FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON - Dr. Kathleen Moltz, a pediatric endocrinologist, today told a Senate panel that the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment would only harm gay and lesbian families and called for its rejection. That proposal faced a resounding defeat last year, but has been reintroduced this Congress. The American Civil Liberties Union renewed its objections to the amendment and called upon lawmakers to rebuff-again - this unwarranted assault on gay and lesbian Americans.

Moltz, a pediatric endocrinologist at Wayne State University, Children's Hospital of Michigan, spoke today before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights. Dr. Moltz, along with her partner, are suing the Governor of Michigan because in November it adopted a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between a man and woman. Michigan's attorney general advised that the amendment also barred gay and lesbian state employees from gaining health benefits for their partners. The ACLU of Michigan is representing them.

"Supporters of the Michigan amendment insisted that they were not threatening the health benefits that families like mine receive," Dr. Moltz told senators. "But as soon as the amendment passed, it became a weapon to take away the health insurance many families-including my own- rely on. No one has been able to explain to me how this unfair, discriminatory law protects marriage, or families."

The Federal Marriage Amendment also denies all the "legal incidents" of marriage to any unmarried couple. The ACLU said it is clear that if enacted, anti-gay supporters of the amendment will try to use its broad language to attack the recognition of same-sex relationships through civil unions or domestic partnerships. The ACLU noted that the Michigan example demonstrates that attempts to "sanctify marriage" are just thinly veiled attempts to attack gay and lesbian Americans by eroding the legal protections for them and their families.

The amendment stalled in Congress last year when neither chamber came close to the required two-thirds majority needed to pass a constitutional amendment. Opposition to the amendment came from unusual sources: former Congressman Bob Barr (R-GA), the author of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, was joined by Vice President Dick Cheney, Representative Christopher Cox (R-CA), Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and others in speaking out against the amendment.

"Congress must reject this bait and switch tactic of hiding the full harm caused by the anti-gay amendment," said Christopher E. Anders, an ACLU Legislative Counsel. "The proposal doesn't protect marriage, but it hurts hard-working gay and lesbian families by taking away things like health care. Dr. Moltz, her family and all Americans deserve the full protection and support of the government. Congress must reject this anti-family proposal. Again."