April 24, 2013
Column #1,652
Five More States Considering Same-Sex Marriage
By Mike McManus

Five Democratic states are considering adopting same-sex marriage (SSM): Delaware, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Illinois and Nevada. Nine states and Washington DC have legalized it (CT, VT, NH, IA, WA, ME, MD, MA and NY).

Below I outline seven reasons to oppose SSM.

First, details on the issue in five new states:

Delaware: The House approved a bill this week to create SSM, but it still must be passed by the Senate – where “It can be stopped,” asserts Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

Rhode Island: “Is likely to be a loss,” confesses Brown. The House approved SSM, and a Senate Committee voted for it this week. All five Republican Senators approved it.

Minnesota: A bipartisan group of legislators introduced the bill, but it has not yet passed the House or Senate. NOM and Minnesota for Marriage organized 1,500 people outside the State Capitol demonstrating against it. A tough fight ahead.

Illinois: Senate approved SSM in February. The House has not scheduled a vote due to opposition by black pastors and conservative Democrats. Hopeful for opponents.

Nevada: The Senate voted to redefine marriage, but even if the Legislature agrees, the vote must be repeated in 2015, and voters can vote NO in 2016. Why? Nevada is one of 31 states whose constitutions define marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

What’s wrong with same-sex marriage?

First, “Gay unions are not marriage,” says Maggie Gallagher, founder of NOM. “Marriage involves a husband and a wife for a reason. You need a male and a female to create a baby to continue the race. Gay marriage cuts marriage off from its roots and in human nature.

“Second, what they redefine will lead to changes in what schools teach about marriage. A new anti-bullying provision in New York led to asking 13-year-old girls to pretend they are lesbians, and asked them to kiss one another in a school assembly. Parents who object are called `homophobic bigots,’” complained Gallagher.

Third, “When you redefine marriage, you make massive changes in the law,” argues NOM’s Brown. “Catholic Charities adoption programs had to be shut down in Illinois, Massachusetts” (and Washington DC) because they allow adoptions only by male-female couples.

“A florist was sued by Washington State because she refused to send flowers to a same-sex wedding. They are using the law to oppress and marginalize those for whom marriage is a union of a man and a woman. There were plenty of florists they could have gone to. Why pick on this one? Should the state sue as if there were no other florists? While they talk about `marriage equality’ the state can go after you. Their claim that they believe in live and let live – is a myth.”

Fourth, SSM “Is a frontal attack on religious liberty,” Brown argues. “In states that have not redefined marriage, there are strong protections. Anti-discrimination laws that existed before same-sex marriage – are dismantled. After SSM, parental rights to withdraw children from classes – be damned!”

Fifth, most mainstream media is deeply pro-gay marriage. When the Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of California’s Prop 8 that limited marriage to heterosexuals, and the Defense of Marriage Act – NOM mobilized 10,000 March for Marriage demonstrators outside the Court – far more than pro-gay supporters. However, “only the British press said we had more people there,” sighed Brown.

I did not see one story in the press or network TV which made the point that Federal Judge Vaughn Walker who overturned the vote of 7 million Californians in favor of traditional marriage – is himself gay and living with a gay man. He should have withdrawn from the case.

Sixth, over 90% of gays and lesbians are NOT interested in marrying. in 2012 there were 18,000 gay or lesbian “marriages” in California. However, experts estimate 1.7% of the state’s 38 million people are gay or lesbian – 646,000 people.

Only 5.5% of the state’s gays and lesbians married when they could do so.

My question for the Supreme Court – and America is simple. Why should 5.5% of 1.7% of the population force a redefinition of traditional marriage on a state or the nation?

Seventh, as Jesus said, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one.’”

We heterosexuals and Christians must fight for traditional marriage as the best place to raise children. As Grace Evans, 11, asked Minnesota legislators: “Which parent do I not need – my mom or my dad?”