Meyer: Still no need
to redefine marriage
BY TONI MEYER, Posted
Feb. 29, from the Web, March 1, 2008
Governor Corzine should not legalize
same-sex marriage.
AS EXPECTED from a panel stacked with
same-sex activists, the Civil Union Commission issued a report last week saying
that its members believe civil unions are a failure.
What is their conclusion based on? Seven substantive complaints -- from
among the 2,400 same-sex couples who have entered into civil unions in New
Jersey. They complain about the failure of New Jersey employers based out
of state to provide benefits to partners in civil unions. Those companies
say that the federal Employment Retirement Income Security Act, which regulates
the provision of benefits to employees, does not require them to provide
expensive health benefits to same-sex couples.
Activists claim there are more complaints, including insinuations that hospitals
have denied visitation -– an accusation that an official from the New Jersey
Hospital Association insists is absolutely false. Other additional claims
are unofficial and unsubstantiated. The majority of complaints cited by
the activists do not deal with rights being denied, but rather gripes about how
same-sex couples have to explain themselves to other people.
The commission also says that employers in Massachusetts are more likely than
those in New Jersey to voluntarily provide health benefits to same-sex couples
simply because the law gives their unions the title marriage. This
contention is completely anecdotal, as noted in an article last week on the New
Jersey State Bar Association Web site.
This New Jersey commission has wasted taxpayer time and money to move its
political agenda. Now, it hopes to hijack public dialogue on civil unions
by confining continued public discussion to a biased report replete with
emotional and anecdotal appeals.
But the real issue must remain paramount: There is still no need to
redefine marriage. Only 0.3 percent of all those who have entered civil
unions have filed complaints. The fact is, the civil union law has
succeeded in legally providing same-sex couples with all the state rights and
benefits of married couples, and redefining marriage to include same-sex couples
would do nothing to force federally regulated companies to provide benefits.
On one important point, I agree with same-sex marriage activists: There is
power in the word marriage. Marriage defines a public virtue that
regulates human sexuality, brings two parts of humanity together in a
cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship, and gives mothers and fathers to
children for the development of the next generation –- which is in the best
interest of children and the general welfare of the state. That is why we
must never redefine marriage by extending the title to anyone other than one man
and one woman.
Same-sex marriage proponents are asking everyone to dramatically and permanently
alter the definition of the family -- to say that male and female are merely
optional, not essential, for marriage, family and society. Saying male and
female don't really matter is harmful to all of us.
Consequences
Redefining marriage for everyone to assuage the desires of a few individuals is
not only unnecessary but also of far more serious consequence for all of us.
Where same-sex marriage has been legalized, all citizens have lost rights.
Sixty-one percent of New Jerseyans believe that same-sex couples have a right to
live as they choose, but they do not have the right to redefine marriage for the
rest of society. In light of this, Governor Corzine should stop ignoring
the will of the people by stating he would sign legislation legalizing same-sex
marriage after the November election.
Instead, our lawmakers must let the people decide by putting a state
constitutional amendment on the ballot to preserve marriage between one man and
one woman only, once and for all.
Toni Meyer is a senior research analyst at the New Jersey
Family Policy Council, a Parsippany-based research organization dealing with
family issues.
|
