With the Federal Marriage Amendment being voted on as early as June 5, South Dakota needs strong leadership from its Congressional delegation opposing discrimination against gay and lesbian families as well as many heterosexual couples. Write to Sen. Johnson, Sen. Thune, and Rep. Herseth and encourage them to publicly oppose any effort that would write discrimination into the state or federal constitution and waste time on wedge issues instead of real problems.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I'm writing you to encourage you to vote no on the Federal Marriage Amendment as well as publicly oppose Amendment C in South Dakota.

Any amendment that takes prohibits people from being treated fairly and equally is wrong and has no place enshrined in our Constitution. The FMA would say that gay and lesbian couples are less American than heterosexual couples.

What is even more frightening is the message that your vote on the FMA will send to your constituents in South Dakota.

South Dakotans will vote on Amendment C, a ban on civil unions, domestic partnerships, "quasi-marital" relationships, and marriage for gay and lesbian couples this November. If this amendment passes it could have unintended consequences such as limiting domestic violence protection, decreasing access to health care and insurance, circumscribing tribal sovereignty, and problems we have yet to discover. Your vote on the FMA will send the message that Amendment C is good policy, too.

Amendment C is reckless and far-reaching. We need your support in publicly opposing Amendment C.

Please work with South Dakotans Against Discrimination and issue a statement from your office saying you do not support Amendment C because of its unintended consequences and its attempt to write discrimination into South Dakota's constitution.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 15, 2006