Members of a Lawrence gay and lesbian organization were taken aback by U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback's speech Monday proposing that gay marriages be outlawed.
"It's hard to believe that he stands there and suggests that gay marriage will weaken his marriage," said Bruce Ney, vice president of NetworQ.
The Senate is debating an amendment to the Constitution that states, "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman."
Brownback, R-Kan., is the co-sponsor of the amendment.
Within the first few minutes of his speech, Brownback addressed the issue by saying it "is not a battle over civil rights."
The statement instantly ignited NetworQ members.
"It's always easy for the person who has the right to say it's not about that. Once you deny something to someone else, you're taking away a right," Ney said.
Brownback said gay marriage would weaken the institution of marriage and therefore could make children more likely to commit crimes, have early and promiscuous sex, and commit suicide.
Brownback presented data such as rates of child crime, sex and suicide and related it to broken families.
"If we were truly concerned about the children of this country, then we should be working on educating them rather than working on an issue that is already prohibited in this state," said Dave Greenbaum, of NetworQ.
Mike Silverman, a NetworQ member, said he found the message hurtful.
6News video: Brownback's support of constitutional amendment disappoints advocates (7-12-04)"He's saying our families are somewhat less than his family. It sends the wrong message about Kansas and what the U.S. is really about," he said.
NetworQ is a Lawrence organization that is a networking tool for gays and lesbians in the area. The group has about 70 members.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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