State Constitutional Marriage Amendments Face Challenge in 11 States
By Cherilyn Bacon

Last week my 17-year old daughter, affectionately known as "Jen the Intern" on the Sean Hannity Show and I crossed the vast expanse of Middle America on a road trip. Along the way, we tuned in to several different radio stations with an interest in the local issues. We were surprised to discover that the same arguments used in Utah to defeat Amendment 3 were being used to defeat other state constitutional amendments defending marriage between a man and a woman. 

The deceptive, nationally-orchestrated and well-funded homosexual message opposing passage of these amendments is, "It goes too far." Scare tactics to persuade voters that the amendment will prohibit friends from hospital visitation rights or rights to inheritance were headlined. 

Wilkins Explains Utah Debate Also Global

According to Law Professor Richard Wilkins, international constitutional expert, "These are false arguments." Wilkins joins other attorneys to clear up the confusion with this written rebuttal. He emphasizes that this is not just a Utah issue. (See Meridian’s cover story.) He explains that U.S. citizens can enter into contractual agreements not based on sex and no state constitutional amendment defending marriage will have any impact on them. For example, inheritances can be willed to friends and other family members, if desired.  Wilkins' has also recorded a simple, informative DVD called "What Is Marriage?" that can be purchased from the Yes! for Marriage Committee website at www.yesformarriage.org. 

On November 2^nd, eleven states in the U.S. will be voting on whether marriage is between a man and a woman. They are Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Utah. If you live in one of these states, get involved to pass these amendments by contributing money, by spreading the truth to your email list, and by getting out the vote on election day. 

Urgent Funds Needed

"Comments in a Salt Lake City homosexual newspaper brag about how Utah is going to go down, and that it will send a strong message to other states to support homosexual marriage," said Gayle Ruzicka of the Constitutional Defense of Marriage Alliance. "We cannot allow this to happen." 

CDOMA chairman State Representative LaVar Christensen (Utah's Amendment 3 sponsor), said proponents must raise funds to counter the TV and radio spots that the homosexual coalition is using against this amendment. 

Ruzicka said, "The Utah County legislators have combined their resources and raised over $10,000. CDOMA has already contributed $25,000 for the media buy." To donate to Utah's Amendment 3 and get a yard sign, contact the Constitutional Defense of Marriage Alliance, PO Box 606, West Jordan, Utah 84084 or call (801) 569-DOMA (3662) FAX (801) 880-3668 Email: info@cdoma.org.  Website: www.cdoma.org. 

CDOMA has assured Meridian that donations to this organization will not go to pay fancy lobbyists or operating expenses, but will go directly to producing and placing radio and TV ads between now and the election,

Utahns for a Better Tomorrow is the committee handling the media buy for the Utah Amendment 3 campaign. If you would like to contribute or get a yard sign and literature to distribute, email Monte Stewart at stewartm@lawgate.byu.edu or call (801) 221-4975. Funds are needed to counter over $600,000 already raised by the opposition, including a substantial sum funded by sources outside of Utah. 

No matter where you live, these constitutional amendments need your help now.