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“Civil Unions Do Not Belong in Constitution” Emphasizes US Pro-Family Group

BOSTON, August 25, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Massachusetts legislature has set September 14 as the date for a debate on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex “marriage,” which proposes that “marriage” be replaced with a nearly identical institution – civil unions. A pro-family coalition opposed to the compromise measure is calling on concerned individuals to contact their Senators and Representatives to oppose the proposed amendment.

The amendment, coined the Travaglini-Lees Amendment after Massachusetts State Senate President Robert E. Travaglini (D - Boston) and Massachusetts State Senate Minority Leader Brian P. Lees (R - East Longmeadow), passed by a vote of 105 to 92 in March, 2004, after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered the legalization of same-sex “marriage” in 2003. The amendment must pass in two sessions of the Massachusetts legislature before being placed on the ballot in 2006.

The Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI) opposes the measure, suggesting an alternate amendment that would simply ban same-sex “marriages,” leaving the civil union issue as a separate issue to be debated by the legislature at a later date. “Civil unions do not belong in the Constitution,” the group emphasizes on its web site.

MFI opposes the current Travaglini-Lees Amendment for several reasons. MFI argues the amendment is flawed because it asks people to affirm or reject both traditional marriage and civil unions with a single vote. “Civil unions are a legislative matter and should not be part of the state constitution,” the MFI web site states. “Civil unions are discriminatory because they provide special privileges based on the sexual preference of a small, vocal group and disregard the legitimate needs of people in dependent relationships that are not based on sexual preference.”

The MFI’s proposed amendment states: “When recognizing marriages entered into after the adoption of this amendment by the people, the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall define marriage only as the union of one man and one woman.” Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has said he backs the MFI amendment, arguing that the compromise “muddied” the same-sex “marriage” issue by legalizing civil unions.

“MFI is calling on our supporters to contact their state representative and state senator . . .  and ask them to defeat the Travaglini-Lees Amendment,” the web site adds. “It is imperative that this amendment be defeated. Please call your legislators today.”

To contact Massachusetts Representatives by name:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm
To contact Massachusetts Senators by name:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm
To find contact information by address:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Lawyers' Group Warns Civil Unions is Capitulation, not Compromise on Gay "Marriage"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/apr/05042604.html
Bishops: Civil Unions No Way – “Protecting Marriage Is More Than Preserving A Name”
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jun/05062410.html
Boston Archbishop O'Malley Says Gay 'Marriage' and Civil Unions Pose Grave Threat to Religious Liberty and Freedom of Conscience
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/mar/04031105.html

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