CLINTON PREPARED TO SIGN BILL IGNORING GAY MARRIAGES.Byline: Steven Thomma and Robert Rankin For the mathematician see Robert Alexander Rankin. For the Conservative politician see Sir Robert Rankin, 1st Baronet. This article has several unsourced statements which may contain original research or unverified claims. Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire Eager to defuse de·fuse tr.v. de·fused, de·fus·ing, de·fus·es 1. To remove the fuse from (an explosive device). 2. To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile: a potentially divisive fight over gay rights, the White House announced Wednesday that President Clinton would sign a congressional proposal designed to deny nationwide recognition of gay marriages. Every state now recognizes marriages performed in any other U.S. state A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States, although four states use the official title "commonwealth". The separate state governments and the federal government share sovereignty, in that an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and . The proposed legislation would deny homosexual marriages automatic recognition in other states if, as expected, Hawaii soon becomes the first state to recognize gay marriages. The legislation, pending before committees in the House and Senate, defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and it would allow states to ignore gay marriages in other states. ``If presented to him as currently written, he would sign it,'' said White House spokesman Mike McCurry. Clinton has long said he opposes gay marriages, and McCurry repeated that opposition a week ago. But McCurry did not promise until Wednesday that the president would sign the legislation. The prospect of debating gay marriages conjured up memories of Clinton's politically disastrous move in his first days as president to allow gays to serve openly in the military. After a torrent of criticism, Clinton backed down and agreed to the ``Don't ask, don't tell'' policy that allows gays to serve while keeping their sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. secret. The announcement Wednesday appeared to be aimed at concerns of the middle class, which largely opposes gay marriages. But it outraged gay activists, one of Clinton's strongest constituencies. Republicans have been hoping to use the gay-marriage issue to embarrass embarrass /em·bar·rass/ (em-bar´as) to impede the function of; to obstruct. em·bar·rass v. To interfere with or impede (a bodily function or part). Clinton. Although Republican presidential candidate Sen. Bob Dole has said little about gay marriages - his only reference came in a February letter in which he endorsed the anti-gay legislation in Congress - GOP colleagues in Congress started pushing the issue several weeks ago. As recently as a week ago, gay activists were confident that Clinton would see the marriage legislation as a political ploy and refuse to sign the legislation. White House aides confidently predicted that the gay community would understand Clinton's decision, and continue to support him because of his record of supporting gay rights, including appointing gays in his administration. ``While some organizations may disagree with Verb 1. disagree with - not be very easily digestible; "Spicy food disagrees with some people" hurt - give trouble or pain to; "This exercise will hurt your back" the president's position on this specific bill, the president has a very solid and good record on issues they care about,'' said Deputy White House Press Secretary Ginny Terzano. ``We have a very healthy relationship with the gay and lesbian community,'' she said. She said the decision stemmed from Clinton's ``personal belief'' that it is wrong for people of the same sex to marry one another. Despite White House confidence, reaction Wednesday from the gay community was swift and angry. ``It is deeply disappointing that the president has chosen the politically expedient course of action, rather than standing up to gratuitous Bestowed or granted without consideration or exchange for something of value. The term gratuitous is applied to deeds, bailments, and other contractual agreements. gay bashing Gay bashing is an expression used to designate verbal confrontation with, denigration of, or physical violence against people thought to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT) because of their apparent sexual orientation or gender identity. ,'' said Elizabeth Birch Elizabeth Birch (born 1956, Dayton, Ohio) is an American attorney and former corporate executive who came to Washington in January of 1995 to head the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT organization. , executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian political organization. |
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