In this issue:
- Commentary: The Good and Bad in the House Marriage Debate
- We Need Your Generous Financial Support to Defend Marriage!
- Marriage Constitutional Amendments Will Be on the Ballot in All Eleven States
- Same Sex Marriage Becoming a Campaign Issue At All Levels
- Canadian High Court Will Rule on Same Sex Marriage Legislation
- Louisiana Judge Overturns Marriage Constitutional Amendment
- Other News Items of Interest
The Good and Bad in the House Marriage Debate
Dear Defender of Marriage,
Since I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the recent
House debate on the Marriage Protection Amendment Richard Wilkins
suggested that I take his usual space in this newsletter and
share with you some of the thoughts and observations that were
dramatically refocused for me during that historic debate.
It was particularly disturbing to me to see literally
scores of congressmen speak and vote against protecting the
vital institution of marriage. At the same time, after
listening to the passionate and eloquent speeches from House
members in support of traditional marriage--despite the hostile,
name-calling environment--I was also inspired and reassured
that there is still hope to preserve marriage. But it was also
clear that it is going to take a great deal of work.
Only a decade ago, who would have thought that we would see
this day when standing up for marriage as the union between
a man and a woman would be considered “hateful?”
But, unbelievably, several congressmen pronounced that defending
marriage is “mean-spirited” and proclaimed that
supporters of the Marriage Protection Amendment are “bigots.”
Even more fundamentally, who would have foreseen the
day when the only way to preserve marriage for our children
and future generations would be to amend our Constitution?
Underlying the House debate was the threat posed to our democratic
system by judges who increasingly are “’legislating
from the bench.” In many ways, they are as much of a threat
to our future as a nation as is the actual assault on marriage,
the family and the other basic institutions that are so essential
for a healthy society.
When I speak to audiences about the seriousness of the threats
to marriage, the family and our democratic form of government
I am concerned that some may conclude that I am exaggerating.
But, as a reader of Defend Marriage Newsletter, I know that
you understand how real and imminent these threats truly are.
Our challenge, the one on which our children’s
future depends, is to help those who are now skeptical to not
only understand how real these threats are but to take action
to counter them.
We have an excellent opportunity to help accomplish that over the next few weeks by passing as many of the eleven state constitutional marriage amendments on Election Day as possible. The efforts in these states are educating millions of voters on the importance of defending marriage and the serious threats to it. The more of these states that amend their constitutions, the more the citizens in other states will also be educated.
United Families International’s Defend Marriage Project and some of our state chapters in these states are focusing most of their efforts between now and the election on passing these amendments. But all of us, no matter where we live, can and must help.
I urge you to contact anyone you know in these ballot amendment states (Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Utah) and encourage them to work actively for passage of their state marriage amendments.
We also urgently need your financial support for these marriage amendment campaigns. The section below explains how you can easily and safely contribute on line or by mail. I can personally assure you that every dollar contributed to any United Families project is used effectively and efficiently.
Finally, during the House debate, I was reminded once again of the truth so well expressed by Edmund Burke that “all that is required for evil to triumph is for enough good men (and women!) to do nothing.”
Time is short. The election is only three weeks from today. Please join us in this fight to protect marriage and the family and our children’s future!
Sincerely,
Sharon Slater
President
P.S. Click here to read a more in depth account of the House marriage debate in my article, “How Does Same Sex Marriage Hurt Your Marriage, Our Children, and Society”. It gives my detailed observations on the significance and implications of the arguments used by the congressmen who opposed the Marriage Protection Amendment.
We Need Your Generous Financial Support to Defend Marriage!
With only three weeks left until Election Day it is imperative that we put the maximum effort into passing marriage amendments in all eleven states where they will be on the ballot. To do that, we need your generous financial support. Please consider making a contribution of at least $25 if you can, but any amount you can afford will be helpful. If enough people contribute at least a little, it makes a huge difference.
You can easily and securely make a contribution online or print out a form to mail in a contribution.
Your contribution will be made to United Families International (UFI), a 501 (c )(3) organization, so it is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Defend Marriage is a project of UFI.
To specifically designate your contribution
If you would like to designate your contribution to go entirely to the Defend Marriage Project you can easily do so by making a contribution that ends with 4 cents, i.e. $25.04, $173.04, $1,000,000.04, and so on. That will automatically flag it to be applied entirely to Defend Marriage.
In six states, Arkansas, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, and Utah, United Families state chapters rather than the Defend Marriage Project are taking the lead in our campaigns to support their ballot amendments. To designate your contribution to go entirely to the effort in that state, simply make a contribution through the appropriate state Web site by clicking on that state in the list above. All contributions made through these state Web sites are automatically coded and used to support the efforts in that state.
Thank you in advance for your generous support!
Marriage Constitutional Amendments Will Be On the Ballot in All Eleven States
With court challenges by opponents turned back in the final few states, marriage state constitutional amendments will be on the ballots in all 11 states where they were qualified by petition or action by the state legislature. These states are: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Utah.
Same Sex Marriage Becoming a Campaign Issue At All Levels
Same-sex marriage is clearly a campaign issue at the presidential level, with it figuring prominently in stump speeches and some of the debates. For an analysis by Fox News of the way it is emerging as a wedge issue in the presidential race, click here.
But marriage increasingly is emerging as a campaign issue in a number of congressional races across the country as well. As an example, State Rep. Marvin Parks, who is challenging Arkansas Second District Congressman Vic Sanders, is making a major campaign issue of Rep. Sander’s refusal to answer questions posed by a local newspaper requesting the candidates stand on same sex marriage. Article here.
Following the House vote on the marriage constitutional amendment on September 30, where virtually every congressman was forced to take a clear position on marriage, the issue will be focused even more sharply in voter’s minds between now and Election Day.
Canadian High Court Will Rule On Same Sex Marriage Legislation
The Supreme Court of Canada has held a three day hearing on a series of questions related to legislation to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide was referred to it by the Government. The court was asked for its opinion on whether Parliament can pass the bill, whether language in the bill will truly protect clergy from having to perform same sex marriages, whether it is in accord with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and whether a requirement that marriage only be between heterosexuals is constitutional. After receiving the court’s opinions, expected in several months, the Government plans to introduce the bill sometime next year. Article here.
Louisiana Judge Overturns Marriage Constitutional Amendment
A Louisiana judge has overturned the constitutional amendment passed overwhelmingly by Louisiana voters several weeks ago on the grounds that the language covers more than one issue, a violation of the state’s constitution. Opponents brought a similar charge before the election and were rejected by the courts. Amendment backers are planning an appeal. Several other states with marriage amendments on their ballots have similar constitutional restrictions, opening the way for further challenges in those states as well once the amendments are adopted. Article here.
Other News Items of Interest
- “Judge targeted for same-sex ruling” reports the effort by the Campaign for California Families to recall the judge who upheld AB 205, California’s domestic partnership law. Article here.
- By a margin of 2 to 1 New Mexico voters oppose legalizing same-sex marriage “Journal Poll: Gay Marriage a No-Go in N.M” reports. Article here.
- “Spain's cabinet backs same-sex marriage,” reports that the Spanish Government is sending a bill to Parliament to legalize same-sex marriage in Spain, a bill that is expected to pass handily. Article here.
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United Families International PO Box 2630 Gilbert, AZ 85299-2630
Phone: (480) 632-5450 • FAX: (480) 892-4417