IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, PLEASE ATTEND BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THURSDAY, FEB. 5!
10:00 AM: House Bill 1727: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Judiciary at 10:00 AM. (Subject to change) Full Committee House Hearing Rm A John L. O'Brien Building Olympia, WA
3:30 PM: Senate Bill 5688 Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections at 3:30 PM. (Subject to change)
Full Committee Senate Hearing Rm 2 J.A. Cherberg Building Olympia, WA *TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT, WE NEED TO PACK THESE HEARINGS OUT. THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUE WILL NEED TO SIGN UP AT THE START OF THE HEARING. THOSE WHO WANT TO LEAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD SHOULD LEAVE THEM WITH THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AT THE HEARING.
Meet with the Washington Values Alliancethroughout the day on February 5. We will make available talking points, beverages & snacks for those who want to gather for discussion, fellowship and a time of prayer prior to the public hearings. We have reserved a couple of the rooms for this purpose. We will meet from 8:00AM - 9:30AM in Senate Hearing Room 2 (JA Cherberg Building) and from 12:00 noon - 1:00PM in House Hearing Room A (John L. O'Brien Building). For planning purposes, please RSVP to info@valuesaction.org or call them at 360-631-1894.
January 27th, legislation was introduced that would legalize same-sex marriage (SB 5674, 1745).In addition, similar bills that would grant all the rights of marriage to domestic partnerships were also introduced (SB 5688, 1727). This would grant same-sex couples all the benefits of marriage without the term "marriage".
Those who promote traditional marriage won major battles in this last year. The passage of Proposition 8 in California, Proposition 102 in Arizona and Amendment 2 in Florida has sent a clear message to our nation that marriage should be valued and honored, not redefined.
We believe that the marriage battle is the defining issue of our time. If the family unit is redefined, we stand to lose the religious freedoms and right of conscience that define our way of life. The purpose of marriage is not to make people feel good about themselves. We must work together to encourage our legislators not to redefine traditional marriage.
The Family Policy Institute of Washington (FPIW) is urging those who oppose these efforts to contact their legislators and ask them not to support these bills.When you do, please make the following points.
We Can't Afford It:We are facing a budget crisis in the state.The budget deficit is at least $6 billion and could be much higher.Expanding marriage rights and benefits to same-sex couples will have a significant fiscal impact that the state cannot afford.Expanding benefits to same-sex couples should not be a priority at a time when funding cuts are being made to essential state services.
Redefining Marriage Creates Bad Precedent: Currently, Washington State law restricts individuals from marrying someone who is 1) a close relative, 2) already married, 3) a minor and 4) of the same gender.The is no rational reason to grant marriage benefits to same-sex couples but deny those benefits to relationships involving close relatives and people who are already married.
Same-Sex Marriage Legislation Threatens Freedom of Conscience:If the state chooses to recognize same-sex marriages as equivalent to traditional marriages, organizations and/or individuals whose convictions forbid them from treating homosexual relationships similarly will be forced to abandon their conscience, face lawsuits, or stop living life in accordance with their convictions. This has already happened in Massachusetts as religiously based adoption agencies have been forced to stop serving orphans rather than violate their conscience.It would be preferable for the government to remain neutral so that same-sex couples can live in peace without preventing those who disagree from living life as they choose.
The Legislation Creates Equivalency, not Equality:This legislation would not end discrimination in marriage; it would simply elevate same-sex marriage to the level of traditional marriages.The intellectually honest position would be to eliminate all restrictions on who a person can marry to ensure that no relationship involving consenting adults is discriminated against.
The FPIW believes traditional marriages have a uniquely special value to society.As such, we believe it is appropriate for government to recognize their unique value.With respect to the myriad of other lifestyle choices Washingtonians have the freedom to choose, the state should remain completely neutral.
Please invite your friends to join this group. Also, let everyone you know to take action on things that we post here. Thank you!
IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, PLEASE ATTEND BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THURSDAY, FEB. 5!
