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A Marriage Decision Update from Jeff Kemp
Dear friends,
Yesterday the Washington State Supreme Court ruled to uphold the 1998 DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) and the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. This is clearly a pro-marriage decision, not an anti-gay decision. It is an affirmation of the unique and essential idea of marriage in our society.
I am grateful, relieved, and humbled by this sound decision. Yet I take no glee, as I feel for those who are disappointed.
The ruling is not only monumental for our state, but also for our nation. The court strongly supported the reasoning in the DOMA that tied marriage between a man and a woman to procreation, parenting, and better outcomes for children. This issue has been returned to the correct forum and gained a very strong precedent. Although it was a close 5-4 decision, the court’s majority finding was clear about representative democracy and the authority of the legislature. It did not find same-sex couples to be a suspect class of specially protected citizens. It did not reduce marriage by calling it a "right."
However, the trends to take marriage lightly or to undermine and redefine it will not cease. We must look to the future.
The protection of marriage is not the whole of it. Families Northwest is based on playing offense, not defense, and on offering solutions, not fighting errors. Our work addresses problems that preceded and exacerbate the same-sex marriage redefinition issue – divorce, non-marriage, and cohabitation. Our message, our resources, and our groundbreaking community strategies focus on the hope and help we can offer to marriage, parenting, and reducing divorce. Adults need this. Kids need and deserve this.
We are using the increased attention on marriage to refocus on strategies that strengthen marriage and prevent divorce. Families Northwest is committed to strategic campaigns so we can continue being a positive voice for safe, healthy, and lasting marriage. We are creating more and more community partnerships around the Northwest. The training and equipping of leaders to improve relationships and help prevent divorce is growing. Community partnership organizations already exist in Puyallup, Portland, Spokane, Yakima, Duvall, and Vancouver, and we’ve raised the marriage preparation standards in over 35 additional communities. Spreading this work is crucial in turning the tide on family breakdown.
This moment in our state’s history is monumental for the Marriage and Family Movement – a movement that can only move forward if marriage is honored and preserved. Now it’s time to address the whole issue. Let’s join together in affirming marriage as the keystone of any community or culture, and work together to strengthen it and prevent divorce.
Building strong families… one community at a time,
Jeff Kemp
President, Families Northwest
What you can do:
We must strengthen marriages, as well as restore marriage to its most honored place in society, so that more children can enjoy the benefits of being raised in the healthiest environment with their married mother and father.
Challenge yourself to make a positive difference for marriage, for families, and for children.
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