At a New York fundraiser hosted by leaders in the gay and lesbian community, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry reinforced his commitment to equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians. Joined by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and award-winning actor and writer Harvey Fierstein, Kerry delivered an impassioned speech denouncing the Federal Marriage Amendment as another attempt by George Bush to divide Americans.
‘The American family I know won’t stand for the politics of fear and distortion,’ said Kerry. ‘We won’t stand for those who want to amend our Constitution for political purposes. We won’t stand for those who want to use the most precious document in our history to divide this nation and distract us from their failures.’
An estimated 350 people attended the event, which raised funds for the Kerry campaign and the Democratic National Committee. In addition to his remarks on FMA, Kerry praised the gay and lesbian community for its contributions in the fight against AIDS and spoke about gays and lesbians who have served America in the military.
‘The gay Americans I know have served their country proudly in times of war. Some grew up facing great obstacles and prejudice, but have risen above the pain to raise families of their own,’ said Kerry. ‘The gay Americans I know work hard, pay their taxes and worry about the issues we all care about—good jobs, affordable health care, and a chance to build a better life for their families.’
— From news wires