WASHINGTON - Following a press conference today attended by Sen. Edward Kennedy, Rep. John Lewis, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Executive Director Wade Henderson and other civil rights and religious leaders, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, issued the following statement:

"It is a real threat to millions of Americans when the Republican leadership stands on the Senate floor and gives license to treat gay and lesbian Americans as second-class citizens. It is shameful that with a war raging in Iraq and gas prices continuing to skyrocket that this president and the Republican leadership in Congress would rather spend precious time debating a divisive and discriminatory amendment to the Constitution. Make no mistake about it, the debate happening on the floor of the United States Senate today is whether we are going to undermine our Constitution and deny rights to millions of Americans by singling them out for discrimination."

Civil rights organizations and leaders across the spectrum oppose the Federal Marriage
Amendment, including:

ﾴAnti-Defamation League

ﾴLeadership Conference on Civil Rights

ﾴLeague of United Latin American Citizens

ﾴNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People

ﾴNational Council of La Raza

ﾴNational Hispanic Leadership Agenda

ﾴNational Organization for Women

ﾴNational Urban League

ﾴNational Women's Law Center

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.