Defense of Marriage Initiative accepted by Secretary of State

[TechBear_Seattle]

Our press release:

Defense of Marriage Initiative accepted by Secretary of State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seattle, WA – The Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance (WA-DOMA) announced on Thursday that their proposed initiative to make procreation a requirement for legal marriage has been accepted by the Secretary of State and assigned the serial number 957. The initiative has been in the planning stages since the Washington Supreme Court ruled last July that the state’s Defense of Marriage Act was constitutional.

“For many years, social conservatives have claimed that marriage exists solely for the purpose of procreation,” said WA-DOMA organizer Gregory Gadow in a printed statement. “The Washington Supreme Court echoed that claim in their lead ruling on Andersen v. King County. The time has come for these conservatives to be dosed with their own medicine. If same-sex couples should be barred from marriage because they can not have children together, it follows that all couples who can not or will not have children together should equally be barred from marriage. And this is what the Defense of Marriage Initiative will do.”

Mr. Gadow also stated, “Our agenda is to shine a very bright light on the injustice and prejudice that underlie the Andersen decision by giving that decision the full force of law.”

If passed by Washington voters, I-957 would:

* add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;

* require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;

* require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”

* establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and

* make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits.

This initiative is the first of three that WA-DOMA has planned for upcoming years. The other two would prohibit divorce or separation when a married couple has children together, and make having a child together the equivalent of marriage.

The text of I-957 and further information about the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance can be found at the group’s website: www.WA-DOMA.org.

We expect to have petitions available in about two weeks, then we have until July 6 to collect and turn in 224,880 valid signatures from registered Washington voters.

Those who have visited our website before should take another look, as it has been updated and more content will be added soon.

[eridani]

1. The initiative that asks the question--

--"Why the hell can't we have FUN while we're educating the public?"

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Yup!

What is now I-957 was born back in 1996, when Clinton signed that abomination called the "Defense" of Marriage Act. We were depressed, extremely disappointed and more than a tad tipsy. When the state Supreme Court published the ruling in Andersen v. King County and used 62 pages to endorse the bigots, well, it seemed the right time for our drunken fantasies to become the state's political reality. :toast:

[sneakythomas]

3. UMMM

I had a vasectomy about fifteen years ago. I can't procreate. Will this mean that after thirty-two years of marriage my wife and I are suddenly single?

I guess on the bright side its cheaper than lawyers.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Ask the state Supreme Court

THEY are the ones who created the legal definition that marriage exists for the purpose of having and raising children. We are only following through on the Court's ruling and putting it into law. :hi:

Anyway, if you two have had children, you will have 18 months after this initiative goes into effect to file a certificate of procreation. Once that is done, your marriage is safe because you have fulfilled the purpose of marriage. If you have not, well....

[maxsolomon]

5. still getting out that evangelical vote

how about a "jesus is lord" initiative?

if you don't vote yes, you hate puppies & kitties & grandmothers & YOU SPIT ON OUR TROOPS!