By Fax Machine

Dear Senator ...

We write to urge you to vote against the proposed Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage when it comes before the Senate.

As one of our nation's leading civil rights and human relations organizations, ADL combats prejudice and discrimination and promotes improved intergroup relations. We believe that it is important to make sure the law is able to protect all members of society. A Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage would have the opposite effect.

We oppose any effort to amend the United States Constitution in a manner that discriminates against a specific group of Americans. That is exactly what the proposed amendment does. It targets an entire class of people for social, economic, and civic discrimination in a way that is anathema to American principles of democracy.

As the United States Supreme Court said in its landmark decision in Romer v. Evans, it is not within the American constitutional tradition to use the law to single out any group for discriminatory treatment. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is as ugly as any other form of discrimination. Out of respect for the American tradition, we ask that you vote against this divisive and unnecessary amendment.

Sincerely,

Recipients:

Majority Leader Bill Frist
Majority Whip Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader Tom Daschle
Minority Whip Harry Reid

Senate Judiciary Chair Orrin Hatch
Senate Judiciary Ranking Minority Pat Leahy
Sen. Arlen Specter
Sen. Ted Kennedy

Sen. George Voinovich
Sen. Chuck Hagel
Sen. John Kerry
Sen. Judd Gregg

Sen. John Warner
Sen. George Allen
Sen. Norm Coleman
Sen. John McCain
Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Sen. Mike Crapo
Sen. Jay Rockefeller
Sen. Richard Lugar
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell