Press Release 4/20/2009
Pro-Marriage Coalition Urges Comprehensive and
Responsible Debate on Same-sex Marriage
Augusta, April 20. The Marriage Facts Maine Coalition has developed a list of seven of the major policy concerns raised by the demand to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine. The group will be providing a summary of these concerns and questions to legislators and the public as part of its effort to broaden the debate on the issue beyond the narrow, simplistic and misleading argument that Maine should legalize same sex marriage purely as a matter of “equality” and “fairness.” and that there would be no social impacts or costs from taking this step.
“Legalizing same-sex marriage would result in numerous and far reaching changes in our society,” said Tim Russell, coordinator of the coalition. “Responsible policy making requires that all of these important issues and their likely consequences be considered. This is part of our effort to broaden the debate.”
The coalition points out in its document that there is no assurance that the new social institution of ‘genderless marriage” which would be created by legalizing same sex marriage would or could produce the same important social benefits that man/woman marriage has provided throughout recorded human history. It also clarifies the fact that there is no “right” to marry and therefore legalizing same sex marriage cannot be a civil rights issue. The coalition further points out that enactment of LD 1020 would put the state in the position of saying that men and women are interchangeable and that children do not need both a mother and a father for their optimum welfare and development. Both positions fly in the face of conclusive social science research to the contrary. Legalizing same sex marriage would also seriously undermine religious freedoms and erode parent’s rights the coalition noted. More background information is posted on the coalition’s Web site, www.marriagefactsmaine.org.
“The burden of proof that legalizing same sex marriage will not result in serious net harm to society rests squarely on those who are demanding this radical change,” Russell said, “and we are committed to making certain that they bear that burden. The voters expect and deserve that and I am sure will remember how their legislators dealt with this issue come election time.”
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(Note to editors: The seven point document is below.)
Questions Which Must Be Addressed in the Same Sex Marriage Debate in Maine
Prepared by Marriage Facts Maine Coalition
www.marriagefactsmaine.org
Legalizing same sex marriage would mean radically redefining one of society’s most fundamental and enduring institutions. It would have far wider implications for society than have yet been adequately addressed in the debate in Maine over whether to take this radical step.
To assist the public and policy makers in broadening the debate to consider all that is truly at stake and to encourage a wider debate, the Marriage Facts Maine Coalition has prepared the summary and questions below.
Those who demand such a fundamental and radical social change must bear the burden of proof that doing so would not result in net harm to society. The seven major policy concerns and the questions they give rise to (see below) are part of Marriage Facts Maine Coalition’s effort to see that same-sex marriage advocates are held accountable to meet this burden of proof.
Additional background information can be found at www.marriagefactsmaine.org.
1. What facts do same-sex proponents bring forth demonstrating genderless marriage will produce the same social goods and benefits as man/woman marriage and not be harmful to society?
Man/woman marriage is a fundamental social institution, foundational to all successful societies throughout recorded history. It is an anthropological and pre-political institution that existed before governments developed. It has survived and been promoted by all successful societies to bring men and women together to encourage the procreation, nurturing and protection of children in the most socially beneficial way – thus ensuring the future of society. Redefining the institution of man/woman marriage with the radically different same-sex marriage (genderless marriage) regime has never been done by any successful society in recorded history. Consequently there is absolutely no assurance that this radically different social institution of genderless marriage would, or even could, produce the same or even nearly the same social benefits as man/woman marriage has proven it can. It is especially critical that any change to the social institution of man/woman marriage be considered very carefully, since the impacts will occur on a multi-generational time frame and will, over time, be irreversible.
2. On what basis do we legally permit same-sex marriage while prohibiting people who want multiple wives, multiple husbands or want to marry their pet?
Because man/woman marriage is not a construct of law, there has never been a “right” to marry as homosexual activists and their proponents claim. Thus the issue of legalizing same-sex marriage is not and never has been a “civil rights” issue. Homosexuals have the same Constitutional rights and freedoms everyone in this state enjoys. Society has always regulated and limited who it allows to marry, and does so to promote the social goods this institution provide. For the social and public good man/woman marriage provides each citizen can enter marriage if they: are not already married; are an adult and marry an adult; do not marry a close family member; marry a human; and their spouse must be of the opposite sex. Any individual who meets these criteria can get married. Genderless marriage advocates distort these facts by falsely claiming that a “right” to marry rests with any couple, but in fact it rests with the individual. It must be clearly understood that homosexuals are demanding they be allowed to “marry” largely because it benefits them individually, not because it benefits children or society. If Maine legalizes genderless marriage there would be no logical, philosophically or legally rational basis for prohibiting any members of society from marrying each other as long as they all professed love for that person, persons or whatever.
3. Based upon the social science data and common sense, how is same-sex marriage justified as responsible public policy serving the best interests our children and future generations?
Social science research has shown conclusively that a child does best by far when raised by their married biological mother and father. Further, the research data irrefutably documents the important and unique role, influences and contributions that a mother and a father each make to the child’s development by virtue of their gender and their relationship to the child. When it comes to anything that affects our children, Maine should only enact laws and polices that serves the child’s best interests, not the wants, desires and convenience of adults – especially when there is any possibility children could be harmed in the process. Legalizing genderless marriage uses the force of law to deny children either a mother or a father, ignores the preponderance of scientific research data, and declares by force of law and the moral authority of the state that men and women, mothers and fathers are completely interchangeable.
4. What do same-sex marriage advocates propose that will guarantee religious liberty in ALL settings and not infringe on individual religious liberty?
In states and countries where same-sex marriage is legal we are already seeing the threat it poses to religious liberties. In Massachusetts, for example, Boston Catholic Charities, an adoption agency, was forced to abandon placing children because it refused to place them with same-sex couples in violation of its religious tenants and the state refused to pass a religious exemption. Experts on both sides of the same-sex marriage controversy agree that because legalizing same-sex marriage is such a radical change to virtually all parts of society that increasing levels of conflicts over religious freedom would be inevitable, particularly with “para-religious” entities such as religious schools and social agencies. It will also inevitably lead to conflicts for businesses when business owners are forced to act in violation of their beliefs. These religious liberty conflicts go far beyond whether a religious denomination would be forced to perform same-sex marriages in violation of its doctrine. LD 1020 does not even come close to adequately preventing these inevitable religious liberty conflicts in Maine.
5. How do advocates of legalizing same sex marriage protect parents’ legal right to teach their children their own values without being challenged by the public schools?
One of the many areas where legalizing same-sex marriage will impact society in ways many do not now understand is public education and in how it will affect parents’ rights to educate their children. In Massachusetts the federal courts have ruled that parents have no right to prevent the schools from teaching their children that homosexuality and same-sex marriage are completely normal and morally equal to heterosexuality and traditional man/woman marriage, even though this directly contradicts the values and beliefs these parents hold and want to instill in their own children. Parents are legally prevented from “opting out” their children from any such instruction.
6. What are the appropriate and legitimate needs for the state to legislate in accommodating same sex individuals?
There are other alternatives, outside the legislature that can be considered to deal with their specific needs, other than taking the radical and far reaching step of redefining the institution of man/woman marriage for all of society just to accommodate a small segment of the population?
7. Who bears the burden of proof that same-sex marriage is good for society?
Since these basic questions have not been adequately addressed or answered and there are many foreseeable negative consequences along with the ever present unintended consequences from legalizing same sex marriage, the responsibility and burden of proof rests with those advocating this radical redefinition of marriage. And ensuring the changes they are demanding for adult desires and conveniences will not result in a net harm to society?