| June 29, 2004 For immediate release: DEFENSE OF MARRIAGEI received the following message today (June 22, 2004)
from a great pro-life Catholic state delegate. (Yes, Virginia, there
are some real Catholic politicians who receive the Eucharist with reverence
and believe and practice what the Church teaches.) Bob is under assault
from the sodomy lobby who want the government to sanction their diseased
lifestyle despite the danger to public health and morals. Virginia's Marriage
Affirmation Act is the most comprehensive state law in the country for
protecting the institution of marriage. (Thank you, Bob, and all those
Virginia lawmakers who voted yes.)
Mary Ann Kreitzer Mary Ann My Marriage Affirmation Act to uphold real marriage in Virginia against counterfeits is causing some controversy here. In fact, my own home will be picketed! (see http://standupforequality.org/events.html) and scroll down a bit. There also will be demonstrations across Virginia on June 30. I am enclosing a copy of an op-ed that I did in response to the Virginian Pilot’s opposition to my HB 751 and endorsement of the Homosexual agenda. Thank you and say a few prayers for our efforts. Delegate Bob Marshall Legislators, Most Virginians Support Traditional Marriage Your on-going Soap Opera coverage on behalf of same-sex marriage or civil unions presents a misleading picture of the legal rights homosexuals now enjoy in Virginia, the real goals of homosexual leaders and the effect of my bill House Bill 751 -- The Marriage Affirmation Act. Simply put HB 751 states that a civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage is prohibited, and that such an arrangement entered into in another state or jurisdiction is void in Virginia and any resulting contractual rights are void and unenforceable in Virginia. HB 751 is no different from actions announced on May 27 by the Australian Attorney General: “Australia will not recognize same-sex marriages entered into under the laws of any other country .… The Government is fundamentally opposed to same sex couples adopting children. … [C]hildren have the right … to have the opportunity to be raised by a mother and a father. The Government will … legislate to prevent adoptions by same-sex couples under international agreements (from) being recognized.” HB 751 received the support of over two-thirds of the General Assembly even with media elites and the Governor working going extra innings to confuse the issue. Most people are at a loss and wonder why the obvious has to be explained, namely that marriage is between one man and one woman and is fundamental to an orderly human society. Marriage between a man and a woman is the first human relationship mentioned in Genesis and is called “very good.” Moses, in Leviticus, calls sodomy relationships an abomination. St. Paul calls homosexual acts “shameful lusts” and “indecent acts.” Yet, the Pilot says it’s “progress.” Well, I guess great minds can disagree! Regarding the amendment proposed by Governor Warner, Attorney General Kilgore said that the “recommendation would allow a same-sex couple who enter into a domestic partnership agreement in a state where such agreement is recognized as tantamount to marriage or a ‘civil union,’ to then move to Virginia and demand the Commonwealth recognize the agreement … as bestowing on each other all the privileges and obligations of marriage.” The day before this year’s Veto Session in Richmond, an Oregon Judge “ordered” that state’s legislature “to evaluate the substantive rights afforded to married couples and to provide similar access to same-sex domestic partners.” Attorney General Kilgore says HB 751 does not prohibit homosexuals or others from entering into “business partnership agreements, medical directives, joint back accounts, or any other rights or privileges not exclusive to the institution of marriage.” I venture The Pilot would not even print descriptions of some of the lethal, life-shortening, disease-producing behaviors that would be legal under the name of same-sex civil unions and the like. (“The Health Risks of Gay Sex,” John R. Diggs, Jr., M.D., http://www.corporateresourcecouncil.org/white_papers.html.) This year, Equality-Virginia (EV) also strongly opposed HB 1054 which provided that, “Any person who carnally knows in any manner in a public place any person by the anus or by or with the mouth, or who voluntarily submits to such carnal knowledge is guilty of a Class 6 felony.” EV called HB 1054 which passed the House 97-1 an “anti-gay bill that would have allowed continued harassment, intimidation and persecution of gay and lesbian Virginians.” So, to criminalize sex in public is now gay-bashing? Really? Establishing any form of same sex legal unions (SSLU) such as marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership will legalize coercion against individuals and organizations which do not support SSLU. Here are real world examples. Kodak fired a 16-year employee who inadvertently sent an e-mail to unintended fellow workers asking that they pray for the company because Kodak approved a same-sex partner policy. AT&T brashly states, “Diversity is not about tolerance.” Right now the New York City’s Salvation Army which has contracts with the City totaling $250 million to help the poor, abandoned children, battered women and AIDS patients, may leave because the City may require the Salvation Army to provide domestic partner benefits to same-sex and unmarried couples in violation of the Army’s religious beliefs. Earlier this year the ACLU forced a Seattle printer to apologize for acting on her religious beliefs in refusing to print up same-sex wedding announcements. She promised she would not follow her religious beliefs and she would print same-sex wedding announcements in the future. What “message” will school children receive about marriage and how will their feelings be played upon in classroom sex-ed if their teachers are in civil unions? The societal value of traditional marriage and the welfare of children are too important to sacrifice for a radical social experiment. Yes, great minds can disagree, but The Pilot should at least acknowledge the serious, heartfelt and valid concerns of the overwhelming majority of Virginians regarding formal state recognition of same sex legal unions. Delegate Bob Marshall |