FRC's Efforts to Protect Tradition Marriage Pays Off

Mar 12, 2004 09:10 AM EST

BOSTON, M.A. – Thursday, illegal same-sex marriages stopped in San Francisco after the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously (7-0) to order San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to stop distributing the marriage licenses to same-sex couples, which goes against California State law that marriage is between a man and a woman. Also, it was decided during a constitutional convention at the Boston Statehouse that Massachusetts will ban same-sex marriages but allow civil unions.

Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council (FRC), a pro-family group that filed an amicus brief in the case against San Francisco, said in a statement in response to the ruling, "The fact that the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously against Mayor Newsom shows just how unlawful his actions have been. California law clearly defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. “

“Today's ruling reinforces the notion that regardless of his personal beliefs, one rogue mayor does not have the authority to ignore the will of the California people, or the constitution he swore to defend.”

ADF, the Center for Marriage Law, and allied attorney Terry Thompson, filed this original action on behalf of three San Francisco taxpayers.

"We thank our friends at the Alliance Defense Fund for their tireless efforts toward achieving today's victory," said Perkins, who was in Boston lobbying for Massachusetts lawmakers to preserve traditional marriage.

Yesterday, Perkins and a group of African-American pastors from all over the country urged lawmakers to ban same-sex marriages at the Boston Statehouse where supporters of same-sex marriages were throwing civil unions on the table as a compromise if same-sex marriage didn’t go through.

However, it shouldn’t be that way according to FRC.

“The people of Massachusetts should be allowed to vote solely on the issue of marriage without being blackmailed into accepting civil unions,” said FRC on the organization’s Web site.

Perkins and the national alliance of black pastors also took their fight to Harvard University where Perkins debated against a representative of the ACLU and the lesbian plaintiff couple.

He posed a question none of the supporters of same-sex marriage could answer.

"If we create a constitutional right to marry based solely on one's choice of sexual partner, how does that not open the door to polygamy and other arrangements of consenting adults?"

The fight to protect tradition marriage has gained ground and will continue tomorrow as the Oregon judge who was told to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses is scheduled for a hearing.