Preservation of Traditional Marriage Letter, Texas
1-18-2001

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have recently declared
that * *marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that
the
family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His
children." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, September 23, 1995.)

The First Presidency has also urged Church members to "appeal to
legislators
and other government officials to preserve the purposes and sanctity of
marriage between a man
and a woman and to reject all efforts to give legal authorization or
other
official approval or support to marriages between persons of the same
gender." (First Presidency statement on same-gender marriage, February 1,
1994.)

Background:
On July 1, 2000 the state of Vermont passed a law permitting civil union
or
same sex marriages. All marriage rights in Vermont were extended to civil
unions. Between July 1, 2000 and September 1, 2000 more than 750 civil
unions have been performed in Vermont. Of those more than 500 were
between
people from outside Vermont.

There are 26 Texas couples who have entered into this kind of union. They
have been encouraged to seek Texas recognition of their legal rights
obtained in Vermont. This would cause a serious challenge to the
definition
of traditional marriage in Texas.

There are 36 states in the United States who have already passed
legislation
prohibiting recognition of such same sex unions and the Federal
Government
does not recognize same sex marriages so far as federal laws are
concerned.
Therefore social security benefits, veterans benefits etc. are not
extended
to such couples.

Texas does not have a law to deny recognition of same sex or gay
marriages.
In 1997 Texas House Bill 11, which would have denied this recognition,
was
introduced by Warren Chisum. The bill was prevented from leaving the
Health
Services Committee and from being heard on the floor. There are strong
gay
and lesbian forces working to prevent such a bill and who are working for
recognition of same sex marriages in Texas.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has spoken out clearly
against same sex marriages as a threat to the family and as a threat to
society. However the Church does not wish this "opposition to be
interpreted as justification for hatred, intolerance, or abuse of those
who
profess homosexual tendencies, either individually or as a group." (Pres.
Gordon B. Hinckley, General Priesthood Sessior4 Saturday, October 2,
1999.)
The North America Southwest Area Presidency, under the direction of the
First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, have asked the members of the
Church in Texas to actively join an effort to support the fight against
civil unions and support the concept of traditional marriage.

Polls show that 80% of Texans agree with the Church position. The
legislators in Texas have a full agenda when the new legislative session
opens on January 9, 2001. They
will not consider any legislation unless they feel it is an important
public
issue. It is our job


a. The Coalition for Traditional Marriage is dedicated to preserving the
definition of marriage as a legal contract between one man and one woman
united as husband and wife. The Coalition is not involved in taking away
any
existing rights of those involved in other relationships.

b. It is the goal of the Coalition for Traditional Marriage to inform the
citizens of Texas and its legislators of the personal state, and national
importance of preserving the definition of marriage as a contract between
one man and one woman united as husband and wife.

c. The Coalition for Traditional Marriage is dedicated to preserving
marriage as the basic building block of our society and to insuring that
the
laws of Texas continue to define legal marriage as the union of one man
and
one woman and give Texas the right to refuse to recognize "same sex
marriage" legalized in other states.

Suggestions for writing

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

It is extremely helpful to have letters written in support of traditional
marriage in the weekly and daily newspapers. Some pointers to keep in
mind:

1. Keep letters to 200-250 words or less.

2. Make the letters positive and supportive of traditional marriage. Be
courteous. Put things in the context of 'I am in favor of.." rather than
what you are against.

3. Stress that the eroding of the traditional definition of marriage
threatens society and touches all of us.

4. It is generally best to express you interest in this matter based on
your
religious beliefs. The opposition dismisses this argument on the basis
that
we embrace freedom of religion and
that one person's religious beliefs my not necessarily be the same as
another.

5. Mail, fax, or E-mail your letters to as many newspapers within your
state
as possible. At: www.wwideweb.com/texas/htm you will find addresses of
127
newspapers in Texas and their websites. Most of them list the criteria
for
accepting letters.

Excellent source of information about


Sample letter 1

Dear editor,

I feel strongly about the value of traditional marriage-between a man and
a
woman. I do not want to see that institution, which I believe contributes
greatly to our society, diluted, weakened, or transformed without having
a
say in the matter.

But I know that the "the state of Vermont recently legalized same-sex
marriages, though they are called "civil unions." In Vermont, two men or
two
women can be joined in a civil union. That union is treated like a
marriage.

Right now in Texas, two people cannot create a same-sex marriage. But
what
if a same-sex couple from Vermont moved here and sought recognition for
their union? Would we, in Texas, be required to recognize that marriage?

We might be. Under the Full Faith and Credit clause of the U.S.
Constitution, that union, which is legal in Vermont, might have to be
recognized--considered legal-here in Texas.

I feel strongly that Texans, or our elected representatives, should
decide
what is and is not considered a marriage in Texas. In other words, I do
not
want Vermont law to determine what we do here. If you feel the same way,
speak out. Contact your representatives. Tell them how you feel.

We can decide what is a marriage in Texas.


Sincerely,


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Texas U.S. Representatives
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3 - CONGRESSMAN SAM JOHNSON
Address: 1030 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4201
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Texas State Senators
SENATE DISTRICT 8 - SENATOR FLORENCE SHAPIRO
Capitol Office: CAP 3E.12
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0108
District Address: 2901 Dallas Park-way Ste 330
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District Phone: (972) 378-3229

Texas State Representatives
HOUSE DISTRICT 67 - REPRESENTATIFVE JERRY MADDEN
Capitol Office: EXT E2.406
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0544
District Address: 520 E. Central Parkway #236
Plano, TX 75074
District Phone: (972) 424-2235

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SBOE DISTRICT 12 - MS. GERALDINE MILLER
District Address: 500 I Spring Valley Road
Dallas TX 75244



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