Amendment Proposed To Define Marriage

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By By Keith Eldridge

Summary

Opponents of gay marriage fear the state Supreme Court could soon pave the way for gay weddings.

Story Published: Sep 21, 2004 at 11:55 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:34 AM PDT

Amendment Proposed To Define Marriage
OLYMPIA - Opponents of gay marriage are rolling out a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. They fear the state Supreme Court could soon pave the way for gay weddings.

Doug Wheeler of Zion Prep asks, "Do we redefine the word 'wife', do we redefine the word 'husband'?"

The group calls themselves "Allies for Marriage and Children" saying marriage must be defined in the constitution as the union between a man and a woman.

They say gay marriages are destructive and confusing to children.

"Does a man become a woman and does a woman become a man? What does it mean now?" asks Wheeler. "That confusion we do not need to pollute the minds of this next generation."

State lawmakers already passed a law on this once back in 1996. It's called the Defense of Marriage Act. But, after gay rights groups sued, two superior court judges have since ruled the state law unconstitutional.

The issue now rests with the state Supreme Court, on whether the "Defense of Marriage Act" is constitutional.

Supporters of this amendment say if it is passed it would eliminate any doubt on its constitutionality.

This group says it paves the way for children to have their birthright.

"And that birthright is that every child should know and be raised by their mom and dad," says Jeff Kemp of Families Northwest. "We know it doesn't always happen, but it is the ideal we prescribe to and are working hard toward."

But gay rights activists fear this new effort will just lead to more discrimination.

Dave Upthegrove is gay and a legislator. He says, "When we need to be creating jobs, improving our public schools and making health care more affordable, it's the wrong thing to do to be trying to write discrimination into the constitution."

"It's a sad day when people want to amend the state constitution to take away rights," says Kathleen Taylor of the American Civil Liberties Union. "Instead, we should extend rights to people who have not been treated equally."

But Kent resident Dianna Brannan says it's not discrimination, it's just the right thing to do.

"There hasn't been a society that has been founded on any other institution other than one man and one woman and that has been the basis of our society and we want to protect that," she says.

A constitutional amendment needs 2/3rds support from both houses and then you get to vote on it. So you would have the final say on whether marriage is defined in the constitution.

The legislature will take this up when it convenes in January. If the amendment passes you'll likely have a chance to vote on it the following November.

For More Information:

www.familiesnorthwest.org

www.aclu-wa.org