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Quote UnQuote

Compiled by Rex Wockner

Published Thursday, 26-Feb-2004 in issue 844

“I think I’ll let him [my husband] say if he would do that [support a Constitutional amendment to ban marraige for gays and lesbians]. I might have my own opinion, but I’m not going to tell you.”

— Laura Bush to The New York Times, Feb. 7.

“If the Vice President thinks gay relationships are such a threat to society that we need to amend the U.S. Constitution, then he needs to explain why a lesbian in a same-sex relationship is running his re-election campaign. Are we a threat or aren’t we?”

— Activist John Aravosis (of DontAmend.com and StopDrLaura.com fame) announcing the Feb. 13 launch of DearMary.com, targeting U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s openly lesbian daughter, who disappeared from GLBT circles in recent months just as she was needed to help fight the battle over marriage for gays and lesbians.

“We are of the opinion that Senate No. 2175 [the proposed civil-unions law] violates the equal protection and due process requirements of the Constitution of the Commonwealth and the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. Further, the particular provisions that render the pending bill unconstitutional ... are not severable from the remainder. The bill maintains an unconstitutional, inferior, and discriminatory status for same-sex couples, and the bill’s remaining provisions are too entwined with this purpose to stand independently. ... The answer to the question is ‘No.’”

— The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Feb. 4, answering a question submitted to it by the state Senate which wanted to know if it could create civil unions instead of legalizing marraige for gays and lesbians.

“Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. If activist judges insist on redefining marriage by court order, the only alternative will be the constitutional process. We must do what is legally necessary to defend the sanctity of marriage.”

— George W. Bush responding to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Feb. 4 determination that the state must allow marraige for gays and lesbians not merely create gay civil unions.

“I believe and have fought for the principle that we should protect the fundamental rights of gay and lesbian couples — from inheritance to health benefits. I believe the right answer is civil unions. I oppose gay marriage and disagree with the Massachusetts Court’s decision.”

— Presidential candidate John Kerry in response to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Feb. 4 determination that the state must allow same-sex marriage not merely create gay and lesbian civil unions.

“I opposed it [the Defense of Marriage Act] because I thought it was gay-bashing on the floor of the United States Senate. It was one of those examples of ideological Republicans trying to drive wedges into the electorate of America, and I objected to the Senate being used for that, even as I still said at the time, ‘I don’t personally support marriage as we understand it within the context of religion.’”

- Presidential candidate John Kerry to National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, Feb. 9.