UTAH MARRIAGE AMENDMENT DESERVES SUPPORT: Monte Stewart

On Nov. 2, Utah's citizens will vote on a proposed state constitutional amendment that defines what marriage is and what it is not. This proposal, Amendment 3, is carefully worded to accomplish three purposes: (1) protect Utah's definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, (2) prevent courts or other government officials from subverting that definition by authorizing counterfeit marriage, and (3) leave the Legislature free to provide specific benefits to unmarried persons. ...

Amendment 3's opponents are vocal and well-represented in the media. It is increasingly clear that each of these opponents has one (or more) of four different reasons for their opposition: They favor same-sex marriage; they want a marriage substitute for same-sex couples such as Vermont's "civil union"; they want to stay in step with their political party; and/or they in good faith believe the other opponents' mantra that the amendment "goes too far" because it is "poorly written."

Only the last reason, however, is cited in their public statements. Clearly, there is no combination of words in the English language that will satisfy the vast majority of Amendment 3's detractors because they are ideologically committed to redefining marriage or creating an alternative marital status. ...

Arguments based in the claim that Amendment 3 will interfere with existing rights or cause unintended consequences for unmarried people are without foundation. Amendment 3 merely prevents the creation of a new legal status that approximates marriage in all but name. Thus, private arrangements, employment benefits and legislative efforts to provide benefits based on mutual dependence between individuals will be entirely unaffected.

Amendment 3 is what it appears to be--a straightforward and narrowly worded response to efforts to redefine marriage in the United States. As such, it is deserving of the public's support.

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posted by Eve at 4:03 PM VOTE

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