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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>This is NOT a matter of “special
treatment” as some people would like you to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>It is a simple matter of equality –
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Moscow, Idaho<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>We could learn a lot from crayons: some are
sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are
different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
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face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> NOW National
Action Center [mailto:now@now.org] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, February 15, 2005
8:59 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Tom Hansen<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [NOW Action List] Urge
Congress to Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
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<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a href="#needed">Action
Needed</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="#background">Background</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="http://www.now.org:81/t/186817/561185/11/0/">All NOW Actions</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="http://www.now.org:81/t/186817/561185/237392/0/">Equal Marriage NOW!</a>
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<p class=headline><b><font size=3 color="#cc0033" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Urge Congress to Oppose the Federal Marriage
Amendment<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'>Members of Congress need to hear that
you oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment because it denies equal protection,
equal access and fairness to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
couples.</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Many members have
not heard enough from their constituents on our side of this issue. There are
some members who actually believe that they do not have LGBT people or their
supporters living in their districts! This means that your voice is critical
for creating a climate that will: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Lead to the defeat of
right-wing attempts to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex
marriage (and probably civil unions and domestic partnerships) <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Help to overturn the
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Further educate members of
your community on the inequities that LGBT people and their families
face under current law <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=section><a name=needed></a><b><font size=2 color="#cc0033"
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Action Needed:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'>Please <a
href="http://www.now.org/congress/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6987211">contact
your senators and representative</a> and let them know that you are concerned
about this issue and that you are committed to securing equal rights for all.</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>
Setting up an appointment to discuss this with your member of Congress or a
member of their staff in your state would be terrific—and organizing a
phone-in or letter writing campaign are also great ways to let Congress know
that voters care about this issue. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The purpose of
NOW’s <a href="http://www.now.org/issues/marriage/index.html">Equal
Marriage Campaign</a> is to personalize this issue and create visibility so
that LGBT people, their families and allies don't receive second class
treatment. Together our voices can be heard! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=section><a name=background></a><b><font size=2 color="#cc0033"
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Background:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>The Federal Marriage Amendment was first introduced in
the 108th Congress. Since then, 11 states have passed constitutional
amendments to ban same-sex marriage including: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. All but three of those bans
include a ban on civil unions as well. Other states are currently working on
passing constitutional amendments including: <st1:State w:st="on">Virginia</st1:State>,
<st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Kansas</st1:State>
and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Alabama</st1:place></st1:State>.
More states will likely introduce legislation for the same purposes this
year. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>On Jan. 24, 2005,
Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., reintroduced an amendment to the U.S.
Constitution designed to ban same-sex marriages. The so-called Marriage
Protection Amendment (S.J. RES 1) seeks to define marriage as solely between
a man and a woman. The strategic timing of this reintroduction makes it one
of the first items of business in George W. Bush's second term. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The language of
the <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.J.RES.1:">amendment</a>,
which currently has 26 co-sponsors, is just as damaging as it was in the
108th Congress. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Heterosexual
married couples and their families are afforded more than 1,000 legal
protections and benefits in state and federal law that are currently
inaccessible to committed same-sex couples. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Benefits of civil
marriage include access to health care and medical decision making for
spouses and their children; parenting rights; Social Security; taxation,
inheritance and other government benefits; as well as the simple ability to
pool resources to buy or transfer property without adverse tax treatment. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Marriage in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
usually consists of two components, civil marriage and religious ceremony.
The first is required by law, the second is not. Freedom of religion
guarantees each church the right to decide whether or not to marry same-sex
couples; however, federal and state governments should not be allowed to deny
rights to any individual based on sex or sexual orientation. Some religions
have already chosen to recognize same-sex marriages, although only one state
currently allows same-sex marriage by law. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Taking action
around this issue is critical to preserving democracy, fairness and the
diversity of our families. <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Again, please <a
href="http://www.now.org/congress/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6987211">send
an email</a> to let your member of Congress know TODAY that defeating this
discriminatory constitutional amendment is important to you.</span></b> <br>
<br>
For more information: <a href="http://www.now.org/issues/marriage/index.html"><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Equal Marriage NOW</span></b></a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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