The Alaska House will consider a joint resolution to place a constitutional amendment on the 2008 ballot that would overturn court-ordered benefits for the same-sex partners of state employees.
HJR9, introduced by Republican Rep. John Coghill, seeks to give Alaska voters the opportunity to decide whether homosexual couples should receive the same benefits as married couples.
Alaskans voted overwhelmingly in 1998 to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Fourteen homosexual couples, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, challenged the state. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that the state was obligated to provide benefits to gays because they couldn’t marry.
In an advisory vote on April 3, a majority of voters were in favor of placing an amendment on the ballot to clarify the benefits issue.
Pastor Archibald Campbell of Anchorage City Church testified that voters have sent a clear message to Gov. Sarah Palin and to legislators.
"Alaskans have now voted twice to protect marriage,” he said, “yet it seems that that decision is not being respected.”
Jim Minnery, executive director of the Alaska Family Council, said the media and some lawmakers have said low voter turnout for the advisory vote is reason to abandon such an amendment.
“But 60,000 Alaskans, a majority who turned up at polls, voted ‘Yes’ to be given an opportunity to decide this issue during the General Election in November of 2008,” Minnery said. He said legislators should “not ignore the will of the people.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about the issues facing Alaskans, visit the Alaska Family Council Web site.
