Urgent Alert!

WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO SAVE MARRIAGE
IN CALIFORNIA ONCE AND FOR ALL?

Are You Fed Up?

HERE IS THE ANSWER!

Dear Friend of Marriage,

Here is the bottom line on defending marriage in California. We MUST pass a state constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. It should now be clear to all of us that there is no other way. Each of us, no matter our circumstances, can and must help in this effort.

The way to do this is to put it on the ballot and that requires gathering nearly a million signatures—a major undertaking. We will make it easy for you to help by providing a way to download the official initiative signature gathering form and instructions. There are also complete instructions on how to do this and we give you our address to send it back. More detail on the problem and what you can do to help is provided below.

Brief Background

Now that Governor Shwarzennegger has vetoed AB 849, the bill that would have legalized same-sex “marriage,” we can breath a quick sigh of relief. Thanks to the thousands of you who helped with calls, faxes, letters and e-mails to your senators and assembly members and especially to the Governor. You made a huge difference!

While we can rightly feel some relief that we “dodged a bullet” this time, unless we learn the clear lessons of AB 849, it is just a matter time until we lose marriage here in California.

The most important lesson is that a majority of our state legislators have contempt for what was a democratic expression of the majority of Californians on marriage. When more than 60% of us adopted Proposition 22 in the 2000 election, it was clear that we wanted marriage in California to be only the union of a man and a woman.

Rather than accept this expression of the will of the majority, however, a majority of our legislature immediately went to work to try to circumvent Prop 22. By passing AB 849, our legislators not only acted directly contrary to Prop 22 but also showed contempt for our California constitution which clearly states that the legislature cannot repeal a law passed by initiative, yet that is exactly what a majority tried to do with AB 849.

As if our legislature were not problem enough, we also have to worry about activist judges who are trying to legislate same-sex “marriage” from the bench. One of these has already declared Prop 22 and California law prohibiting same-sex “marriage” to be unconstitutional. The case is on its way to the Supreme Court, and there is no assurance that they will not agree. It was the Massachusetts Supreme Court that forced same-sex “marriage” on that state. It could just as easily happen here unless we do something to stop it.

We Must Protect Marriage Permanently

That “something” we must do to permanently protect marriage in California is to amend our constitution to specifically define it as the union of a man and a woman. This is the process provided in our constitution that ensures that our government will always be responsive to the will of the people. By writing the protection of marriage into our constitution, we will prevent the legislature or activist judges from getting around the will of the majority as they are clearly trying to do.

United Families California has joined the Protect Marriage Coalition, a coalition of pro-marriage groups that is proposing a marriage amendment to our constitution. The amendment we are supporting states simply that “A marriage between a man and a woman is the only legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”

Compare this with the language of Prop 22, which is the current law. “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” and you can see that they are virtually identical in their intent. The amendment goes on to prevent any “marriage-like” arrangements that undermine true marriage such as California’s current domestic partnership law.

The amendment will likely prevent any "marriage-like" arrangements that undermine true marriage, such as California's current domestic partnership law. Remember, laws should reflect what the people want to support and promote. It is essential that our laws support and promote marriage between a man and a woman. This is the only relationship that truly ensures a stable and prosperous society, one that is best for our children and grandchildren's future. Let's be a part of making that law!

What You Can Do

The first step in amending our constitution is to get this amendment on the ballot so that all Californians can vote on it. To do that, our goal is to submit petitions with a million valid signatures of registered voters by the middle of December. That will mean that it will be on the November, 2006 ballot.

This is a huge task, but it is one that each of us can help with. At the very least, we can sign the initiative petition ourselves and send it in, even if it is only to fill out our own name on a petition and submit it. With just a small amount of additional effort, each of us can gather at least the five signatures on a petition sheet. Many of us could gather even more from family, work associates, neighbors, members of our church, etc.

We make it very easy. You can print out the ballot initiative signature form here along with complete and easy to follow instructions for gathering the signatures and submitting the form to us. Click here for petition information and instructions.

Please join us in passing a state constitutional amendment to finally protect marriage in California.

Thank you for standing up for marriage. We will do it one signature at a time!

Meredith Richey

President, United Families California

Please Act Today!

Contact Us for More Information

Also, please help even more by forwarding this on to others!

United Families California • PO Box 7653 • La Verne, CA 91750-7653