UNITED FAMILIES INTERNATIONAL'S DEFEND MARRIAGE PROJECT

The mission of United Families International's Defend Marriage project is to help protect the institutions of traditional marriage and the natural family from the growing threats they face today. We carry out our mission primarily through educating the public, policy makers and the media about these threats and the serious negative impacts they are having on our nation. We also conduct legal research, help shape public opinion on these issues and support policies and legislation that will strengthen marriage and the family.




BREAKING NEWS

Alert! The Florida Marriage Protection Amendment is 22,000 signatures short of qualifying for the November ballot. The additional ballots must be collected by January 29, 2008. Go to Florida4Marriage for complete information on how you can sign the petition.

Boston Globe
Homosexual Activists Target Defense of Marriage Act

UFI
Activist Judge in Iowa Rules State DOMA Law Unconstitutional; Marriage Law Foundation Aims to Intervene

CNS News
Maryland Court Says No to Same-Sex 'Marriage'

Baltimore Sun
Maryland Court Upholds Marriage Law

The Ruling

United Families International
Maryland High Court Cites Value to State in Upholding Traditional Marriage

August 2007 Newsletter:
STATES GEARING UP FOR 2008 MARRIAGE AMENDMENT ELECTIONS

There is plenty of activity afoot in the attempts to protect marriage in the year ahead. In the U.S., a handful of states are attempting to shepherd state constitutional marriage amendments toward the 2008 general ballot. In other states, legal skirmishes are threatening marriage as the union of one man and one woman. United Families International's legal team is involved in legal battles to protect marriage in other states. Read More

SIGN THE RESTORE MARRIAGE, CANADA! PETITION

Canada's Parliament voted in 2005 to legalize same-sex "marriage" -- against overwhelming public opinion against it. Months ago, the Parliament voted not to revisit the issue. Please lend your name to a petition asking the government to restore marriage as the union between one man and one woman.

International Appeal to the Canadian Government to Restore Marriage

MARRIAGE: A TIME-HONORED TRADITION

Marriage between man and woman is the time-honored foundation of the institution of the family. This legally recognized and protected union is intended to be life-long, preceded by sexual abstinence and followed by absolute fidelity and loyalty. Such marriage offers security, benefits, and joys that no other relationship can, including children born and nurtured in a home of love and total commitment. Marriage is the institution universally sanctioned by civilization to ensure that children receive a full measure of parental love, resources and attention.

United Families International: It's Time to Strengthen Traditional Marriage

Marriage & Family Briefing Room: Heritage Foundation

•  Marriage

•  Divorce and Remarriage

•  Making Marriage Matter

•  Why is it in the Government's Interest to Save Marriages?

•  Encouraging Marriage and Discouraging Divorce

"MarriagePlus": Sabotaging the President's Efforts to Promote Healthy Marriage: Heritage Foundation

MARRIAGE NEWS

California Governor Vetoes Same-Sex ‘Marriage' Bill again

Homosexuals Hope to Win Marriage Rights with Help from Straight Friends

San Diego City Council, mayor split over same-sex marriage

San Diego City Council declines to sign on to marriage court brief

Activist Judge in Iowa Rules State DOMA Law Unconstitutional; Marriage Law Foundation Aims to Intervene

Marriage Law Foundation's Brief in Rhode Island Marriage Case Before State's Supreme Court

Marriage in California Could End?

Opponents Call for Boycott of Vermont Marriage Panel

A Liberal Explains His Rejection of Same-Sex Marriage

Creighton University, Omaha Diocese Split on Pre-Marital Sex

George Will: When Marriage Became a 'Hate Crime'

Marriages Fall to All-Time Low in U.K.

New York Assembly Supports Same-Sex ‘Marriage' Bill; Senate's Inaction will Kill Legislation

Group Warns Massachusetts Will 'Export' Marriage Destruction

Proposed Constitutional Marriage Amendment Defeated in Massachusetts Legislature

California Assembly Passes Marriage Bypass Bill

North Carolina Speaker Trying to Kill Marriage Amendment Bill

Rhode Island Court to Rule on Same-Sex ‘Marriage'

Canada Apologizes to the World for Same-Sex 'Marriage'
Our Canadian affiliate, Restore Marriage, Canada!, along with 11 other pro-family organizations, has taken the bold step of issuing an apology to the world for their nation having legalized same-sex "marriage." The text of the apology states:

"We are grieved and troubled as we consider the impact this is having in weakening the fundamental institution of marriage in countries and cultures around the world. We understand that because Canada does not impose citizenship or residency requirements in order for same-sex individuals to be 'married' here, couples are coming to Canada to seek legal sanction for their homosexual relationships with the intent of returning to their own countries to challenge those countries' legal definition of marriage."

MARRIAGE COMMENTARY

Maggie Gallagher: What Do Americans Think about Marriage?

Linda Chavez: Celebrating Marriage

Maggie Gallagher: The Future of Marriage

Thomas Sowell: New York Times Story on Marriage Decline Got it Wrong

Gregory Koukl: Same-Sex 'Marriage' — Challenges & Responses

Glenn Stanton on Why Marriage Matters

E. Douglas Clark: Save the Children! What the Marriage Amendment Debate is Really About

William C. Duncan: State Marriage Amendments will not Ban Private Contracts

Monte Stewart Speech at UCLA Marriage Debate, 2006

Jay Sekulow: New Jersey Supreme Court Says No Fundamental Right to Same-Sex 'Marriage'

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse Tells Why We Must Win the Fight for Marriage

Professor Scott FitzGibbon: Testimony in Support of the Federal Marriage Amendment

Professor Richard Wilkins: Why Defend Marriage? Just Look Abroad

Professor Richard Wilkins: Legalizing Same-Sex 'Marriage': A Modern Attack on the Future of America

Marriage in the Courts

COHABITATION

"Guide to Family Issues: Cohabitation vs. Marriage": Part I | Part II

"Cohabitation is very fragile, and when unmarried parents split, for the child it might as well be a divorce. Among those who are marrying there's increased stability, but overall the children of the nation are getting a rawer and rawer deal from their parents." -- Patrick Fagan, Heritage Foundation

DIVORCE

U.S. divorce rate lowest since 1970

"In the past 30 years, we've had more divorce than any culture has ever had. A lot of young adults now are coming out of the family upheaval of the '70s, and they are cohabiting out of fear. They don't want to mess up the nice clean carpet of marriage — they saw their parents do that." – Glenn Stanton, Focus on the Family