By the time you read this, a proposed amendment to the Alabama state constitution banning gay “marriage” may have been passed by the state Legislature. If not, it soon will be. Both Democrats and Republicans made passage of a constitutional amendment banning gay “marriage” a top priority on their legislative agendas this year. Both parties promised it would be the first bill considered by the Legislature.
That action followed a call by Gov. Bob Riley during his State of the State address to make passage of such an amendment a top priority. Gov. Riley said the vast majority of Alabamians believe marriage is between a man and a woman and state law should reflect that belief.
This time both political parties have been true to their word. A House version of the amendment passed by a vote of 85–7. A Senate version of the amendment was adopted 35–0. Both bills were the first considered by their respective bodies. Both legislative chambers also promised to quickly consider the other’s bill and to reconcile differences so the issue could be put before voters.
The biggest difference between the two bills is when to allow the citizens of Alabama to vote. There is no question about the amendment’s adoption. It will be passed overwhelmingly. The question is about the impact the vote will have on other issues on the ballot.
We commend Gov. Riley and the members of the state Legislature for their prompt action to adopt a constitutional amendment banning same-sex “marriage.” Right now, gay “marriage” is against Alabama law. However, court cases in several states are working through the legal system that could have the effect of voiding that legislative ban.
Elected officials from both parties were quick to make public statements about marriage being between a man and a woman and the need for a constitutional amendment to safeguard this principle cherished by most Alabamians. As a result, the issue is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It is an issue about the welfare and the future of our state. This amendment is bigger than party affiliation.vYet, party politics kept a similar amendment from being placed before the voters last year, and party politics produced the only disagreement this year.
Last year the state Senate passed a constitutional amendment banning gay “marriage” and sent it to the House for consideration. Speaker of the House Seth Hammett told The Alabama Baptist that he fully supported the amendment and that he anticipated it would pass the House with no problem. Instead, the amendment died because House members could not agree on when to allow Alabamians to vote on the amendment.
Some feared the issue would turn out votes for Republican candidates in the November election because George W. Bush endorsed a constitutional amendment banning gay “marriage” and John Kerry did not. The result was that when election night came, 11 states all adopted constitutional amendments banning gay “marriage.”
To our shame, Alabama was not among them. The fear of some members of the state Legislature produced an official silence on an issue that is at the core of a stable society — marriage being between a man and a woman.
But the election sweep of a ban on gay “marriage” helped create such a wave of support that Alabama legislators had to deal with the issue this year. They could not shelve it again. This year practically everyone supported the amendment.
But fears persisted. Some wanted the issue on a primary election because of its potential impact on the outcome of other issues and races. Some wanted it on a general election for the same reason. Some wanted the amendment voted on in a special election to keep it clear of other races.
Whether fears about the November election were well founded, this writer does not know. A recent poll concluded that Iraq was a more important issue to voters that same-sex “marriage.” And no one knows what other issues will impact voters in any upcoming election.
What is clear is that Alabama needs to adopt a constitutional amendment banning gay “marriage.” As one senator said, Alabama needs to sound a “clarion call to the rest of the country to come home to family values.”
One political observer called the amendment a “sideshow” and urged legislators to get on with the important issues of government like balancing the general budget. Alabama does have many serious issues before it. But a constitutional amendment banning gay “marriage” is not a sideshow. It is a protection of the foundational building block of society’s future.
Alabama needs legislators willing to put the good of the state above such partisan issues as “how will a vote impact my party.” Maybe this vote is a step toward bipartisan support for actions that advance Alabama rather than those that advance a political party.
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