A proposal to add a new definition of marriage to the nation’s constitutions would have wide-ranging ramifications, including the rights of players, fans and spouses.
It’s part of a broader package of amendments that include a ban on gay marriages in the military, a ban in federal elections and the introduction of a constitutional amendment that would require states to allow gay marriage.
Here are some key points.
Source ESPN News title The big questions and answers on the NFL proposal: What is it about the proposed amendment that makes it so controversial?
And what’s at stake?
Article The proposed amendment is expected to go to the floor of the House and Senate next week, but a major obstacle to passage is the way it would be written and how it would affect the rights and responsibilities of players and the public.
A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) would add “marriage” to the list of protected characteristics, which would allow for discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Kildees proposal also would allow courts to overturn bans on same-sex marriages.
He told the Associated Press last week that if the amendment passed, it would protect players who would be required to marry their players, but not the public or their families.
He also said the amendment would not extend to couples in same-gender relationships.
“We want to make sure the public has the ability to access the best and most fair protections that the constitution provides,” he said.
But the proposal also contains provisions that could give players and their families an unfair advantage.
Under Kildes proposal, a player or his spouse could be denied marriage licenses, while a couple who have a marriage license would be able to have one with their spouse, but could not marry under the proposal.
That provision is also a concern for some members of the LGBT community.
“It’s very clear that you could take that right away,” said Mark D. Smith, the executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, which advocates for equal marriage rights.
“The bill that the House is introducing has a very strong anti-gay agenda, which is going to affect the ability of gay people and their supporters to have their day in court.”
Smith said he worries that it could be interpreted to mean that players and partners could be discriminated against based on the marriage of their partners.
“I think that’s a big concern, because it means that you can be denied the right to marry and your ability to get a marriage licenses,” he added.
“If that’s the intent, it’s very dangerous.”
The proposal also has support from gay rights groups, such as the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
“There’s no doubt that this is going down in the history books as one of the most anti-LGBT amendments in the nation,” said Mara Keisling, executive director and co-founder of the group.
It puts the LGBT agenda before the public’s right to know and privacy and religious freedom,” she added. “
To me, it does everything that the Supreme Court said it would do.
It puts the LGBT agenda before the public’s right to know and privacy and religious freedom,” she added.
Proponents of the bill said it has the support of other groups, including former Vice President Joe Biden and former Gov.
Mike Pence (R-Ind.).
In a statement issued last week, Biden said the bill “does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and will not undermine the core values of our nation.”
“It will protect and strengthen the civil rights of all Americans,” Pence said.
“Our country is stronger together, and I know that this bill will make a difference.”
“It does not discriminate against the LGBTQ community,” Pence added.
In a letter sent to lawmakers last week by Biden, Pence’s office said that the legislation is needed to “ensure that all Americans are treated equally under the law.”
It said that “the proposed amendment will ensure that the federal government does not undermine religious liberty and religious freedoms for any group, including gays and lesbians.”
The letter said the legislation “will ensure that no federal law or regulation will be interpreted by any court or government agency to prohibit the recognition of a same- sex marriage, and that all state and local laws that protect LGBT Americans will not be construed to violate the constitutional rights of individuals to marry or engage in same sex intimate relationships.”
A spokesman for Pence did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
