Free Republic

Same-sex marriage is not the only goal of the gay rights movement. It's becoming clear that another goal is the suppression of Americans' First Amendment right to criticize the gay agenda. The gay lobby tried a broadside attempt to censor criticism by passing a national "hate crimes" law. Fortunately, Congress didn't pass that law, but gay activists are obviously trying to achieve much the same effect through political pressure and intimidation.Scott Bloch, the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in the Bush administration, has been targeted for termination because he removed "sexual orientation" from the list of anti-discrimination...

Marriage traditionalists and pro-family leaders are predicting Wednesday's ruling in New Jersey requiring equal rights for same-sex couples will energize Christian conservatives in eight states where, in less than two weeks, voters will decide whether to amend their state constitutions to preserve traditional marriage.

The Washington Blade, a homosexual newspaper, reported July 14 that the Democratic National Committee has devised “a five-point plan” to combat ballot initiatives to protect traditional marriage in state constitutions, although a DNC spokesman quoted by the Blade would neither confirm nor deny the report to Baptist Press. The Blade said DNC efforts were spurred by a July 6 ruling by New York’s highest court, which held that “the New York Constitution does not compel recognition of marriages between members of the same sex.” Homosexual activists took the New York ruling as a sign to ratchet up efforts in states...

THE WASHINGTON TIMES Legislative votes on amendments to uphold traditional marriage are moving forward in Tennessee, but have been postponed in Wisconsin and Massachusetts. This means that only one state — Kansas — is likely to have a public vote on a marriage amendment this year. That vote is scheduled for April 5. In Tennessee, a marriage constitutional amendment appears to be on its way to a second approval by lawmakers. Last year, lawmakers passed the amendment by a simple majority. This time, they need a two-thirds majority to put the amendment before Tennessee voters in 2006. Recently, both House...

State constitutional amendments defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman are likely to pass in all 11 states where they are on the Nov. 2 ballot, making the amendment a factor in the presidential race in three battleground states — Michigan, Ohio and Oregon. The big question is whether President Bush or Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry will benefit from having the amendment on the ballot. "It's really a fascinating question. I don't have an answer," said Brad Snavely, executive director of the Michigan Family Forum, a traditional-values group that supports Michigan's marriage amendment. "I think...