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Without Any Vote in Sight, House Holds Fourth Hearing on Marriage Rights; ACLU Repeats Call to Exclude Discrimination From Constitution (06/24/2004)
WASHINGTON - Despite signals from House leadership that a vote on a constitutional amendment to deny marriage rights to gays and lesbians will not happen anytime soon, the House Judiciary Committee today held its fourth hearing on denying marriage rights to gay and lesbian families. The American Civil Liberties Union renewed its opposition to the measure and called upon members to reject the politically motivated proposal that would write discrimination into the Constitution.

ACLU Renews Call to Keep Discrimination Out of Constitution; Points to Lack of Cohesion in Republican Party on Divisive Issue (06/22/2004)
WASHINGTON -- Prominent Republicans are expected to duel today before a Senate committee over whether Congress should adopt the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposal that would write discrimination into the Constitution.

ACLU Washington Director Asks Democratic Committee To Include Strong Stand for Civil Liberties in Party Platform (06/19/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked the Democratic Party Platform Committee to include strong language in its 2004 platform to protect and promote civil liberties.

ACLU Praises Massachusetts for Being First to Legally Marry Same-Sex Couples (05/17/2004)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today praised the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for becoming the first state in U.S. history to allow lesbian and gay couples to legally marry.

Bork Calls Upon Congress to Support Discriminatory Amendment; ACLU and Others Say Measure Undermines American Values (05/13/2004)
WASHINGTON - The House Judiciary Committee today held its third hearing on the Federal Marriage Amendment and supporters of the measure called on Robert Bork, whose nomination as a Supreme Court justice was roundly rejected by the Senate because of his radical viewpoints, to defend the proposed amendment that would, for the first time, write discrimination into the Constitution.

ACLU Criticizes Anti-Gay Comments by New York Governor George Pataki (04/22/2004)
Governor George Pataki was way out of line in his disparaging comments about same-sex marriage, as reported today by Associated Press.

Pediatrician Speaks Out Against Discriminatory Marriage Amendment; ACLU Notes Measure Would Harm American Families (04/22/2004)
WASHINGTON - As the House Judiciary Committee today held its second hearing on the Federal Marriage Amendment, a prominent pediatrician testified against the measure, saying it would harm American families. The American Civil Liberties Union restated its opposition to the amendment, saying that such an extreme measure would enshrine discrimination into the Constitution.

Oregon Court Says State Cannot Discriminate Against Same-Sex Couples in Marriage, Orders Recognition of 3,000 Same-Sex Marriages Already Performed (04/20/2004)
PORTLAND, OR - In a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of nine same-sex couples and Basic Rights Oregon, a Circuit Court judge today struck down an Oregon law that prevents same-sex couples from marrying and ordered Oregon to recognize the 3,000 same-sex marriages that have already been performed.

ACLU Urges Oregon Court to Strike Down Law Preventing Same-Sex Couples from Marrying (04/16/2004)
PORTLAND, OR - At a hearing today, the American Civil Liberties Union asked an Oregon Circuit Court judge to strike down a state law that prevents same-sex couples from protecting their relationships through marriage.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Seeking Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples in New York State (04/07/2004)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today sued the State of New York seeking to strike down as unconstitutional a law that denies same-sex couples the right to marry.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Seeking Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples in Washington State (04/01/2004)
SEATTLE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today filed a lawsuit against the state officials challenging the denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples.

House Begins Examination of Discriminatory Marriage Amendment; Conservative Lawmakers Join ACLU in Criticizing Measure (03/30/2004)
WASHINGTON - Saying that discrimination has no place in the Constitution, the American Civil Liberties Union today strongly urged the House Judiciary Committee to reject the proposed federal marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

ACLU Files Lawsuit in Oregon Seeking Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples (03/24/2004)
PORTLAND, OR - The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit today challenging an Oregon law that discriminates against same-sex couples by denying them marriage and the rights and protections that come with it.

ACLU Calls on Senate to Reject Discriminatory Marriage Amendment (03/23/2004)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Judiciary Committee convened a hearing to consider a proposal that would write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution by denying marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples, the American Civil Liberties Union today strongly urged Senators to reject the proposed amendment, saying that such an extreme measure could forever deny important protections to same-sex couples.

Statement of Michael Cooper, 15, Springfield, VA on the Federal Marriage Amendment (03/23/2004)

Statement of Justin McGuire, 10, Fullerton, MD on the Federal Marriage Amendment (03/23/2004)

ACLU Calls Newest Version of Federal Marriage Amendment 'Bad Politics,' Measure Would Still Write Discrimination Into the Constitution (03/22/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today called a new proposed constitutional amendment on marriage "a desperate political move" that does nothing to address the underlying concerns about the discriminatory measure.

ACLU to Sue Oregon Officials Over Refusal to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages (03/19/2004)
PORTLAND, OR - The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that it plans to file a lawsuit next Wednesday against Oregon officials to require the state's recognition of the right of same-sex couples to marry.

A Second County in Oregon Votes to Issue Marriage Licenses to Same-Sex Couples; ACLU Urges Others to Do the Same (03/17/2004)
CORVALLIS, OR -- Following more than two-and-a-half 2 hours of public testimony yesterday, Benton County Commissioners voted to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 24.

ACLU and Basic Rights Oregon Applaud Multnomah County's Decision to Continue Issuing Marriage Licenses to Same-Sex Couples (03/15/2004)
PORTLAND, OR -- Multnomah County officials today courageously announced a decision to follow the Oregon constitution and continue issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a move applauded by Basic Rights Oregon and the American Civil Liberties Union.