|
These difficult questions are at the very center of VMAC’s mission, and this website. VMAC hopes to assist citizens and leaders make the most informed decisions possible relative to the growing debate on same-sex marriage in Vermont, with the hopeful intent of serving the greater public good: the only task with which government should concern itself. VMAC believes that there is no greater good - nor any higher governmental service - than to protect the best interests of children; our least empowered citizens.
Marriage is arguably the most important institution of our entire culture; more important than money, or private property. Without marriage, Western civilization would almost certainly not have developed. Indeed, as pro-gay author and speaker David Blankenhorn points out, one of the first, and most revolutionary legal developments in early civilization was the recognition and protection of the family unit of mother, father, and child; a concept which resonates within the words of Lipit-Ishtar, early Mesopotamian ruler around 1900 BC:
“I made the father support his children. I made the child support his father. I made the father stand by his children. I made the child stand by his father.”
Blankenhorn further emphasizes that the marriage of a child’s biological parents creates a unique child-rearing environment where all three powerful and primary influences - the biological, social, and legal - all intersect for all family members. No other family structure or marital form provides all three (indeed, same-sex marriage consistently demonstrates only one of the three: legal). It is precisely this unique confluence of critical childhood influences which has prompted legal systems across cultures to protect and nurture  marriage as a critical building block for society. It is also a primary reason behind France’s decision to bar gays from marriage, adoption, and assisted reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination (see French report on Family and the Rights of Children for details).
In the coming months, Vermonters may have to decide one of the most important social issues we will ever deal with; whether to legalize same-sex (i.e. “genderless”) marriage in our state. The Vermont Marriage Advisory Council (VMAC) will support the good people of Vermont in this debate in several important ways, particularly to ensure that the debate on genderless marriage in Vermont is balanced, and:
1) Is based on facts, not raw emotion or “gut feelings” (please visit our resources page for informative downloads).
2) Fully and honestly discusses the profound implications on our society, especially our children.
3) That the burden of proof that legalizing genderless marriage would not adversely affect Vermont and society as a whole rests squarely where it must--on those advocating such a profound change. As yet, there is no proof whatsoever that such a profound change will do no harm to society. This is particularly important, as, by its nature, a same-sex (genderless) marriage involving children automatically creates a situation of motherlessness or fatherlessness for the child. This fact is inescapable.
Please take a moment to review the resources, links, and FAQ on this site. The facts and information provided therein form a significant part of the basis for our final report which will be provided to Vermont.
VMAC's mission will focus on four weighty questions which must be satisfactorily answered prior to enacting any legislation which would, in effect, directly affect or redefine marriage and family structure. Please remember that we are not discussing individual families or situations, but rather general trends which are a matter of public policy.
1: Are all family forms equal, on average, in their abilities to foster healthy children?
2: Is it in the best interest of the child to know and be raised by their biological parents?
3: Does traditional man/woman marriage provide exclusive social goods (benefits) to society which cannot be duplicated by any other arrangement?
4: Will changing the definition of marriage to genderless (same-sex) marriage weaken traditional man/woman marriage?
The need for VMAC's formation and mission became clear with the Legislative leadership's decision to form the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection to explore legalizing genderless marriage. From its inception, this commission has demonstrated considerable bias in opinions and membership, according to articles in the Burlington Free Press and Rutland Herald, as well as the attitudes publicly displayed by some of its members (go HERE for a video sample). Its members are therefore unlikely to present a balanced and fair report to the legislature, or to Vermonters.
Given the undeniably central role marriage plays in the development of our children, and therefore society, VMAC feels that debate of such a pivotal issue demands that all information be heard – especially that relating to children, whose welfare has not been central in the genderless marriage discussion thus far.
In the coming months, we will be broadening this debate and inquiry in a number of ways, including hosting nationally and internationally recognized experts on key marriage issues, posting information on this Web site and by other means.
Please sign up for our periodic e-mail updates on upcoming events, new features on this site, as well as summaries of information and important developments in the debate on this issue.
|
