A question for DUers who were around during the civil rights movement

Was there ever an organized effort to add amendments to state constitutions and/or the US constitution in order to prevent civil rights? Did anyone even suggest the possibility of amending the constitution?

I'm asking because it seems that throughout our history, Americans have always felt that constitutional amendments were very important - changing the documents our country and our states were founded upon was never taken lightly. Also, with the exception of prohibition (which affected everyone equally), amendments were always used to expand the rights of the people, not take them away. Perhaps I'm wrong about this. If so, please enlighten me. :-)

I am FURIOUS that the GOP has taken something as serious as a constitutional amendment and made it a political tool to be used against one group of people. How dare they?!?!? They have completely diminished the significance of an amendment and from now on, whenever some bigoted group wants to "rally the troops" against a certain group of people, they're going to attempt to amend the constitution.

Why are some people so willing to use the amendment process to take rights away from people? That goes against everything this country stands for, yet millions of people - not just fanatics, but average Americans - think there's nothing wrong with it. These amendments are not just defining marriage between a man and a woman, they also say that gay couples can't even have any rights that resemble marriage. How did millions of people come to believe that it was perfectly alright to do that? :shrug:


I know ... I'm singing to the choir here, but everyday, I see countless threads about attempts to take away the rights and protections gay people already have and/or prevent them from getting further legal protection. I'm not gay, but the issue goes beyond sexual orientation. As an AMERICAN, I find it incredibly offensive because it runs contrary to everything this country is supposed to stand for. :-(

/end rant


edited:typo :blush:

in the South. I think the only reason they didn't try to get an amendment passed is that there wasn't the political support from the rest of the Democratic Party to do it. Remember at the time that, sadly, segregationists were Democrats, namely because Lincoln was a Republican. Frankly, I think northern Dems just wouldn't cater to the racists. Of course, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the racists left the Dems for the repukes, who apparently think that encouraging racism/bigotry/hatred is just fine.

join a group to fight it. It is essential that those of us who feel this way who are not LGBT join up and fight all of this alongside those being targeted. The people being discriminated against have always needed people outside their group to help them, it has always been the case. I know that there are people who are more willing to discuss these things with me because I am "like them". There are others who look at me like I am a virus but you can't talk to them anyway. Join up if you have not, even a membership in a group is helpful. Membership numbers help show strength.

Historically, marriage is about property and other entitlements. While the commitment and association between people is surely a right, the state is concerned not with love or commitment but only with custody, ownership, and other entitlements.

In limiting such entitlements to people according to sexual orientation is, also quite literally, discriminatory. It establishes a privilege to a majority that's denied to a minority ... which is antithetical to liberalism, but not democracy. (That's why I'm a liberal first and a democrat second.)


Let's be clear on the basic terminology. An 'entitlement' is a de jure privilege or authority, backed by the power of government. Titles such as "prince," "duke," "baron," and "owner" are established by government, not nature, and enforced by the police powers of that government. Unlike 'rights,' which are inalienable and natural, 'entitlements' exist solely as a result of governmental fiat.

Next thing you know, the Moonie-BushCo Axis of Evil will be picking your spouse for you and handing out vouchers for children.