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Respect For All Families Some religious leaders and politicians want to use the government to define marriage in a way that favors some religious traditions over others. Religious-political interests are seeking a Federal Marriage Amendment -- or similar state constitutional amendments -- that would limit marriage only to “the union of a man and a woman.” This would discriminate against the growing number of faith groups that perform same-sex marriages.
Houses of worship have the freedom to consecrate marriages based on their theology. As required by the Constitution, the government must accommodate the diversity of beliefs on this issue. Denying rights based on specific religious traditions is unconstitutional and is not the American way.
Americans value families in which love and commitment, not politics, define the home. Happy, healthy families deserve respect and should be free to live according to their own beliefs. As responsible adults, it is our freedom to make personal choices about family life and raising our children, without coercive politics invading our homes and privacy.
America’s various faith traditions take different approaches to marriage. Respecting the rights of those in our diverse communities of faith who deem same-gender marriage to be consistent with their religious creed ensures that the United States will continue to protect the religious liberty of all Americans.
In The News: "California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban" New York Times - May 16, 2008 "Op-Ed: Taking Marriage Private" The New York Times - November 26, 2007 "Church leader says members unhappy with gay bishop should refocus" The New York Blade - November 5, 2007 "$11 Million Awarded in Funeral Protest Suit" Washington Post - November 1, 2007 "Giuliani, Gays and Values Voters" The American Prospect - October 11, 2007 "Groups Plan New Branch to Represent Anglicanism" New York Times - September 30, 2007 "Bishops Move to Ease Concerns on Homosexuality" NPR - September 27, 2007 "Few Satisfied in Church Gay Debate" Washington Post - September 27, 2007 "US Anglicans reject gay bishops " BBC News - September 26, 2007 "Episcopal Bishops Reject Anglican Church’s Orders" New York Times - September 26, 2007 "Episcopal Leaders Try to Avoid Schism" New York Times - September 26, 2007 "A change of heart on same-sex marriage" LA Times - September 25, 2007 "Anglican gay deadline looms in New Orleans" Washington Post - September 23, 2007 "Faith in secular government" The Roanoke Times - September 19, 2007 " 'Values Voters' Hold Debate" Associated Press - September 18, 2007 "Md. Ban On Gay Marriage Is Upheld" The Washington Post - September 18, 2007 "Same-sex partners get rights on pensions" The Buffalo News - September 13, 2007 "Some clerics vow fight on hate law expansion" Faith in Public Life - September 12, 2007 "ENDA - Wasting No Time " The Bulletin - Philadelphia - September 12, 2007 "Group wants judge impeached in same-sex marriage case" The Gazette (Iowa) - September 12, 2007 "Lesbian Among Episcopal Bishop Nominees" Washington Post - August 29, 2007 "Miami U. same-sex benefits are upheld" The Enquirer (Cincinnati) - August 29, 2007 "Church cites minister over gay marriages" Associated Press - August 28, 2007 "Thompson: Roe 'bad law and bad medicine'" CNN.com - August 23, 2007 "The Gospel and hate crimes" Los Angeles Times - August 23, 2007 "Pursuing the Gay Vote, Without Supporting Gay Marriage" ABC News - August 23, 2007 "Why the Dems Should Not Shut Up About Gays and Marriage" http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w070820&s=wolfson082007 - August 22, 2007 "Groups Take Fight Against Lessons to Court" The Washington Post - August 3, 2007 "United Parcel Service Agrees to Benefits in Civil Unions" New York Times - July 31, 2007 "Same-sex couples from N.M. allowed to marry in Mass." Boston Globe - July 27, 2007 "WA gay couples line up to register as domestic partners" The Columbian - July 23, 2007 "Christians to lobby senators on 'hate crimes' bill" One News Now - July 10, 2007 "Local legislators oppose potential ban on gay marriage" The Milford Daily News - June 11, 2007 "Assembly approves gay marriage measure" The Desert Sun - June 6, 2007 "Bush Nominates Proponent of "Cure" for Gays As Surgeon General" Edge Boston - June 5, 2007 "Clergy ask for review of decision to reappoint transgender pastor" WorldWide Religious News - June 1, 2007 "Tolerance for Gay Rights at High Ebb" GALLUP NEWS SERVICE - May 28, 2007 "Transgender minister reappointed in MD" WorldWide Religious News - May 25, 2007 "Romney Defends Traditional Marriage with Scripture" The Christian Post - May 14, 2007 "Oregon Gov. Signs Domestic Partner Bill" Associated Press - May 10, 2007 "Governor Signs Bills Expanding Protections and Rights for All Oregonians" Oregon.gov - May 9, 2007 "House passes bill to add attacks on gays to hate crime law; White House threatens veto" The Huffington Post - May 3, 2007 "N.H. Lawmakers Approve Civil Unions" The Washington Post - April 27, 2007 "Spitzer Plans to Introduce Gay Marriage Bill " The New York Times - April 24, 2007 "Gay-marriage split would hurt church: top Anglican" World Wide Religious News - April 16, 2007 "Families warned, Disney to allow homosexual 'weddings'" One News Now - April 11, 2007 "Lesbian Couple in Wyo. Denied Communion" The Washington Post - April 9, 2007 "Don't drop `don't ask, don't tell,' Pace says" The Chicago Tribune - March 13, 2007 "Episcopal Church head attacks impatience on gays" Washington Post - February 28, 2007 "Rhode Island Steps Toward Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage" The New York Times - February 23, 2007 "The Episcopal bishop of New York fears that the Anglican Church’s demands over gay issues could force the American church into" Newsweek - February 21, 2007 "Anglican Seeks to Ease Church's Conflict Over Gays" The Washington Post - February 19, 2007 "Episcopal Head 'Will Not Waver' on Gay Stance" The Christian Post - February 16, 2007 "Homosexuals praise Evangelical Lutheran jury decision" One News Now - February 12, 2007 "Initiative ties marriage, procreation" Seattle Times - February 7, 2007 "Washington State initiative would require married couples to have kids " NWCN.com - February 6, 2007 "Report: Most Rabbis Support Ordaining Gays" The New York Sun - February 1, 2007 "Officeholders will Raise Right Hands, and a Ruckus" Stephanie Simon, Times Staff Writer - January 22, 2007 "Gay Marriage Amendment Case Argued" Associated Press - December 13, 2006 "Gays kept separated; church and state not" Chicago Tribune - November 19, 2006 "Episcopal Diocese may quit marriages - Same-sex debate drives Mass. plan" The Boston Globe - October 8, 2006 "Feeling Unwelcome, Some Gays Vacate Virginia" The Washington Post - August 7, 2006 "As Vote Nears, Opponents Attack Ban's Wording" The Washington Post - July 31, 2006 "Washington State Upholds Ban on Same-Sex Marriage" The Washington Post - July 27, 2006 "Marriage Amendment Just Politics? Jerry Falwell is Just Fine With That" The Richmond Times-Dispatch - June 6, 2006 "Efforts to Ban Gay Adoption Really Hit Home" The Baltimore Sun - March 27, 2006 "Interracial or Same-Sex: marriage in a historical perspective" The Richmond Times-Dispatch - February 5, 2006 "Values divide camps, ’06 ballot; Separate measures on gay right, unions could pass." The Rocky Mountain News - February 2, 2006 Partner Organizations
The organizations featured below are encouraging their members and supporters to sign the First Freedom First petition to safeguard separation of church and state and protect religious liberty. Click their logo to learn more.
Madison PartnersOrganizations working with First Freedom First on Respect for All Families
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