In May, the California Supreme Court nullified the will of 61 percent of California voters by striking down Proposition 22, that state’s Defense of Marriage Act (supported by 4.6 million Californians in March 2000). The activist ruling was a slim 4-3 majority. The court continued its relentless march toward same-sex “marriage” by denying a petition filed by ADF attorneys – and supported by the attorneys general of 13 states – asking that the court delay the effective date of its May 15 decision on marriage until after voters have the opportunity to vote on the California Marriage Protection Act, a constitutional amendment, this November. Now, advocates for same-sex “marriage” have filed a lawsuit in the same court in a desperate bid to keep the Marriage Protection Act off of the ballot.
This latest attack is disheartening, but it is not the end of our road. The Alliance Defense Fund took the first steps down a legal pathway to defend marriage at our inception. Our goal: to ensure every state recognizes marriage as the union between one man and one woman…only. At times, our journey has been difficult, but times are made easier because of moments with great success. Twenty-seven states now have constitutional amendments protecting marriage, with three more set to vote on similar measures this November. In 45 cases regarding marriage, we have won 36! Two were disappointing losses, two more were draws, and five are currently pending (in California, Connecticut, Iowa, and two in New York). One of our recent wins was in Wisconsin, where a court threw out a challenge to the state’s marriage amendment. These victories give us hope. Hope that will give us the energy we need to maintain our quickening pace. We are running as we never have before to protect the religious freedom of Christians all across America. We are not losing faith. We are
not in the dark. The “light of the world” (John 8:12) is on our side!
This is true even as we face the implications of the recent California decision;
implications that could affect your state, your city, your community, your religious freedom. Proponents of the homosexual agenda will seek to export their “marriages” to the rest of the country, as advocates travel from their home states to “marry” in California, then return and demand recognition – by governments, public and private employers. The impact of this is
not limited to California. As advocates of the homosexual agenda bring their California “marriages” to your state, the results will surely be legal chaos. At ADF, we are prepared to stand up in the courtroom to defend your religious freedom. We realize that recognizing same-sex “marriage” will force recognition of countless more situations our Founding Fathers never intended. Take, for example, these implications we are already experiencing:
- ADF attorneys are representing a Christian wedding photographer in New Mexico who is appealing a $6,600 fine by the New Mexico Civil Rights Commission for declining to photograph a lesbian ”commitment” ceremony.
- In New Jersey, we are defending a Christian organization against a claim of discrimination after it refused to allow a same-sex civil union ceremony at one of its worship facilities.
- In Minnesota, ADF attorneys are urging Minneapolis Public Schools not to implement a program called “Welcoming Schools” that would instruct kindergartners and other elementary school students to accept and embrace homosexual behavior.
- We also represent a counselor in Atlanta, Georgia who was fired because she declined a request to offer relationship counseling to a same-sex couple.
- In the Midwest, we are defending a Christian psychologist who was fired by the cities of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Springfield, Illinois, for associating with a pro-family organization that opposes same-sex “marriage.”
Advocates of homosexual behavior repeatedly say they only want “equal rights” and will not force their agenda on anyone, but that is a false promise, as proven by these cases. As you can clearly see, the ramifications of the decision from these four activist judges reaches far beyond marriage. It threatens the very core of religious freedom.
Now, more than ever, ADF and our allies will be stretched to capacity as we strive to meet these countless new challenges in courtrooms across the country, fighting to preserve marriage – and ultimately religious freedom. The road is challenging, but by God’s grace, we are not growing weary.
Will you join us on this journey? The road may be long, but the blessings will be many. If we are successful in stopping the homosexual agenda from being forced on our culture, we will preserve countless opportunities to express religious freedom in the future.
By making your online gift today, you not only provide the critical resources needed to stand against this dangerous agenda, but you’ll receive
a copy of The Homosexual Agenda, a book co-written by ADF President Alan Sears. This book is a must-read! It clearly details the goals of the advocates of the homosexual legal agenda to obliterate religious freedom in America. It sheds light on the road we are traveling together and will help you understand how you can help stop them from succeeding. Our religious freedom depends on our action.
Make your gift today.