LGBT CAUCUS DENOUNCES
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS TO CODIFY DISCRIMINATION

Statement contradicts American principles of freedom and equality

Sacramento, CA - The California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus today expressed their profound disappointment with President George W. Bush's remarks at a White House news conference calling for a federal law codifying the denial of marriage between same-sex couples. 

In a letter sent to President Bush, the LGBT Caucus called the President's comments as "un-American, divisive, politically motivated, and disregarded the civil rights of millions of Americans." 

The Caucus also highlighted the fact that "several U.S. Allies including the Netherlands, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, and our neighbor to the north, Canada, are in the process of extending full equality to gay and lesbian couples." 

The Caucus further stated that: 

Millions of Americans are already being discriminated against under the "Defense of Marriage Act," which has the sole purpose of making same-sex marriage illegal.  Instead of working to ensure that all families have the basic legal protections under the law, you are reinforcing this discriminatory policy by calling for a second federal law to ban same-sex marriage.

The California Legislative LGBT Caucus was originally formed in June 2002.  The members include Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Christine Kehoe, the Caucus chair, Senator Sheila James Kuehl, and Assemblymembers Jackie Goldberg, John Laird, and Mark Leno.  The caucus’ role is to present a forum for the California Legislature to discuss issues that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for ALL Californians.  The LGBT Caucus’ formation made California the first state in the country to recognize an official caucus of openly-LGBT state legislators.

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