Marriage Debates: Ballots Banning Same Sex Marriage

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

08 Nov 2006 09:00 AM

Even though not all the votes have been tallied yet, in every state that had a gay marriage ban on the ballot except for Arizona, those who disagree with redefining marriage are winning. In some cases, they are winning by huge numbers.

What is interesting is that so many conservative ballot initiatives won or are winning, yet Democrats took over the House and may still take the Senate. Why would social traditionalists vote liberal? Many people are touting this as a huge victory, despite the ballot measures. I think liberal Democrats should be very careful. This is obviously not a mandate to go further to the left.

In fact, the Democrats that won in most cases were moderates as were the Republicans that managed to hold seats. Apparently, the country is moving more toward the center, which is something both parties would do well to keep in mind. Unfortunately, events like this seem to convince Republicans to move farther left, which couldn't be more wrong. Conservatives moved away from the party due to pork spending, the deficit, illegal immigration, and failure to do anything with their biggest social concerns, one of which was protecting marriage.

Wisconsin, Virginia, Tennessee, South Dakota, South Carolina, Idaho, and Colorado, all appear to have passed or be close to passing bans on same sex marriage. Add these to the eleven states that amended their Constitutions in 2004, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah and Oregon, most of which won by big numbers including Mississippi which was 6-1 for the ban.

While I understand the urge for a federal measure in light of activist courts, I feel this is being handled properly as a state issue. By leaving it with the states where it belongs, we leave it to the people to decide. So far, the people have made their wishes quite clear. As long as judges don't attempt to thwart the will of the people, amending the US Constitution may not be necessary. It would be the only proper way to make it a federal issue, but amending our founding document should be the last resort, in my opinion.

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Marriage Debates

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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