New York, NY, June 7, 2006 … While pleased that the Senate could not muster enough votes to approve the so-called "Marriage Protection Amendment," the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed dismay that the Senate would even attempt to vote on a measure that would discriminate against gay Americans.  The Senate voted 49-48 in favor of ending debate and proceeding to a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.  Sixty votes were needed to end debate.

"While we are pleased that the vote fell far short of the supermajority needed for a constitutional amendment, we are dismayed that members of the Senate would even consider, much less bring to a vote a ban on gay marriage, a measure that would discriminate against a specific group of Americans," said Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "It is anathema to American principles of democracy to target an entire class of people for social, economic and civil discrimination."

ADL previously had written to Senators urging them to reject any constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.  In a series of letters to Republican and Democratic Senate leaders, ADL has noted that the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Romer v. Evans made clear that the singling out of any group for discriminatory treatment was against American constitutional tradition.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.