WASHINGTON, DC - The Alliance for Marriage (AFM) has
announced the reintroduction of the Federal Marriage Amendment
to the United States Constitution in the House of
Representatives with strong bi-partisan support.
The reintroduction of the Federal Marriage Amendment comes
in anticipation of an imminent decision in Goodridge v. MA
Dept of Public Health -- a case that activists openly
declare they intend to use as the foundation for
constitutional challenges to all of America's marriage laws.
For example, the Boston Bar Association has publicly called
for "federal constitutional claims" to be brought against all
state and federal marriage laws in the aftermath of a likely
victory in this case by early summer.
The bi-partisan cosponsors of the Federal Marriage
Amendment are: Collin Peterson (D-MN), Mike McIntyre (D-NC),
Ralph Hall (D-TX), Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), Jo Ann Davis
(R-VA), David Vitter (R-LA).
FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT (H.J.Res.
56) Marriage in the United States shall consist only
of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this constitution
or the constitution of any state, nor state or federal law,
shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal
incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or
groups.
| |
REDEFINITION
OF
MARRIAGE |
"Civil Unions" "Domestic
Partnerships" |
BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH
MARRIAGE |
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS OFFERED BY
BUSINESSES |
| IMPOSED BY COURTS |
Sentence 1
Prohibits |
Sentence 2
Prohibits |
Sentence 2
Prohibits |
Unaffected |
| ACTION OF STATE
LEGISLATURE |
Sentence 1
Prohibits |
Decision of State
Legislature |
Decision of State
Legislature |
Unaffected |
Downloadable Color Graphic On Legal Impact of the
Federal Marriage Amendment
The first sentence simply states that marriage in the
United States consists of the union of male and female. The
second sentence ensures that the democratic process at the
state level will continue to determine the allocation of the
benefits associated with marriage. But the courts are
precluded from distorting existing constitutional or statutory
law into a requirement that marital status or the legal
incidents thereof be reallocated pursuant to a judicial
decree. The Federal Marriage Amendment has no impact at all on
benefits offered by private businesses and corporations.
The Federal Marriage Amendment is a reasonable response to
the crisis for our democratic society created by those who
would use the courts to overcome public opinion with respect
to marriage. Gays and lesbians have a right to live as they
choose. But they don't have a right to redefine marriage for
our entire society.
It is very important to remember that the entire effort to
undermine the legal status of marriage in the courts is
premised upon constitutional law. For example, activist
organizations openly admit their plans to use the Equal
Protection and Full Faith and Credit clauses of the United
States Constitution to eventually impose same-sex "marriage"
and "civil unions" on every state in the nation. The only
question is whether the constitutional status of marriage will
be determined by unelected judges or the American people.
