Column: Salt & Light

Columnist: Kevin Slinger

This submission: Marriage Amendment (Round 2)

Several states are preparing to vote to protect marriage and  gay rights activists have been working overtime and have become very creative with their rhetoric.  In actuality, what they’re doing is spreading lies that are designed to scare people away from attempting to protect the most fundamental of our institutions... marriage.

I’ve heard much from my “tolerant” opposition over the past year due to my taking a stand on this issue.  I’ve been called a homophobe and a bigot, as well as hateful and intolerant.  I’ve also been told the views I share are “modern-day Jim Crow” and have received some rather disturbing mail, minus a return address. 

I assure you that I am none of these things and have nothing against those who are gay. I am not “anti-gay” as some would have it said, but am merely “pro-family.” 

I do, however, take issue with the extremists in the gay rights movement who would, by whatever means necessary, force their agenda and their plan to abolish moral judgement through my front door, upon my family and my faith.  Therefore, I will continue to firmly stand for truth and marriage as between one man and one woman.   

That said, according to these lies, the marriage amendments will discriminate and destroy civil rights, increase domestic violence, abolish property rights, raise taxes and eliminate health care as well as maternity leave.  However, they just don’t hold much water when the truth is revealed. 

No existing rights will be taken from anyone by protecting marriage.  Furthermore, we don’t make law for exceptions, we make it for what is best for all of us as a whole.

What follows are just a few of these lies accompanied by the exposing truths to dispel them.  Some you’ve likely heard yourself, while others may be entirely new to you.

A marriage amendment will...

Lie: ...discriminate and destroy civil rights.

Truth: It is not only wrong, it is shameful to compare today’s homosexuals to past generations of African-Americans, who were treated as second-class citizens, lived under segregation and were prevented from voting.  The real difference between civil rights and same-sex marriage is the difference between equal treatment and special rights.

Lie: ...end immediate protection for victims of domestic violence.

Truth: No one supports domestic violence and the protection of marriage doesn’t undermine any existing right to immediate protection from abuse, regardless of marital status.

Lie: ...abolish property rights.

Truth: There’s nothing to say about the right of anyone to leave whatever they want to another person and, if a will exists, the question of whether the parties were married or not won’t even be asked.  If there is no will state law will dictate how the estate will be distributed, just as it’s been.

Lie: ...cost taxpayers more money.

Truth: Marriage, upheld as the union of one man and one woman, is the most stable relationship for society and stability does not in itself create more taxes.

Lie: ...eliminates health care.

Truth: People will not lose their healthcare and have to go on welfare.  Legally binding contracts can’t be cancelled out by the passage of a law.  Any legal contract in place at the time of passage will remain legal until it expires as with any other legal contract.

Lie: ...eliminates maternity leave.

Truth: Maternity leave isn’t subject to a woman’s marital status.

Lie: ...hurts job creation and retention.

Truth: There is absolutely nothing in any marriage amendment that would keep an employer from offering an attractive employment package to any prospective employee.

Lie: ...will actually harm marriage more than it will help it.

Truth: Marriage between men and women has always existed in human history with the primary purpose of serving the family and the larger community.  The protection of traditional marriage is essential to its role in society and can only strengthen it.  However, same-sex marriage exists only to serve individual desires, not family or community needs.  Therefore, it is same-sex marriage alone that is harmful to traditional marriage.

We stand to lose much if we don’t wake up to the agenda of the homosexual Left now.  We can’t be so afraid of “judge not, lest ye be judged” that we feel we must tolerate anything.  There is much at stake.

Iowa House leaders recently assigned the Iowa Marriage Amendment to the House Judiciary Committee and they need to hear from you.  Contact the committee at 515-281-3221 and urge them to support an Iowa Constitutional Amendment.  With our U.S. Senate wishing to leave it up to the individual states and activist judges striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) across the country, it is imperative an amendment get passed.  I’m certain they’ll be hearing from the opposition.