Liberty Counsel Seeks Intervenor Status in NY Marriage Defense Case
by Allie Martin and Jenni Parker
June 13, 2005
(AgapePress) - Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based pro-family legal group, has asked a court for the right to present oral arguments in a same-sex "marriage" case that is pending before a New York court.
Last year, homosexual activists sued to overturn marriage laws in New York state. Since then New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has come out in favor of same-sex marriage, making public statements to that effect. Mat Staver, president of Liberty Counsel, has filed a motion to intervene in the pending legal matter. "It's very clear that the City of New York is not vigorously defending this case," he says.
Mat Staver | |
"If any case begs for intervention by independent parties to defend the marriage laws, it's this case," Staver asserts, "and so we're asking the court now to grant us actual party status to take over part of this defense to preserve the laws in New York regarding marriage."The Liberty Counsel spokesman does not feel Mayor Bloomberg can or will mount an adequate defense of traditional marriage laws in New York, considering his publicly stated position. "It's just the most unjust situation," he contends, "when you have the mayor and his staff, [who are] supposed to be defending the laws of marriage in New York ... and they've come out with a statement that says they support same-sex marriage."
Traditional marriage statutes are based on laws that "have been known for millennia of human history," Staver insists, and yet it would appear that Bloomberg and his people have aligned their thinking with the radical, pro-homosexual movement. "Obviously, we can't be very confident that they're going to give a strong defense, and that's why we need to be there at the table," Staver says.
The head of Liberty Counsel believes the best way to protect the family is to strengthen marriage. He maintains that independent parties must be allowed to intervene in the New York case in order to present an adequate defense of marriage. Meanwhile, Liberty Counsel is keeping an eye on another front in the battle to preserve the family against homosexual activist attacks -- America's public schools.
A June 9 New York Times article points out that growing conflicts are centered on three issues: whether public school classrooms are an appropriate venue to explore issues of homosexuality; whether schools should give sanction to extracurricular activities in which homosexuality or "gay culture" is a focus; and whether educational materials that acknowledge homosexual relationships are suitable for children.
Staver told the Times that Liberty Counsel is "concerned about the effort to capture youth through indoctrination into the homosexual lifestyle." He says students are a captive audience -- one that is being targeted by groups that have pro-homosexual indoctrination of youth as part of their agenda.
The Times noted that opponents of school activities aimed at educating students about homosexuality or promoting acceptance of that lifestyle have been emboldened by the political right's growing influence on public policy matters. As a result, many concerned individuals and groups have mounted successful challenges to such programs at individual schools, at statehouses, and in the federal legislature.
