Position Statement on Marriage Protection Amendment

Marriage is a sacred, legal, and social union ordained by God to be a lifelong exclusive relationship between one man and one woman. Focus on the Family holds this institution in the highest esteem, and strongly opposes any legal sanction of marriage counterfeits, such as the legalization of same-sex "marriage.” History, nature, social science, anthropology, religion, and theology all coalesce in vigorous support of traditional marriage as it has always been understood: a lifelong union of male and female for the purpose of creating stable families.

A Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is necessary to protect the institution of marriage. Without it, it is impossible to protect traditional marriage. When an out-of-control judiciary in Massachusetts and a mayor in California recently issued same-sex “marriage” licenses, homosexual citizens from every corner of the nation flocked to these two jurisdictions. These citizens then returned to their home states and began to sue for legal recognition of their “marriages,” despite state laws upholding natural marriage. Currently, there are a number of lawsuits challenging state marriage protection laws. It is only a matter of time until one such lawsuit results in a ruling striking down natural marriage for all states.

A plethora of federal and state law including tax law, employment law, social security, wills and estates, depend on a foundational definition of marriage for proper application. Without a national definition of marriage upheld in the Constitution, consistent administration of law will soon be impossible.

Due to the foundational importance of marriage in American society, it must be defined nationally. The only question is, Who will define marriage? Will it be tyrannical judges acting through the courts to write a radical new definition of marriage or the American people, acting through their elected legislators to pass a Marriage Protection Amendment? We believe the people should decide.