United Families Utah Petition

I’m asking each of you to please read and stand firm on protecting marriage in Utah, by signing this petition on behalf of United Families that counters Equality Utah’s set of proposed bills, ultimately intended to change our voted-upon Constitutional Amendment on marriage.

Click HERE to read why this petition is so important

UNITED FAMILIES UTAH – PETITION

UNITED FAMILIES UTAH
STAND FOR THE FAMILY PETITION

I, the undersigned, recognize that these are defining moments in the preservation of marriage and family in Utah. Marriage and family are the foundation of society and should receive the highest protection under the law.

Currently, Utah legislators are convening to discuss a series of bills called The Common Ground Initiative–aimed at providing the gay community equivalent status as married couples in securing marriage benefits.

I understand that the ultimate goal of this legislation is to overturn Utah’s Constitutional Amendment 3, voted on by the people of Utah in 2004, which preserves marriage and allows no other union to have equivalent legal status before the law (See Bill 6).

I agree that these bills are an attempt to secure a package of rights equivalent to marriage…

And, while I, and those who oppose these bills, have much compassion for those who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgendered (LGBT community)…

I must draw the line in the sand and stand up for preserving the institution of marriage and family, religious freedom, and the future rights of our children.

I also acknowledge that there are rights for the LGBT community available through contractual processes already in place.

I, therefore, join with United Families Utah in standing strongly for the family and call upon all public officers and legislators in the State of Utah to oppose this package of bills.

This petition is available to sign on the UnitedFamilies.org website.

Thanks for your support.

Dear friends,

Many of you have expressed an interest in the issues related to the protection of marriage in California, Utah, nationally, and internationally. Please read the following information on a series of proposed bills hitting the legislature at this time.

If you agree that these are to be opposed, to protect the existing Utah amendment on marriage and to prevent a very slippery slope, please sign the petition at the bottom and forward this to people you know who are concerned about preserving the legal recognition of marriage and family in Utah. 

Also, our legislators need backing from their constituents.  They cannot represent you if you do not tell them how you feel! There is a link at the bottom to contact them. Just call or email and let them know your thoughts.

Thank you so much! Karen Merkley, Director of Public Policy for United Families Utah

January 7, 2009

Equality Utah Works to Overturn Constitutional Protection of Marriage

At the beginning of a new year, January 2009 brings renewed goals, and hope for prosperity and peace, but it also brings with it five new bills designed by Equality Utah, a group actively pursuing political support in “securing rights and equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community” to create public confusion while usurping Utah’s Constitutional Amendment 3 that passed in 2004 – with the hope of a powerful ally.

The Common Ground Initiative is a political attack on the family and the constitution, rather than an initiative based on our mutual agreements about rights and legal status due married couples only.

To better understand why, let’s review Utah Constitutional Amendment 3, and compare it to the bills proposed by gay advocates to see how the bills undermine traditional marriage and families. Utah Constitutional Amendment 3 states:

1. Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman.
2. No other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect.

Here is a summary of Equality Utah’s proposed bills:

1.  Hospitalization and medical care — This bill will mandate that insurance plans, which extend benefits to an employee’s spouse, also cover an employee’s partner.

2.  Fair housing and employment — The Fair Housing and Workplace bills will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of characteristics employers and landlords may not consider when making employment or housing decisions.

3.  Probate rights – wrongful death amendments — This bill removes barriers to inheritance and insurance. (It allows same sex partners the same financial benefits as married couples in the case of a wrongful death)

4.  Domestic partner rights and responsibilities act — This bill creates a statewide domestic partner registry as exists in California and attaches rights of inheritance, insurance and fair housing.

5.  Repeal of part two of Utah’s Amendment 3 — A registry that covers inheritance, housing and insurance is not the legal equivalent of marriage. This bill will repeal the portion of Amendment 3 which states “no other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as marriage or be given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect.”

Amendment 3 was created as a safeguard to protect the sacred union of marriage between a man and a woman.  It purposely does not include same sex partners in the definition of marriage, and it purposely gives traditional marriage special legal privileges that the second part of Amendment 3 enforces.

Each of these five proposed bills puts a disclaimer on the second part of Amendment 3, changing this definition to read in effect, “some other domestic unions may be recognized as marriage or be given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect.”  The first four bills basically allow same sex partners to have one or more of the same legal privileges as traditional married spouses, and the fifth bill blatantly changes the Amendment 3 definition of marriage.  This would break down the legal, political, and social strength society has given to traditional marriage, in recognition of how it has held society together for thousands of years.

Those in opposition to traditional marriage and family use diverse means to persuade others to support their agenda, including extending benefits to others who are not in same-sex relationships, such as a grandmother living with a grandchild.  But this is just a smokescreen to hide the real focus explained by Equality Utah executive director Mike Thompson.  “Proposition 8 has created a great divide. Now is the time to look for opportunities to bridge that divide and create the needed protections, rights and responsibilities for Utah’s gay and transgender people. This will be Equality Utah’s focus and we ask the LDS Church to support these efforts.”

Mr. Thompson was referring to statements from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which have been repeatedly misquoted and misinterpreted, as a tactic to win the support of LDS members.  These statements were made in light of Proposition 8, stating that the Church would not pursue overturning laws already existing in California.  In the Washington Post LDS Church spokesman Michael Otterson clarified that “the church’s statement was based on civil unions in California and that no decision has been made regarding similar rights in Utah. I don’t want to give the impression that the church is saying civil unions in all cases are OK.”

The complete statement from the LDS Church reads, “The Church does not object to rights (already established in California) regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference.”

United Families Utah believes the passage of the bills proposed by Equality Utah will “infringe on the integrity of the family”, and based on the evidence in other states, will infringe upon “the constitutional rights of churches”.

As Representative Lorie Fowlke said at the Nov 19 Legislative Judiciary Interim Committee meeting, “it is the beginning of a recognition of some other type of relationship that has the same kind of validity that a marriage was created for.”

The passage of even one of these bills would give governmental endorsement, approval, and recognition of same sex and non-marital cohabiting relationships.  It would also give them statutory rights of “substantially legal equivalent effect” as married couples, conflicting with Utah Amendment 3.

The legislative battle begins January 26.  The stakes are high, and the eyes of the nation will be upon Utah. Openly gay legislators are openly adamant about these bills. They didn’t succeed last year in passing gay rights legislation, however, “That could change this January,” said Senator Scott McCoy.

That which seemed unlikely in California came to a close call, and that which seemed unheard of in Utah has already begun.  An intentional wave of corruption to the definition of traditional marriage and family is emerging here in our state and must be stopped.

Your help is urgently needed!

1.  Contact your Senator and Representative Let them know where you stand.  They are under tremendous pressure to approve these bills, and they need to hear from you!

2.  Sign the petition to let our legislators know that they represent your vote and that they must uphold Utah’s Amendment 3.

3.  Alert your friends.  Forward this email to others who are concerned about preserving the definition of marriage and family in the state of Utah.

United Families Utah

Laura B.  Utah Chapter Director

Karen M. Director of Public Policy