By now you have no doubt heard that George W. Bush has formally endorsed the federal anti-marriage amendment. The anti-marriage amendment. The anti-marriage amendment would prevent states and the federal government from granting the legal incidents of marriage to same-sex couples, including hospital visitation rights, child support, health care benefits and inheritance rights, and would prevent all forms of civil marriage and civil unions for such couples.

This news comes at a time when Bush is being questioned about misleading Americans into a rush to war with Iraq, his failure to complete his National Guard service and his failing economic strategy. We believe this endorsement is just a ploy by Bush to turn the attention away from social, economic and foreign policy woes and to polarize the voting public with a wedge issue that he believes will win him more votes.

Given the great influence that presidential support can have on proposed legislation in Congress, now more than ever it is essential that you contact your United States Senators and your Representative (see links below to find your representatives) to voice your opposition to this proposed amendment.

Whether you were for or against the struggle for equal civil marriage rights, Bush has declared war on our community and if we do nothing, we will lose everything.

The proposed federal amendment to the United States Constitution goes much further than banning same-sex marriage (which already is banned by the current federal law, entitled the Defense of Marriage Act). The amendment would ban any form of governmental recognition of same-sex relationships, including civil unions.

States like Vermont which provide for civil unions, as well as California and Hawaii which provide for domestic partner benefits would be precluded from doing so.

If passed, this amendment would destroy the possibility of using the constitution as a basis for obtaining equal rights for our relationships.

All of us together must pledge to do everything in our power to send a message to Bush and other right-wing extremists -- WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE.

If you agree that this anti-gay marriage nonsense has gone far enough here is what you can do:

1. Sign the Million for Marriage Petition on the Human Rights Campaign web site: http://www.hrc.org/millionformarriage/index.shtml. When you sign the petition, HRC will deliver your message to key leaders in Congress and in state legislatures around the country!

2. Call or write to your Senators and Representative and let them know you oppose a federal amendment to the constititution.  To write to your Representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep/ .  To find your Representative:  http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

3. Believe it or not, you can make a huge difference just by talking to the people who know and love you.  Tell them what this issue means to you and your family.  Remember that they are being flooded in their churches, at work and in the media with lies and half-truths about the homosexual "agenda" and lifestyle."  Here are a few facts you can share:

We have the numbers to survive this assault on our dignity and civil rights. If we all pledge to do our part and work together with our allies, elected officials who use this constitutional amendment as a wedge to get power for themselves will ultimately learn that the majority of American people are fair and equality minded. Politicians who align themselves with hatred and bigotry will soon find themselves looking for another job.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your help in passing it along.