Mitt Romney, the governor of the only state in America where homosexual “marriage” is legal, called for the passage of an amendment to protect traditional marriage, on June 22, 2004.
"Same-sex marriage doesn't hurt my marriage, or yours. The sky's not going to fall. But it may affect the development of children and thereby future society as a whole. Until we understand the implications for human development of a different definition of marriage, I believe we should preserve that which has endured over thousands of years," Romney said in a written statement.
Romney also sided with many Christian leaders, who charged “activist judges” with rewriting the law rather than protecting it.
“The real threat to the states is not the constitutional amendment process, in which the states participate, but activist judges who disregard the law and redefine marriage in order to impose their will on the states, and on the whole nation," Romney said. "Massachusetts has redefined marriage for the entire country.”
Romney’s comments were made to the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington D.C. The Committee is currently debating about whether to enact a federal marriage law that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman only. Such an amendment would have to pass 2/3 of both the senate and house, and be ratified by ¾ of the states in order to be codified.
Several members of the Committee questioned Romney’s motives, and said they believe the decision to give “marriage” rights to gays and lesbians would promote a tolerance of minority groups.
Romney responded by saying he believes the majority of Americans "generally want to accept other individuals who are different from themselves," but at the same time want to "preserve marriage as an institution between a man and a woman."
Therefore, he said, lawmakers need to find a way to protect traditional values while preserving rights.
