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President Bush today called for passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that if ratified, would define marriage as a union only between one man and one woman.

"What this president has done is appalling and is not in defense of anything, instead its a promotion of hate and bigotry against taxpaying American citizens solely on the basis of their sexual orientation" says Perry Slone, Director of Ohio Citizens for Social Justice (OCSJ), an organization working to create social change and address social justice issues.

"This man is only interested in getting himself re-elected, and those of us who support diversity and freedom must do everything we can do to defeat him and also work to defeat this hateful Amendment" says Slone.

Democratic Presidential candidates John Kerry and John Edwards, are opposed to same-sex marriage, but they also oppose a constitutional amendment, saying that its an issue that should be decided by the states and not the federal government.

A constitutional amendment must be passed by a 2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate, then be ratified by a minimun of 38 states in order to become law.

"Rather than focus on the economy, the staggering loss of jobs, the millions in our country who have no health insurance, children who are homeless and hungry, this man chose to abuse his office in order to support discrimination against citizens" says Slone. "The time of complacency is now over, its time to stand up and prevent Bush and right-wing bigots from turning the Constitution against our own citizens" says Slone.