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Oppose the Florida and California Marriage Protection Initiatives

2008 Action of Immediate Witness

Because: Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Whereas: The Unitarian Universalist Association [UUA], its member congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to justice, equality, compassion and civil marriage for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people;

Whereas: The proposed Florida Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment, which states, “Inasmuch as marriage is a legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized,” will appear on the November 2008 ballot in Florida;

Whereas: The State of California, in response to the recent ruling by the state Supreme Court that overturned its ban on same-sex marriages, is expected to have on its November 2008 ballot a similar initiative stating, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California";

Whereas: Other states may have similar so-called marriage protection measures on their 2008 ballots; and

Whereas: The amendment will also negatively affect heterosexual couples in committed relationships outside of marriage;

Therefore, be it resolved: The 2008 UUA General Assembly

• urges member congregations to oppose the Florida Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment, the California Initiative and any similar ballot measures in any other state;
   
• urges individual Unitarian Universalists to contact family and friends who live in and/or vote in the affected states to inform them of these amendments and to encourage them and their friends and family to vote "No" on them; to write letters to the editor and to support those organizations and coalitions presently working for their defeat; and
   
• urges the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministries for Florida and California and congregations, clusters and districts in all affected states to use this Action of Immediate Witness to oppose the Florida Marriage Protection Constitutional Amendment, the California Initiative, and other similar 2008 ballot initiatives.