"UNITY" STATEMENT SEEN AS MARRIAGE RETREAT: From the Washington Blade

Gay leaders who were not a part of a unity statement released on Thursday by major gay rights groups criticized the collaborative document, noting that marriage equality was featured last on the agenda's priority list.

One gay rights leader went further and said the statement appeared to be political cover for criticism the Human Rights Campaign received last month for what appeared to be a retreat from marriage equality and support for President Bush's efforts to privatize social security.

Joan Garry, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, dubbed the official document, "Civil Rights, Community, Movement," a "state of the union" for the gay rights movement, noting that 22 leaders from major gay rights groups worked to shape the statement.

During a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Garry said the statement was designed to quell pessimism over what some say was a disappointing 2004 election and to show unity within the gay rights movement. The statement articulates the future goals of the signatory groups and reiterates that there will be no retreat from seeking full marriage equality. ...

While all of the leaders agreed that there would be no retreat from the marriage issue, marriage equality was the last item of eight joint goals featured on the statement's priority list.

Robin Tyler, a longtime activist from California who heads DontAmend.com, a national grassroots organization focused on marriage equality, said she was greatly disturbed to learn that marriage equality is not listed higher.

"The fact that they would accept it listed being at the bottom of the page makes me wonder if this issue will now be placed for many of these organizations on the bottom of their list," Tyler said.

"Even though we know every other issue they list is important, recognizing our relationships through marriage equality is the Trojan Horse in which all of the other issues can ride. The grassroots people--who have struggled so valiantly--will not allow any back fighting by any LGBT organization or individual in commitment to this issue." ...

Also discussed during the hour-long phone conversation was the future of legal challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Matt Coles, director of the ACLU's Gay & Lesbian Civil Rights Project, said that if DOMA were to be challenged, lawyers would solely focus on the part of DOMA that denies gay citizens federal benefits.

Left unchallenged would be the portion of DOMA that allows states to refuse recognition to a same-sex marriage performed in another state, out of fear that the legal claim would be rejected, and even if successful might encourage passage of a federal amendment banning gay marriage.

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