On November 8, 2005, Texans will be asked to check yes or no on a proposition designed to protect traditional marriage in one of America's most conservative states. This proposition which was placed on the ballot by the Texas legislature, Proposition 2, simply states:
(a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.
(b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.
Traditionally turnout is very low when voting for Constitutional ballot measures, because, for the most part candidates will not be running for Office, and candidates draw voters. In fact Texas may see no more than 10% of the electorate show up to the polls on November 8, 2005, and if that happens this important Constitutional Amendment may be defeated.
The "No" on Proposition 2 campaign is made of several leftwing organizations as well as gay and lesbian groups. These groups are fighting against Proposition 2 with all the skill of a Presidential campaign. For example my law office and home phone numbers have been contacted several times by members of groups opposed to Proposition 2 to discern how I will vote and to try to convince me to vote "no". Further, though I am a known conservative in the Houston area I have not been contacted once by phone by proponents of Proposition 2, in an effort to alert me to the upcoming election.
Finally, in the 11th hour proponents of Proposition 2 and those committed to the protection of traditional marriage have woken up to the fact that in less than a month the gay rights advocates may have scored their biggest victory, by defeating this proposition. On Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 1:00 PM at the Harris County Courthouse, which is located at 301 Fannin, in Houston Texas, a press conference will be held to support traditional marriage and Proposition 2. This is the time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder and state proudly that we support traditional marriage, as God intended it, which is a marriage between one man and one woman, and we oppose granting marital status to all combinations of possibility outside of that exclusive pairing.
Author’s bio: Joe Gutheinz is a former military intelligence officer and aviator and a retired NASA Office of Inspector General senior special agent. He is a criminal defense attorney licensed by 10 courts to include the United States Supreme Court; and a college instructor for both the University of Phoenix and Alvin Community College. He holds 6 degrees and 8 teaching credentials. He is the recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency Career Achievement Award. He is the past top graduate (Honor Graduate) from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigators Basic Course. His prior writings include: In Search of the Goodwill Moon Rocks, Geotimes Magazine; U.S. Customs Should Acknowledge its Error in Despres Case, Telegraph-Journal and Making Safety a Priority: NASA's Path to Mars, The Conservative Voice.
