Opponents of same-sex marriage rights speak out
Bay City News Wire / CBS 5 (San Jose)
February 15, 2005

Opponents of a bill that would amend the California constitution to allow same-sex marriages staunchly defended voters' rights at an afternoon news conference today.

Representatives from the Sacramento-based Campaign for Children and Families (CCF) spoke passionately in support of traditional marriage during one leg of a weeklong, statewide series of rallies to protect marriage laws.

The "Keep Your Hands Off Marriage'' tour coincides with the anniversary of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's decision to allow gay nuptials.

The Feb. 12, 2004 decision to issue licenses set off a flurry of City Hall activity that lasted for a month as 4,049 same-sex couples came to tie the knot until the state Supreme Court halted the weddings on March 11.

CCF representatives are opposing Assembly Bill 19, which was introduced on Dec. 6 by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco.

Leno introduced a similar bill on the same day of Newsom's monumental decision to allow gay marriages, however that bill never made it to the Assembly floor despite being approved by the Judiciary Committee.

The new version of the bill is drawing criticism from those who believe in traditional marriage values.

"God created marriage for a man and a woman, and we should not un-define marriage,'' CCF President Randy Thomasson said. "This is San Francisco's plan being pushed statewide.''

Thomasson repeatedly highlighted the approval of Proposition 22, which was supported by 61 percent of state voters during the 2000 primary election.

The proposition meant voters decided "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.''

The new bill proposed before the Legislature seeks to change the language of the California Family Code from "a man and a woman'' to "two persons,'' according to Thomasson.

Same-sex marriage opponents believe that if the bill were passed, the voice of the voters would be forever silenced.

"The votes of the people should not be overturned,'' CCF representative Craig DeLuz said. "If legislators reject the values of the people who put them in office, then we will take them out of office.''

DeLuz, a father of two who has been married for 12 years, said many opponents of same-sex marriage believe it's crucial for a child to be raised with both a father and a mother.

The sociological and psychological attributes a child gains by having parents of a different gender is crucial to future development, according to DeLuz.

Gilroy resident Michelle Hayton attended the news conference today to show her support for traditional marriage values.

Hayton has been married for 10 years and believes her two children will benefit more from having a "nuclear family,'' as opposed to parents of the same gender.

"I think it's the foundation of society,'' Hayton said. "Society is built on families.''

Hayton added that she feels strongly about upholding tradition and that amending marriage laws could open a floodgate for even more changes regarding unions between people.

Allowing same-sex couples to wed would ultimately discredit the sanctity of marriage, according to Hayton.

However she is not opposed to homosexuality.