The Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) is about much more than marriage, or even domestic partnerships, both of which it bans despite some early attempts to claim it didn't affect the latter. It's about re-establishing gay, bisexual, and lesbian people as "strangers to the law," by writing a wedge between us and heterosexuals into the Constitution. The fundamentalist right has been after this ever since the Supreme Court struck down "sodomy" laws a few years ago, and stated that we were, in fact, protected as people.
Many people are being dismissive of this amendment for this year, but I think that's a mistake. The Republican leadership sent it directly onto the floor, so that they can prevent it from being killed (as it would be) in committee. Doing this in an election year is intended to put as much pressure on moderates as possible, and may be intended to identify people "soft on fags" in their own party - possibly for primary challenges later.
Here are two web sites where you can send messages to your Senators and Representatives:
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/senate_oppose_fma
http://www.campaigntoprotect.org/campaign/takeactionnow
Many people are being dismissive of this amendment for this year, but I think that's a mistake. The Republican leadership sent it directly onto the floor, so that they can prevent it from being killed (as it would be) in committee. Doing this in an election year is intended to put as much pressure on moderates as possible, and may be intended to identify people "soft on fags" in their own party - possibly for primary challenges later.
Here are two web sites where you can send messages to your Senators and Representatives:
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/senate_oppose_fma
http://www.campaigntoprotect.org/campaign/takeactionnow