Today's Marriage Ruling - Alaska Still in the Driver's Seat

Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the Alaska_Map.jpgDefense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Prop 8, California's successful citizen initiative that defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman, highlights how important it is that Alaska was the first state in the nation in 1998 to define natural marriage in our own State Constitution.

Thank God we as citizens of Alaska ignored the advice of those who said we should wait for the Court to determine what this essential institution means.

Although you will hear from most media sources that DOMA was dismantled today, Justice Kennedy, acknowledges in his majority opinion the inherent right of individual states to define and regulate marriage as they see fit.

For most Americans, the big picture is more of what the Court did not do:

  • It did not create a constitutional right to same-sex marriage as it did for abortion in 1973. 
  • It also did not declare same-sex marriage a civil right on the order of ethnicity or nationality. 

The critical role of natural marriage is not diminished by these rulings today.  The essential need for children to have both a married mother and father is not lessened by the opinions of five unelected black robes on the U.S. Supreme Court.  

The work of Alaska Family Action to strengthen marriage and families continues, as well.

 Now more than ever, Alaskans must not stay silent on cherishing and promoting the truth of natural marriage.  Whatever journalists, intellectuals and other elites may tell us, the only way to guarantee future political losses is to sit idly by. 

We must step up and frame our message, strengthen our coalitions, devise strategies and bear witness to a culture looking for answers.

marriage.jpgThough Alaska Family Action disagrees with aspects of the Court's decision, we are grateful that the Court did not undermine the will of Alaska voters who defined marriage in our State Constitution.

In DOMA, we believe that the court erred in claiming that a state that has redefined marriage can force that definition on the federal government for purposes of federal marriage laws.

In Prop 8, the court has ensured that the state-by-state debate about marriage is allowed to continue. Truly the debate over marriage has just begun.



Marriage is more than just a personal promise, it serves a public purpose. It is society's best guarantee of a limited government that stays out of family life and social science data has proven this time and time again.

Alaska Family Action is committed to continuing to stand for marriage and to defeat any efforts to redefine this essential union.



Stay tuned and stay engaged.


Showing 1 reaction

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.
  • Ty Miller
    commented 2013-07-18 20:44:12 -0800
    Has it ever come to your mind that these rulings DONT pertain to you? These rights there trying to pass DO NOT pertain to you, They affect you in NO way possible. Alright so God defines marrage as a man and woman and so does a piece of paper in Juneau. Ohkay so why dont you people follow his light and all knowing and quit downing, JUDGEING other people? Matthew 7 1-5 says, "“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
    You know what your doing right Mr. Minnery? Your sticking your finger in my eye for this little spec when you got a whole tree in your sockets. You are judging another man by what you see and you are not paying attention to the message god is telling you. And in the same sense, You are going against God Mr. Minnery. I will prey for you tonight and ask the all mighty to clear the fog from your eyes and make you see what you are actually doing here.

    Good Day Mr. Jim.
    -Ty Miller