Bill To Reject Gay Marriages Sparks Insults In Congress
Members of Congress traded insults Thursday, accusing each other of bigotry and being soft on family values a day before the House planned to vote on a bill that would reject gay marriage in federal law.
President Clinton joined the fray by repeating assurances that he opposes discrimination against any group of Americans. But he nevertheless will sign the bill, the White House said, because he “has long opposed same-sex marriage.”
House debate was scheduled to resume Friday on the bill, which would define marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.
Its sponsor, Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga., said the bill wouldn’t block any state from legalizing gay marriages, but other states would have the authority to reject their validity.
Married gay couples would remain ineligible for spousal benefits under the Social Security and any other federal benefit reserved for heterosexual couples.
Some opponents believe states already have the power to reject gay marriages performed out of state. And Democrats have said the bill was timed to whip up anti-gay passions only months before this year’s presidential election.
“Red herrings are flying fast and furious,” Barr said from the House floor Thursday. Marriage is “under direct assault by homosexual extremists all across this country.”
“This bill … is an absolute outrage,” said Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo. “If you think there isn’t enough hate and polarization in America, you’re going to love this bill.”
Conservatives in the House and the Senate say the legislation is needed to blunt the effects of a gay rights case that could lead Hawaii to become the first state to grant gays the right to marry.
If that happens, the Constitution may require other states to recognize gay marriages performed in Hawaii. The case goes to trial in September.
“There are some values that deserve protection,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “It isn’t a political issue. … It’s a very important family values issue.”
An openly gay member of Congress was among the most outspoken opponents of the bill.
“How does the fact that I love another man … threaten your marriage?” said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., one of Congress’ three openly gay members. “Are your relationships with your spouses of such fragility that the fact that I have a loving relationship with another man jeopardizes them? What is attacking you?”
Rep. Steve Largent, R-Okla., said history shows that gay marriage would hasten the decline of American culture.
“No culture that has ever embraced homosexuality has ever survived,” Largent said.