New York, NY, February 25, 2004 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today indicated its opposition to any effort to amend the United States Constitution in a manner which would discriminate against a specific group of Americans.

Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We oppose any effort to amend the United States Constitution in a manner which could discriminate against a specific group of Americans.  While religious communities should be able to decide for themselves what relationships they will recognize, ADL supports efforts to extend all the rights, protections and benefits of civil marriage to same sex couples.  Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is as ugly as any other form of discrimination.