen Building is just as important. Again, the hearing will take place in room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Building. Located northeast of the Capitol on a site bounded by Constitution Avenue, C Street, First Street, and Second Street N.E., it adjoins the Hart Senate Office Building. For those Task Force members not in the DC area, we kindly ask that your forward this message to friends and family in the area. This hearing is being broadcast live on the internet. You can access it at: http://judiciary.senate.gov. Please tune into the hearing and let your friends and family know about it. ACTIONS If your Senator is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, (see below listing), ask that they do 2 things: #1 attend the hearing and #2 speak out against the discriminatory Federal Marriage Amendment. Senate Judiciary Committee Members Republicans: Orrin Hatch, UT....................(202) 224-5251 Charles Grassley, IA...............(202) 224-3744 Arlen Specter, PA..................(202) 224-4254 Jon Kyl, AZ........................(202) 224-4521 Mike DeWine, OH....................(202) 224-2315 Jeff Sessions, AL..................(202) 224-4124 Lindsey Graham, SC.................(202) 224-5972 Larry Craig, ID....................(202) 224-2752 Saxby Chambliss, GA................(202) 224-3521 John Cornyn, TX....................(202) 224-2934 Democrats: Patrick Leahy, VT..................(202) 224-4242 Edward Kennedy, MA.................(202) 224-4543 Joseph Biden, DE...................(202) 224-5042 Herbert Kohl, WI...................(202) 224-5653 Dianne Feinstein, CA...............(202) 224-3841 Russell Feingold, WI...............(202) 224-5323 Charles Schumer, NY................(202) 224-6542 Richard Durbin, IL.................(202) 224-2152 John Edwards, NC...................(202) 224-3154 If your Senator is not a member of the Senate Judiciary, you can still take action by calling them and asking them to stand up against discrimination and for equality by speaking out against the so-called "federal marriage amendment." Also, Wednesday night at 5:45pm there will be a rally and press conference featuring various community leaders, including National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Deputy Executive Director Rea Carey. Please spread the word. Human Rights Campaign offices: 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW Washington DC (between Rhode Island and 17th St.) Metro: Farragut North or Dupont South (red line) For more information on the struggle for equal marriage rights, log on to the Task Force Marriage Information Resource Center at http://www.TheTaskForce.org/marriagecenter. ###
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