Bush stops short on Constitution gay marriage ban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Tuesday a constitutional ban on gay marriage may be needed if "activist judges" ignored public will, but he stopped short of immediately urging an amendment as sought by many of his conservative backers.

"Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage," Bush said in his election-year State of the Union address.

"If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process," he said.

Socially conservative groups at the core of Bush's political base have placed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages at the top of their agenda for this year, while gay rights groups have sought to enlist conservatives who favor limited government in opposing the ban.

Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, said Bush's comments failed to recognize the need for an immediate amendment.

"I would have to say we're disappointed," he said.

But the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays organization accused Bush of promoting a "partisan, homophobic agenda" demoralizing to gay people.

"For all the president's rhetoric about the 'sanctity of marriage' he staunchly refuses to make a commitment to protecting the pursuit of happiness for all American families," said David Tseng, executive director of the group.

Bush said Congress had already taken a stand by passing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. The law, signed by President Bill Clinton defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purposes of federal law, and allows states to refuse to recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere.

"Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard," Bush said in the State of the Union address to Congress.

He said America must value the institution of marriage, but "we should respect individuals" in the process.

"The outcome of this debate is important, and so is the way we conduct it," he said. "The same moral tradition that defines marriage also teaches that each individual has dignity and value in God's sight."

Bush had used similar language in a television interview last month, suggesting he would back constitutional amendment if judicial rulings "undermine the sanctity of marriage."

But he also left the door open to same-sex unions that stopped short of marriage, saying people should be able to make "whatever legal arrangements" they want as long as a state recognizes them. He appeared to be drawing a line between legislative action and judicial decisions.

Vermont, under then Gov. Howard Dean, who is now seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, in 2000 adopted the nation's first state law recognizing civil unions between same-sex couples.

The issue was pushed higher on the political agenda by a Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling in November which effectively ordered the state legislature to change state laws against gay marriage, drawing a swift condemnation by Bush. "


There goes peoples freedom.

Why can't Americans worry about crime and drugz ? Its everybody's own private life who they are. Im not gay , but im not against gay marriage becouse it doesn't effect my life if gays get married. Also its the same thing what happened when they didn't let blacks vote or work in 1920's

Bush is just fucked up and he going to lose lots of votes