10:00 AM: House Bill 1727: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Judiciary at 10:00 AM. (Subject to change)
Full Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA
3:30 PM: Senate Bill 5688 Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections at 3:30 PM. (Subject to change)
Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA
*TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT, WE NEED TO PACK THESE HEARINGS OUT. THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUE WILL NEED TO SIGN UP AT THE START OF THE HEARING. THOSE WHO WANT TO LEAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD SHOULD LEAVE THEM WITH THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AT THE HEARING.
Meet with the Washington Values Alliance throughout the day on February 5. We will make available talking points, beverages & snacks for those who want to gather for discussion, fellowship and a time of prayer prior to the public hearings. We have reserved a couple of the rooms for this purpose. We will meet from 8:00AM - 9:30AM in Senate Hearing Room 2 (JA Cherberg Building) and from 12:00 noon - 1:00PM in House Hearing Room A (John L. O'Brien Building). For planning purposes, please RSVP to info@valuesaction.org or call them at 360-631-1894.
January 27th, legislation was introduced that would legalize same-sex marriage (SB 5674, 1745). In addition, similar bills that would grant all the rights of marriage to domestic partnerships were also introduced (SB 5688, 1727). This would grant same-sex couples all the benefits of marriage without the term "marriage".
Those who promote traditional marriage won major battles in this last year. The passage of Proposition 8 in California, Proposition 102 in Arizona and Amendment 2 in Florida has sent a clear message to our nation that marriage should be valued and honored, not redefined.
We believe that the marriage battle is the defining issue of our time. If the family unit is redefined, we stand to lose the religious freedoms and right of conscience that define our way of life. The purpose of marriage is not to make people feel good about themselves. We must work together to encourage our legislators not to redefine traditional marriage.
The Family Policy Institute of Washington (FPIW) is urging those who oppose these efforts to contact their legislators and ask them not to support these bills. When you do, please make the following points.
We Can't Afford It: We are facing a budget crisis in the state. The budget deficit is at least $6 billion and could be much higher. Expanding marriage rights and benefits to same-sex couples will have a significant fiscal impact that the state cannot afford. Expanding benefits to same-sex couples should not be a priority at a time when funding cuts are being made to essential state services.
Redefining Marriage Creates Bad Precedent: Currently, Washington State law restricts individuals from marrying someone who is 1) a close relative, 2) already married, 3) a minor and 4) of the same gender. The is no rational reason to grant marriage benefits to same-sex couples but deny those benefits to relationships involving close relatives and people who are already married.
Same-Sex Marriage Legislation Threatens Freedom of Conscience: If the state chooses to recognize same-sex marriages as equivalent to traditional marriages, organizations and/or individuals whose convictions forbid them from treating homosexual relationships similarly will be forced to abandon their conscience, face lawsuits, or stop living life in accordance with their convictions. This has already happened in Massachusetts as religiously based adoption agencies have been forced to stop serving orphans rather than violate their conscience. It would be preferable for the government to remain neutral so that same-sex couples can live in peace without preventing those who disagree from living life as they choose.
The Legislation Creates Equivalency, not Equality: This legislation would not end discrimination in marriage; it would simply elevate same-sex marriage to the level of traditional marriages. The intellectually honest position would be to eliminate all restrictions on who a person can marry to ensure that no relationship involving consenting adults is discriminated against.
The FPIW believes traditional marriages have a uniquely special value to society. As such, we believe it is appropriate for government to recognize their unique value. With respect to the myriad of other lifestyle choices Washingtonians have the freedom to choose, the state should remain completely neutral.
Remember to forward this group on to friends, family and neighbors so we can alert the state about this dangerous legislation.
You can call your legislator today through this special hotline, tell them the Family Policy Institute of WA sent you. 1-800-562-6000
VIDEO public hearing in the House Committee on Judiciary at 10:00 AM.
http://www.tvw.org/media/MediaPlayer.cfm?evid=2009020071&TYPE=V&bhcp=1