Equality North Dakota (END), the statewide advocacy organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) North Dakotans, today hailed the vote in the United States Senate to reject the discriminatory Federal Marriage Amendment.  The proposed amendment could have prohibited not only same-sex marriage, but also civil unions and other similar arrangements.

“We applaud the courage of the fifty Senators, including Sens. Conrad and Dorgan of North Dakota, who rejected an amendment which amounts to little more than election-year gay-bashing.  The fact that our opponents could not even muster a majority in the Senate shows that this amendment does not enjoy widespread support.  Recent polls have shown that same-sex marriage ranks last in issues of concern to the majority of the American public,” said Robert Uebel, chairperson of Equality North Dakota.

“Our opponents have tried to tell the American public that their intention is not to discriminate against lesbian and gay Americans, but only to ‘protect’ marriage and children.  Why then are they against any kind of protection for our relationships and our families?  Why then do they consistently oppose even the most basic safeguards for GLBT Americans on the federal level in areas such as employment?” added Larry Peterson, member of the END steering committee.

Equality North Dakota will continue its fight against the proposed marriage amendment to the North Dakota constitution and calls again on North Dakotans to “decline to sign” the petition being circulated by the North Dakota Family Alliance.  “We are encouraged by today’s vote, but we know that the fight is far from over,” concluded Uebel.