Marriage Defenders Face Opposition as State Amendment Votes Approach
by Jeff Johnson
November 3, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Of the eight states considering marriage protection amendments on November 7, Arizona is among those in which the outcome of the election is considered uncertain by the majority of political analysts. There and elsewhere across the U.S., homosexual activists and their supporters are fighting hard -- and sometimes fighting dirty -- to push the state votes their way.
Cathi Herrod of Protect Marriage Arizona says pro-family advocates have faced stiff opposition in their efforts to pass that state's marriage protection amendment. "Our opponents have outspent us significantly," she says, "and they have distorted the truth about the amendment, so we're in a close battle here in Arizona."
The latest polling data that Herrod considers reliable show 51-percent support for the Arizona marriage protection amendment and 42-percent opposition. But despite the narrowness of the margin, she says, "I'm still very hopeful that we will win on November 7th."
One reason for that hope, the Protect Marriage Arizona spokeswoman notes, is the recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision ordering that state's Legislature to create either same-sex civil unions or homosexual "marriage." She believes the New Jersey ruling was a "win" for same-sex marriage proponents that will probably backfire on liberal activists pushing for marriage rights for homosexual couples in other states, including her own state of Arizona.
"Our state statute defining marriage as one man and one woman is very vulnerable to redefinition by activist state judges until we have a constitutional amendment," Herrod acknowledges. If she and other marriage defenders across Arizona were not aware of that before, she believes the New Jersey Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling has made the danger abundantly clear.
"If we don't pass a state constitutional amendment in Arizona," Herrod asserts, "then what happened in New Jersey last week will happen in our state. It's only a matter of time."
Traditional Marriage Voters Urged to Turn Out in Tennessee
Pro-family activists in Tennessee are similarly aware of what is at stake. However, David Fowler with RealMarriage.org says supporters of so-called "gay marriage" have been busy spreading misinformation, and they have managed to create considerable voter confusion concerning the marriage protection amendment.
"They started trying to call it the 'gay marriage amendment,' hoping people would vote [against it, thinking they were voting] against gay marriage," Fowler notes. Also, he adds, "We've had some people just flat giving people the wrong information."
Notwithstanding these deceptive tactics, the RealMarriage.org spokesman says he believes the Tennessee marriage protection ballot measure has a good chance. "If people vote their convictions here," he observes, "I think prospects are very good that the amendment will pass."
A "yes" vote on Tennessee's Amendment 1 would support traditional marriage, while a "no" vote would allow judges to decide whether or not to require that homosexuals be allowed to marry. Fowler expects at least an average voter turnout for an off-year election. In fact, the traditional marriage advocate observes, "The Senate race and the marriage amendment are what's probably driving the turnout this year in Tennessee."
Fowler also feels the New Jersey Supreme Court's recent ruling on homosexual marriage is influencing at least some Tennessee voters. "It has probably helped some of those who were a bit undecided to realize [that legalized homosexual marriage or civil unions] is a very real possibility someday in the future in Tennessee," he says.
But the RealMarriage.org spokesman believes those who were already on the side of protecting traditional marriage have also experienced an effect from the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling. "I think it has made those who support us perhaps more vocal and more fervent and more enthusiastic," he observes.
It is important for Tennessee voters who support traditional marriage to turn out and express their choice on Amendment 1, Fowler points out, even if some may be convinced the measure is in no danger of not passing. The reason turning out is so important, he explains, is that state law requires more than just a majority of votes in order for a state constitutional amendment to pass.
To amend the Tennessee constitution to protect marriage as a union between a man and a woman, Fowler stresses, Amendment 1 must receive not only an absolute majority of "yes" votes, but must receive a number of "yes" votes equal to at least 50 percent, plus one, of the number of votes cast in the state's gubernatorial election.
Jeff Johnson, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
