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Thank you for working toward "Justice For All"!

First, please let me express my gratitude to you, once more, for your support in the fight against fear, ignorance and hatred and for equality. From the response to the first email distributed on the weekend of July 4, 2004 to over 16000 hits to the site (initiated in September of 2004) in just over the first two months alone...your support has been so generous. (We now stand at almost 42,000 hits.)

Unfortunately, there are now more and larger challenges in the area of marriage equality than ever. Therefore, the site is being updated and reconstructed to maintain participation in these battles.

• As we have since the beginning, we will push to highlight the differences between civil and religious marriage. This is addressed at length on the FAQ page. These facts are often ignored by those who wish to frame the discussion of marriage in ignorance and fear. Specifics such as the truths that civil marriage provides access to over 1,000 Federal protections, responsibilities and benefits as well as many afforded by states individually and that churches would not be forced to perform ceremonies for same-sex couple are often kept out of the conversation.

• As addressed in the first email in July of 2004, we will work to feature the dangers of a majority deciding the fate of a minority and the use of the constitution to deny rights and to codify discrimination.

• We will continue attempt to provide tools to assist with contacting your elected officials as well as local media to HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

• We will continue to feature new UNITED VOICES of faith, politics, civil rights, the media and "we the people".

• We will never ask for monetary donations, rather the more valuable gift of voices of support and education.

• We will work to follow current situations. Some of the most recent areas of concern include:

• The next round of battle regarding the reintroduced Federal Marriage Amendment that would ban same-sex marriage and put civil unions and domestic partnerships at risk with a vote scheduled in less than one month.

• In response to a letter sent by one of his constituents calling for Michigan State Senator Mike Goschka (R-Saginaw) to "abide by Joyce Draganchuck's recent ruling declaring that the Marriage Amendment does not prohibit public employers from offering domestic partnership health care benefits", Senator Goschka wrote:

"Homosexual and lesbian unions under any arrangements does not, and never will, constitute a family."

(He also was among the signers to a letter sent to the AFL-CIO admonishing the organization for taking a stand against constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage.)

• A new study finds that same sex marriage bans cause psychological trauma. The National Sexuality Resource Center at San Francisco State University explores the impact of discrimination and marriage on the mental health and well-being of gay men and lesbians and concludes that denying them the rights to marry causes psychological and social harm to them, their families and children. Utilizing over 150 studies complied from over a 20-year time span, the researchers found a strong correlation between marriage and a sense of well being. In the conclusion, the researchers state that "...marriage is not only a primary means for achievement of social, legal, moral, political and economic benefits and rights in the United States but also a critical way to enhance the authenticity of the self and intimate relations."

An article by Anthony Baldman can be found here

The report "I Do, But I Can't" (Adobe Reader required) can be found here

WE WANT YOU! If you have ideas or would like to help with Justice For All, let us know. (And we are really pushing to expand our contact list. Please help us spread the word. Alerts and contacts are generated as judiciously as possible.)

As always, my most sincere appreciation for your involvement and for helping to illustrate the similarities between people and to not accept the efforts by some to divide.

Finally, much gratitude for your patience as the site updating continues and pages evolve.

Chris

June, 2006

The State Of Michigan Amendment Wording:

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO SPECIFY WHAT CAN BE RECOGNIZED AS A "MARRIAGE OR SIMILAR UNION" FOR ANY PURPOSE.

This amends the state constitution to provide that "the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as marriage or similar union for any purpose. "

Why We Voted NO:

(Here’s a short list. Please check out the FAQ and INJUSTICE pages for more information.)

  • The amendment would ban all civil unions/domestic partnerships for both gay and straight couples.
  • The amendment would obstruct government entities such as state universities (including The University of Michigan and Michigan State University) and local governments from offering domestic partnership benefits to employees and could remove any such benefits these entities already offer to both gay and straight couples.
  • The amendment would force employers to cancel already offered insurance and pension benefit programs to thousands of unmarried Michigan couples both gay and straight. This would affect health care coverage for many of Michigan’s children.
  • The amendment could nullify Michigan civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on marital status and make it legal for landlords to refuse to rent to unmarried couples, gay or straight.
  • The amendment could void wills, medical directives, insurance policies, joint bank accounts and home ownership agreements.
  • The amendment could eliminate hospital visitation rights for partners, property inheritance, child custody and visitation as well as funeral and burial decisions
Who's Said What:

“The Pledge of Allegiance says ‘… with liberty and justice for all.’
What part of ‘all’ don’t you understand?”

Pat Schroeder, U.S. Senator

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."
Civil Rights Leader Coretta Scott King

"I must tell you I am ashamed when top leaders in this country and citizens of this country and even the president of the United States suggest to the people of this country that there should be an amendment to the constitution to take away rights from people rather than giving rights to people,"
Congressman Richard Gephardt

"It's not worth taking health care away from even one child"
David Hecker, President, Michigan Federation of Teachers, August 31st, 2004.

"How is my marriage under attack if two gays or lesbians down the street want to make a lifelong commitment to themselves? Love is bigger than government. Think about that."
Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura

"As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality."
George Washington, 1790

“We who have suffered so much should also be the most compassionate."
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. - Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, Harvard University


Other Places We Have Been:

Pride Source

LoveIsLoveIsLove.com

Team (Margaret) Cho Blog

Michigan Democratic Party 2004 Platform Committee and Convention

Bootleg Betty
Left column under "Take Back America"

The Ann Arbor News - Will and Grace Sail into the Sunset

Ann Arbor Mayoral candidate Jane Lumm provided a link to Justice For All on the "issues" page of her official election website. Thank you, Ms. Lumm!


Recent Articles & Postings of Note:

A transcript of the civil equality speech by Virginia Delegate David Englin (D), who served in the Balkans while in the Air Force and who was in the Pentagon on September 11.

Rep. Wenke's (R) statement against constitutionalized discrimination.

Rep. Drolet (R) takes stand with "activist governor" Reagan on discrimination.


Quick Links:

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