While alarmed by the failure of the federal marriage amendment to ban same-sex marriage Wednesday, California pro-family groups voiced out their determination to defend traditional marriage in the state constitution.
Bush on Monday restated his plan to ban gay marriage Monday, criticizing that changing the definition of marriage would undermine the family structure. However, the Senate has rejected the move.
As one of the most liberal state in the U.S., California was being set up to become the second state to legalize homosexual "marriages" following Massachusetts last year. San Francisco Judge Richard Kramer issued a shocking decision that limiting marriage to a man and woman was "unconstitutional" and without "rational basis", according to the Voter’s Right to Protect Marriage Initiative sponsored by VoteYesMarriage.com.
However, in the press release, the Initiative says "It’s up to Californians to protect the special institution of marriage in their state constitution."
"The only way to stop judges from destroying marriage to support and pass the VoteYesMarriage.com California marriage amendment," said president of Campaign for Children and Families Randy Thomasson, one of the authors of the Initiative.
In the run-up to the hearing at the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco for the City of San Francisco’s lawsuit to invent "same-sex marriages" on July 10, the Initiative urged people in California to endorse the California marriage amendment which states "Only marriage between one man and one woman is valid or recognized in California, whether contracted in this state or elsewhere."
"Marriage is a natural and beautiful institution between a man and a woman," said Thomasson. "And having a father and a mother is obviously in the best interest of children. It’s wrong for judges and politicians to destroy marriage which is the very foundation of society. We invite everyone who believes that marriage is special to visit VoteYesMarriage.com to help protect marriage rights for one man and one woman in the California State Constitution."
Dr. Bill Tam, the executive director of the California-based Traditional Family Coalition (TFC), echoed that it is important for each state across the nation to safeguard the definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman only. Then, such amendment can be further expanded nationwide.
TFC, founded by leading Chinese evangelicals such as Rev. Thomas Wang, has long been promoting various pro-family campaign and anti-homosexuality movement among the Chinese community.
Tam said that he was not surprised with the failure of the federal marriage amendment to ban same-sex marriage. However, he expressed his hope to see the liberal California changes after the approval of the State of Alabama to an amendment to the state constitution that bans same-sex marriages earlier. There are already over 20 states in the U.S. that have successfully blocked same-sex union in the state by passing such amendment.
"First of all, we need the support of the citizens. And also through election, more conservatives should be elected, then the amendment will be possibly passed. According to a recent survey, more California voters oppose same-sex marriages, there is still an opportunity," Tam analyzed.
