Friday, May 17, 1996 Republican-backed measure to outlaw unions attacked by local gay Daily Bruin Staff The legitimacy of gay marriages is currently under legislative On Monday, Clinton reaffirmed his lack of support for gay and "The President is against same-sex marriage. We’ll have to look Meanwhile, members of the GOP, with presidential nominee Bob If enacted, the bill would define marriage as the "the legal Also, the term "spouse" would be limited solely to a person of Many believe that Clinton will sign the bill due to recent "(Clinton) believes this a time when we need to do things to Yet Clinton’s opposition to same-sex marriage and the proposed "To speak in a non-partisan way, I am not surprised that Clinton Others claimed that homosexuals are a fringe group of society "I support (Clinton) on this decision about not recognizing "(But), he follows what he perceives is the mood of the nation But opponents to the act and Clinton’s statement contend that Furthermore, they argue that some members of the heterosexual "I get this impression that people are getting so bent out of "The heart of (same-sex marriage) is that we’ll get all Regardless of differing views on same-sex marriage, Republicans Still, members of the UCLA gay, lesbian, and bisexual community "I can speak for many people in the UCLA community in (that) In addition to limiting marriage to heterosexual couples, the Basically, this would allow states to follow their own legal and Recently, the Hawaii Supreme Court sent the Baehr vs. Miike case Legislation or judicial process in other states would decide Supporters agree that the act would allow states the right to "I support the bill," Wang said. "I would support it because In addition to the debate of same-sex marriages, many people in "I think (Clinton) has been the first president to really Because of the implications of Clinton’s opposition to same-sex "It’s political. It’s a hot issue. My feeling is that Clinton is "I don’t know what the ramifications of signing such a bill With Daily Bruin wire service reports. "(Clinton) believes this a time when we need to do things to Mike McCurry White House Press Secretary
communityBy Patrick Marantal
fire and could rise to the national forefront during the upcoming
November elections.
lesbian marriages, a position he has held on the record since
1992.
carefully at the legislation that’s under consideration in
Congress," said Mike McCurry, White House press secretary.
Dole at the lead, are lobbying to pass HR 3396, the Defense of
Marriage Act, which would outlaw same-sex marriages.
union between one man and one woman," excluding homosexuals from
legally-recognized marriages.
the opposite sex.
pressure from advocates of "family values."
strengthen the American family," McCurry said. "That’s the reason
why he’s taken this position."
Defense of Marriage Act creates insecurity among the gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender community.
and Dole are using opposition to marriage to pursue their
candidacy," said Charles Outcalt, director of UCLA’s Lesbian, Gay
and Bisexual Studies Resource Center.
and should not be recognized legally as married couples. However,
they remain unsure of the rationale behind Clinton’s stance.
same-sex marriages," said Jay Wang, chairperson of the Bruin
Republicans.
at the time," he added, concerning his indecisiveness on many
issues.
gay and lesbian marriages are no different than heterosexual
marriages.
community simply do not want homosexuals entitled to the same
privileges as heterosexual couples.
shape about us getting married," said Jill Tordsen-McCall, a
fifth-year English student who is getting married to her partner
this summer.
privileges that heterosexuals get," Tordsen-McCall added. "Getting
married for heterosexuals means you validate your
relationship."
are lobbying for support of the Defense of Marriage Act.
emphasized their desire to be married.
they tell me they want simply the freedom to marry their partners,"
Outcalt said.
bill would allow states a way out of the U.S. Constitution’s "full
faith and credit" clause, which generally makes laws of one state
applicable in another.
judicial proceedings in the arena of same-sex marriage, without
being forced to follow laws of other states.
back to a state circuit court after deciding that a law outlawing
homosexual marriage can be justified only if the courts show a
"compelling government interest."
whether or not same-sex marriages would be legally recognized in
their state, if the Defense of Marriage Act is signed into law.
make their own decisions, yet question how such policies would get
implemented.
it’s a question of intruding upon another state’s sovereignty …
The question would be on how to enact it."
the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community regard Clinton’s position
with skepticism.
include gays and lesbians at the table," said Stephen Monkarsh,
member of the board of Lawyers for Human Rights. "For that, I
admire him greatly. But I think in terms of the marriage issue, I
think it’s unfortunate that he feels condemned to join the
GOP."
marriages, many members of the gay and lesbian community are
saddened by his opposition.
trying to avoid a political firestorm that the gays in the military
issue caused him in ’93," Monkarsh said.
would be," Monkarsh added. "(But) I think it’s really sad because
all citizens should enjoy the right to marriage."
strengthen the American family."
