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Not just any constitutional marriage amendment will do. A marriage amendment that doesn't protect the rights of marriage doesn't protect marriage. That's why you'll want to read The Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative (see below). It's clear and principled because it protects everything about marriage -- marriage licenses, marriage rights, and marriage under law -- for one man and one woman. The Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative is the true-blue standard we must unite under to truly protect marriage.
Here are the clear, precise, and important words that The Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative would place into the California State Constitution:
Only marriage between one man and one woman is valid or recognized in California, whether contracted in this state or elsewhere. A man is an adult male human being who possesses at least one inherited Y chromosome, and a woman is an adult female human being who does not possess an inherited Y chromosome. Neither the Legislature nor any court, government institution, government agency, initiative statute, local government, or government official shall abolish the civil institution of marriage between one man and one woman, or decrease statutory rights, incidents, or employee benefits of marriage shared by one man and one woman, or require private entities to offer or provide rights, incidents, or benefits of marriage to unmarried individuals, or bestow statutory rights, incidents, or employee benefits of marriage on unmarried individuals. Any public act, record, or judicial proceeding, from within this state or another jurisdiction, that violates this section is void and unenforceable.
1) Understand the legal effect of The Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative
Scroll down to see the legal effect of our amendment
2) Learn why California needs a constitutional marriage amendment
Why it's needed and the chronology of attacks on marriage in California
The Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative was drafted by leading marriage protection experts Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, Rena Lindevaldsen, senior litigation counsel for the nationally-respected legal organization Liberty Counsel, and a team of top legal and policy advisors.
Legal Effect of The Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative
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Marriage Licenses |
Protected for one man and one woman |
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Marriage Rights |
Protected for one man and one woman |
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Individual Rights |
Individual rights and private agreements are guaranteed, allowing two persons to make medical decisions, own property, establish wills and trusts, and make other arrangements, enjoying the full breadth of power of attorney privileges |
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Private Entities |
Guarantees the right of churches, private organizations and businesses to decide their own policies on marriage |
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Domestic Partnership Registry |
Domestic partners may continue to register their relationships, but cannot demand that private entities or government officials award them the privileges of marriage that belong to a husband and wife |
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Hospital Visitation |
All Californians will continue to receive this defined privilege |
The Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative
NOTE: Section 1 and 2 below are printed on the petition as a preamble to Section 3.
Section 3 is the only section that actually goes into the California State Constitution.
Section 1: Title
This measure is The Voters’ Right to Protect Marriage Initiative.
Section 2: Marriage for One Man and One Woman Benefits Children, Families, and Society
The People of California have a compelling responsibility to protect the essence of marriage by ensuring that the civil institution of marriage between one man and one woman is not redefined, abolished, or diminished. The People find that marriage between one man and one woman is diminished when government decreases statutory rights, incidents, or employee benefits of marriage shared by one man and one woman, or when government requires private entities to offer or provide rights, incidents, or benefits of marriage to unmarried individuals, or when government bestows statutory rights, incidents, or employee benefits of marriage on unmarried individuals. The People further find and declare that it is in a child's best interest to have both a father and a mother, and that marriage rights for one man and one woman must be protected for the well-being of children, families, and society.
Section 3: Vote Yes to Protect Marriage from Being Redefined, Abolished, or Diminished
Section 1.1 of Article I of the Constitution is added to read:
NOTE: Here are the clear, precise, and important words that The Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative would place into the California State Constitution:
SEC. 1.1. Only marriage between one man and one woman is valid or recognized in California, whether contracted in this state or elsewhere. A man is an adult male human being who possesses at least one inherited Y chromosome, and a woman is an adult female human being who does not possess an inherited Y chromosome. Neither the Legislature nor any court, government institution, government agency, initiative statute, local government, or government official shall abolish the civil institution of marriage between one man and one woman, or decrease statutory rights, incidents, or employee benefits of marriage shared by one man and one woman, or require private entities to offer or provide rights, incidents, or benefits of marriage to unmarried individuals, or bestow statutory rights, incidents, or employee benefits of marriage on unmarried individuals. Any public act, record, or judicial proceeding, from within this state or another jurisdiction, that violates this section is void and unenforceable.
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