• There have been three roll call votes in the Senate to move forward towards consideration.
• Bill H.R.8404 passed the House on July 7, 2022 (The Yeas were 267 and the Nays were 157.

In 1996, the DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT was passed. This legislation accomplish two key things:

1) It defined (1) "marriage" as only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife and (2) and it defined "spouse" as only a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.

2) It amended the Federal judicial code to provide that no State, territory, or possession of the United States or Indian tribe shall be required to give effect to any marriage between persons of the same sex under the laws of any other such jurisdiction or to any right or claim arising from such relationship.

Now, the RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT is seeking to repeal the Defense Of Marriage Act and require the federal government to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages in the United States. The bill aims to codify many protections when it comes to recognizing same-sex marriage around the United States.The bill also prohibits any state official, or anyone acting on behalf of the state, from "denying full faith and credit to an out-of-state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of the individuals in the marriage".

In Genesis one God explains for us the very creation of our world and of man. It is in this passage that we find the design, the definition, and the demonstration of marriage.

Genesis 1:27-28 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Genesis 2:24 continues by saying, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

It has been God’s desire from the beginning of man to reveal Himself to us. We are told that God created man in His own image. He then saw that it was not good for man to be alone and so He offered His solution – a woman. He then defined marriage by saying that “…a man…shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

God created man and woman to become one and to reflect His image. It is interesting to note that the Bible describes our God as being strong, mighty, and powerful – traits that are often associated with a man; but He is also described as being kind, gentle, tender, and beautiful – traits that are often associated with a woman.

It is by God’s design that when one man and one woman are united together in a covenant relationship that is based upon a commitment to one another and to God, that true Biblical happiness can abound. This also provides a visual picture of the true nature of God for both the children and for others around the family.

God designed and defined marriage as being between one man and one woman for life and it isn’t man’s right to alter that definition.

There are two actions that we need to take right now:

CALL our two senators and ask them to vote AGAINST this bill. Our senators need to hear from us that we want them to vote NO on the Respect For Marriage Act

• You can reach the office of Timothy D. Kane at 202.224.4024
• You can reach the office of Mark R. Warner at 202.224.2023

Even for the senators who have already made their position on this bill clear, I think it’s important for them to hear from their constituents. All you need to do is make two phone calls. It’s that simple. 

PRAY for our two senators to make the right decisions and vote against this bill and pray that there would be enough senators with backbones to resist the pressure that is being put on them to vote in favor of this bill.

To email Senator Mark Warner, Click Here

To email Senator Tim Kaine, Click Here

* Under Topic, you will need to choose "Civil Rights"

* Be sure to replace [Insert your name here] with your name. You will find it two times (Once at the beginning and once at the end of the email body)

Subject Line:

Vote NO on The Respect For Marriage Act (S6772 and HR8404)

Email Body:

My name is [Insert your name here] and I strongly encourage you to vote No on The Respect For Marriage Act (S6772). While titled the Respect For Marriage Act, it is anything but. Under current law (The Defense of Marriage Act), a "marriage" is correctly defined as being between one man and one woman; a "spouse" is correctly defined as being one of the opposite sex; and the states have the right to accept or to reject same-sex marriages in their state and from other states. THAT IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. The Respect For Marriage Act is not seeking to respect marriage a proper definition of marriage; it is seeking (1) to redefine the definition of marriage and (2) to usurp the states authority to recognize or to reject wrong marriages (same-sex marriages) in state and out of state.

Simply put: Marriage was not established by the government and the government should not seek to altar God's design/definition of marriage. As a resident of the state of Virginia, I am writing to strongly encourage you to protect the Defense Of Marriage Act by voting AGAINST the Respect for Marriage Act.

Thanks for listening and I trust that you will stand up for the proper definition of and defend marriage between one man and one woman.

Sincerely,

[Insert your name here]