From Matthew Spalding, Ph.D. at the Heritage Foundation:
What was once an important debate over the legal status of marriage has emerged as a critical national issue, the resolution of which will shape the future of our society and the course of constitutional government in the United States.
Family is and will always remain the building block of civil society, and marriage is at the heart of the family. Redefining marriage down to a mere form of contract fundamentally alters its nature and purpose and will usher in new threats to the liberty of individuals and organizations that uphold marriage and have moral or religious objections to its redefinition.
With good reason, 41 states have defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman. In the context of democratic government, citizens and their elected representatives must be able to deliberate and make policy decisions to uphold the institution that forms the basis for civil society.
