The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996 that barred federal recognition of same sex marriages was the opening salvo in a battle about families and family values that reaches across lines of race, faith, class, gender identity and culture. Since 1996, more than 13 states have adopted constitutional bans against same sex marriages, including Montana and Oregon.
In the 2006 general election, Idahoans will vote on a constitutional amendment that bans same sex marriages. Idaho beat back similar proposed amendments for two consecutive years in the state legislature. In 2004, Sheila Sorensen, chair of the Senate Affairs Committee and current candidate for one of Idaho’s Congressional seats, did not allow a hearing. In 2005, the bill was defeated 14-21 in the Senate. This year the bill was passed by both the Idaho House and Senate and will be referred to the voters. Many believe that issue is being presented to voters this year in order for conservatives to gain momentum for the upcoming legislative election cycle. Once again, the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people have been made into pawns in a much bigger game.
The amendment will, if passed, limit legal recognition of marriage to unions between one man and one woman. In addition, the amendment would "prohibit recognition by the State of Idaho, or any of its political subdivisions, of civil unions, domestic partnerships, or any other relationship that attempts to approximate marriage, no matter how denominated...(and) prohibit the State of Idaho, or any of its political subdivisions, from granting any or all of the legal benefits of marriage to civil unions, domestic partnerships, or any other relationship that attempts to approximate marriage." By including this language relating to civil unions and domestic partnerships, this amendment goes beyond the existing ban on recognition of same sex marriages and codifies the change in the constitution, with potential impacts on any unions not licensed by the current marriage laws of the State, including those between men and women.
Currently, a coalition of organizations is working hard to campaign against this amendment. Key coalition members include Your Family, Friends and Neighbors, Idaho’s legislative advocacy voice for the LGBT community; the ACLU of Idaho; Idaho Women’s Network, Idaho’s legislative advocacy voice for women’s human rights; and The Interfaith Alliance, a network of progressive religious leaders working for social change. Leaders from these organizations are traveling to seven targeted communities across Idaho to train and cultivate new leaders in order to create a unified statewide campaign. Through this collaborative campaign, the coalition hopes to build the first statewide coalition of LGBT groups and allies while continuing to link issues for a stronger progressive movement in Idaho. We know this not just a constitutional issue - it is a human rights issue.
To learn more about the campaign in Idaho, please visit our website at www.fairidaho.org.
Editor’s note: 3 of the groups leading the coalition, Your Family, Friends and Neighbors, The Idaho Women’s Network, and the Interfaith Alliance of Idaho have been SJF grantees.