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Equal Rights Washington - A Guarded Optimism
In their Action Alert released this week, Equal Rights Washington or ERW, the states biggest gay rights lobby, is expressing optimism, with some reservation.
In announcing the two new bills that will greatly increase the benefits related to the Domestic Partnership Law, they report, "There is still stiff opposition from the radical right."
While their words are cloaked in "fairness" and "equality," the two bills that have been introduced are hardly that. They are destructive to the institution of traditional marriage.
Senate Bill 6716 and it's companion House Bill 3104 seek to, "Expand the rights and responsibilities of domestic partnerships, including provisions that address notice, public officials, public assistance, judicial process, veterans, community property, taxes, guardianship, probate of trusts, dissolution and reciprocity."
Both of these 199-page bills, if passed as they are, will supplant traditional marriage by elevating domestic partnerships to the same level.
This is exactly what we were addressing yesterday in our blog entitled "Strange Bed Fellows." If you did not read it, please do so.
We will keep you posted as these bills move along. However, it is not to soon to call your Senator and Representative and express your strong opposition to these bills.
We have provided a link to your elected officials. Please act with an email and a phone call.
_______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
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4 Comments:
Gary,
You stated that these bills "are destructive to the institution of traditional marriage."
However, you did not provide a reason why they were destructive. Could you provide this reasoning? It appears to me that these bills are entirely unrelated to "traditional marriage" but rather simply create a civil recognition of other kinds of relationships.
I am puzzled by your comment.
Thanks for your help,
Greg
Consider this... The reason the domestic partnership bill even exists is because of the "radical right." If the right did not oppose equal treatment for straight and gay couples, then there wouldn't be a need for marriage "substitutes." Equal marriage for all = no more civil unions, domestic partnerships, etc.
Domestic partnerships and other DP benefits offered by states, county and city governments, and companies also often include provisions for heterosexual couples to participate, too. Many straight couples are opting out of marriage and opting into easier-to-dissolve DPs, or settling for simple health benefits from corporations.
Furthermore, many young people are viewing marriage as outdated and discriminatory because of its exclusion of gay families, further lessening its appeal.
None of this is good for marriage.
Yet, gays are not going away. We are part of the human condition, no matter how much you want to label us as perverts or morally deficient. Rather than hiding or living in fear and self-loathing over our differences, gays are finding love and building families in the model of our straight counterparts in numbers we've never seen before. Gays are celebrating commitment, monogamy and family. We have all grown up in the same society, it's no surprise we all seek the same things.
Most importantly, around 60 percent of people in this country support some sort of legal recognition for same-sex couples. Among the young, the numbers who support equal rights for same-sex couples is much much higher. That tells us exactly where this debate will eventually end up.
So, how long will the right perpetuate dual legal tracts for straight and gay couples? How much damage will they inflict on marriage just to keep gays from participating in it? How many young people will turn away from Christianity because of its treatment of gays and lesbians?
Tony
Tony,
The corollary question is - how many young people will turn away from Christ because of the infusion of right wing politics into the Church - politics fundamentally rooted in fascism, hatred, dehumanization, conflict, polarization all for political power and control and the suppression of those who are not "politically correct" Evangelicals. I fear for the loss of souls caused by this damange but trust in the Lord to ultimately save those who are His.
Sincerely,
Patrick
Greg,
Don't expect an answer. These guys constantly talk about the horrific threat to traditional marriage, yet never quantify it.
They completely ignore that these dire predictions have never come to fruition in areas where they actually do have gay marriage (ie: Massachussetts, Canada).
Reality doesn't matter when you can raise the spectre of the 'big threat', even if it never materializes.
Mark in Tigard
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