The Unitarian Universalist Association, which represents more than 1,000 congregations in North America, long has supported rights for those of all sexual orientations.

policy decision," said Rob Keithan, of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations in Washington, D.C. "It's really all about discrimination and social politicking at its worst."

The association issued a statement in 1970 opposing discrimination against homosexuals and has been calling for full, legal marriage equality for same-sex couples since 1996.

The Rev. Butch Henderson, pastor at Claremont United Church of Christ, said the organization cares more about whether couples are in committed, loving relationships than their gender or who they're attracted to.

"The stance of the United Church of Christ focuses on love and justice in all relationships," Henderson said. "Sexual orientation is not an issue of immorality, it's about being created in the image of God, and we believe gay people are created in the image of God."

"Many, if not most of today's accepted ideas were liberal radical ideas of yesterday," he said. "Martin Luther King was labeled as a communist, and he went on to get a Nobel Peace Prize."

The Marriage Protection Amendment faces a steep uphill climb toward passage, especially in an election year when politicians might be hesitant to alienate voters over such a sensitive issue.

By defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, the amendment would preclude states such as Massachusetts from sanctioning same-sex marriage.

That state's law likely would become unconstitutional, Silverman said. It's unclear whether domestic-partnership laws would be affected. That battle likely will play out in the courts, he said.

Fundamentalist and evangelical Christians argue judges are chipping away at the institution of marriage with their decisions, which could not be accomplished by democratic means.

In California, domestic-partnership laws grant same-sex couples some of the same rights of married couples, including tax breaks, the ability to make medical decisions for a partner and inheritance rights, Silverman said.

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