UFI News Release
For Immediate Release: February 11, 2004
Contact: Sharon Slater, (480) 507-2664
United Families International Defends Marriage in Massachusetts
A United Families International (UFI) document on the merits of preserving traditional marriage may make an impact on legislators deliberating over a proposed marriage amendment in Massachusetts. Volunteers representing UFI/Massachusetts on Monday and Tuesday delivered the “ Guide to Family Issues — Sexual Orientation” to members of the Massachusetts legislature, who will deliberate Feb. 11 on a proposed amendment (House Bill 3190) to preserve the institution of marriage as between one man and one woman.
April Perry, Mindy Chase, Becky Lloyd and Margaret Busse met with legislators and legislative aides in order to present them with copies of the UFI document. Relying strictly on social science research, the Guide to Family Issues explains that intact families and children experience a much higher likelihood of health, happiness and prosperity. Non-traditional relationships are far less stable, the incidences of domestic violence and child abuse are much greater, children do more poorly in school and suffer higher rates of depression, drug and alcohol addiction. Homosexual relationships are characteristically unstable and fundamentally incapable of providing children the security they need, according to researcher Timothy Dailey, cited in the UFI document.
In a cover letter accompanying the guide, UFI president Sharon Slater wrote: “This important guide summarizes volumes of social science research and logical, common sense analysis that make a conclusive and compelling case for preserving marriage as the union of a man and a woman. It is clear from this research and information that if we tamper with traditional marriage and the natural family we put our future as a society at great risk. We urge you to vote on Wednesday for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. It is the only way to insure that this kind of debate and consideration will take place and that ultimately the people can decide this issue.”
“A lot of the aides wanted the guide,” said Perry, Defend Marriage Committee Chair for UFI/Massachusetts. “Many chiefs of staff wanted it personally even if the senator opposed the amendment. Overall, the reception we got was really good. People said the guide is very helpful to them.”
Perry also went to Harvard Law School Monday evening for what was supposed to have been a debate between proponents and opponents of the Massachusetts marriage amendment. The debate was cancelled when opponents decided to focus their efforts on other strategies. However, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins and Hadley Arkes, a political science professor and author from Amherst College, fielded questions about the marriage issue from the audience. Perry capitalized on the opportunity by distributing more of the UFI guides to Perkins, Rev. Eugene F. Rivers III from the National Ten Point Leadership Foundation, a Harvard University professor and other influential people in attendance.
During the final two days before the Feb. 11 th legislative debate, UFI placed nearly 200 Family Issues Guides in the hands of prominent people in Massachusetts. The guide can be viewed online: http://www.unitedfamilies.org/DOCs/FamilyIssuesGuide_SexualOrientation_2003_10_15.doc
©2001 - 2007 United Families International. All rights reserved. No content, images, or other information may be used from this site without prior written consent of United Families International or original authors.
