Never in the history of the world has the institution of man/woman marriage been under such aggressive assault.  An astounding 28 lawsuits challenging marriage laws have been filed in state or federal courts. Sadly some states have not been able to escape these legal assaults.   Activist judges have thrust recognition of same-sex unions on its citizens in Massachusetts and New Jersey.  Because of the decision of the Massachusetts high court in 2003, Massachusetts began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in May of 2004.  On October 25, 2006 the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a ruling ordering the New Jersey Legislature to legalize same-sex marriage or create a new law recognizing civil unions within 180 days. In February 2006 New Jersey became the third state to issue  licenses for civil unions following in the footsteps of Vermont and Connecticut.  In response to the attacks on marriage laws, legislators and citizens in 27 states have passed constitutional marriage amendments. Alabama 81%                   Alaska 68%

Arkansas 75%                 Colorado 56%

Georgia 77%                     Hawaii 68%   

Idaho 63%                        Kansas 70%

Kentucky 75%                 Louisiana 78%

Michigan 59%                   Mississippi 86%

Missouri 70%                    Montana 66%

Nebraska 70%                  Nevada 67%

North Dakota 73%          Ohio 62%

Oklahoma 76%                Oregon 57%

South Carolina 80%        South Dakota 52%  

Tennessee 80%               Texas 76%   

Utah 66%                          Virginia 57%

Wisconsin 59%

Constitutional marriage amendments are the only way to protect marriage laws from being redefined by the courts.  In this email we'll tell you how you can help pass marriage amendments in critical states and how to help lobby for a federal marriage amendment.

The Big Picture The ultimate goal for defenders of marriage is to have Congress pass a federal marriage amendment.  The last vote on the federal Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) in the summer of 2006 fell short of the necessary two-thirds votes in both the U.S. House and Senate.  Unfortunately a MPA is not even close to being on the table for the current Congress.  However, even if at some future time Congress passes the MPA, 38 states would still need to ratify it.  Recently Alliance for Marriage, the author of the federal MPA, has formed a bipartisan Marriage Protection Caucus among state legislators.  Family Leader wholeheartedly supports this effort.  The Marriage Protection Caucus seeks to pass a "Marriage Protection Resolution."  This resolution, passed by state legislatures, calls upon the state's congressional delegation to send the federal Marriage Protection Amendment to state legislators for ratification.

States Considering Marriage Amendments or Statutes Below is a list of states who are seeking to strengthen marriage.  If you have friends or family in any of the states below, please forward this important email on to them.  We URGENTLY need your help to protect marriage before it's too late! Florida:  Florida 4 Marriage is currently 28,000 signatures short of the required 611,009 signatures needed to place Florida's Marriage Protection Amendment on the November 2008 ballot. Here's what the amendment says: "Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

Minnesota

Minnesota: A constitutional marriage amendment passed in the Minnesota House but has been stuck in the senate.  Here's what the marriage amendment says: "Only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota. Any other relationship shall not be recognized as a marriage or its legal equivalent."  Here's what will be on the ballot:  Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that marriage or its legal equivalent is limited to only the union of one man and one woman?

Take Action:  Please urge your state senator to support a marriage amendment SF 2159 as stated above and SF 2160 which says, "A bill for an act relating to the Minnesota Constitution by adding a section to article XIII; recognizing as marriage only a union between one man and one woman."  To contact your state senator click here and enter your zip code as directed.

Pennsylvania: On June 7, 2006 the Pennsylvania House passed marriage amendment bill, HB 2381, by a vote of 136 to 61.  The bill says, "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this Commonwealth, and neither the commonwealth nor any of its political subdivisions shall create or recognize a legal status identical or substantially equivalent to that of marriage for unmarried individuals."  Click here for the bill.

On June 13, 2006 the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9 to 5 to pass an amended version of House Bill 2381 to read "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this Commonwealth."  On June 21, 2006 some senators tried to restore the house version of the marriage amendment bill but that was defeated 38 to 12.  Click here for the bill's history.  The full senate still needs to pass a marriage amendment bill and the house and senate need to agree on the language.  The earliest the amendment could be on the ballot is 2009.

click here and enter your zip code as directed.

Rhode Island: A bill defining marriage between one man and one woman and prohibiting same-sex marriage has been introduced in the house and senate.  House Bill 6159, was introduced on March 14, 2007. Click here to read the text. Senate Bill 0687 was introduced February 15, 2007.  Click here to read the text. 

Take Action:  Tell your state legislators that you strongly support the marriage bills, H 6159 and S 0687.  To contact your lawmakers click here and enter your zip code as directed. 

Liberty Letters Comment: Thank you Maurine Proctor for your excellent work! Please visit her website at FamilyLeader.net, and lend a helping hand.

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