What was once an important debate over the nature, purpose, and legal status of marriage has emerged as a critical national issue, the resolution of which will shape the future of our society and the course of constitutional government in the United States.
Many states across the nation are moving to either strengthen their existing statutory language that recognizes marriage between a man and a woman or to amend their constitution to preserve the traditional meaning of marriage. The information on this page is intended to reflect the breadth of the movement to defend marriage throughout the United States.
The familiar way of marriage as a 'bridge' between a man and woman is now the focus of intense legal scrutiny and controversy. An inevitable 'war of the ring' has been looming on the horizon for the last decade. Now the war has broken out; and those committed to the heterosexuality of the marriage bond appear to be confused, ill-prepared, and in retreat.
As a child I devoured junior history books, and relived through them the battles of the past. It must have been they which first taught me about the great battle which was the English Reformation.
Marriage is slowly dying in Scandinavia. A majority of children in Sweden and Norway are born out of wedlock. Sixty percent of first-born children in Denmark have unmarried parents. Not coincidentally, these countries have had something close to full gay marriage for a decade or more.
President Bush's endorsement of a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage should be welcomed by all Americans who are concerned about equality and preserving democratic decision-making.
The claim being made by advocates of gay marriage is that the ban of gay marriage is simply about prejudice. They are wrong.
A small but growing number of left-leaning scholars are regularly entering the public square to talk about the important role that religion, marriage, and civic participation play in fostering the common good.
