WASHINGTON, JULY 14, 2004—Following the Senate’s defeat of a measure that would have allowed a constitutional amendment protecting the traditional definition of marriage to move forward, The Heritage Foundation today issued the following statement by Jennifer Marshall, director of domestic policy studies:

“This is a wake-up call to Americans: They can no longer take even the institution of marriage for granted. The bedrock of our society is under attack by a group of unelected judges, some of whom have claimed that traditional marriage is founded on nothing more than prejudice. Yet the Senate today refused to give the American people a chance to respond. This despite the fact that most senators, like the people they represent, say they oppose same-sex marriage.

“This is a low point in Senate history. By refusing to consider a constitutional amendment, half of the senators are ducking an issue of fundamental importance and preventing the American people from engaging in the debate—leaving marriage in the hands of a renegade judiciary.

“This is merely the opening salvo in one of the most important debates our country has ever faced. Round one is finished, but the fight is far from over.”