Group demonstrates support for traditional marriages
Louis Galvan, The Fresno Bee
February 6, 2005

MADERA — A rally by a group that believes traditional marriage is under attack drew a crowd of between 150 and 200 people to the old Madera County Courthouse Park on Saturday.

Present as well was a smaller group that supports same-sex marriage.

"Don't underestimate the homosexual community," Benjamin Lopez, legislative analyst and lobbyist for Traditional Values Coalition, told the crowd.

The rally, one of two sponsored by the Campaign for Children and Families, was headed by Lopez, Randy Thomasson, president of Children and Families; Assembly Member Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto; and Assembly Member Mike Villines, R-Clovis.

Another rally is planned for noon on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, at the state Capitol.

Lopez, 28, is public affairs director for Echos of Faith Christian Center in Ontario.

He, Thomasson, Cogdill and Villines are calling for residents to put pressure on their elected representatives to fight for the passage of Assembly Constitutional Amendment 3. The measure would add the language of Proposition 22 to the state Constitution.

Prop. 22 states that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. It passed in March 2000.

In addition to the Prop. 22 language, the amendment would further state that: "The rights, responsibilities, benefits, and obligations of a marriage shall only be granted, bestowed, and conferred upon a man and a woman joined in a valid marriage, and may not be conferred upon any other union or partnership." Supporters say such an amendment would prevent homosexual civil unions or "domestic partnership" programs that California law currently allows.

Signatures for petitions that would protect Prop. 22 and show support of the proposed constitutional amendment are being gathered by those opposed to same-sex marriages.

Mike McMillan, 53, of Riverdale attended Saturday's rally with his wife, Trish, and their three adult children and their families. He said there is nothing anyone can say in defense of homosexual marriages.

"It's just not right," he said. "It's not natural."

In opposition were a group of seven same-sex marriage supporters from the Tulare chapter of Marriage Equality of California.

The group carried picket signs proclaiming the right of freedom to marry and stood peacefully well behind the crowd.

Becki Jones, 27, of Exeter, said that as an adult American citizen living in a free society it is not right that government should prevent her from marrying the person she wishes to marry.

"It hurts that we are being treated as second-hand citizens," she said. "That really hurts."