Pro-Family Advacates One Man - One Woman MADISON (Feb.13, 2004) - More than one hundred pro-family citizens were in Madison to give their views about marriage. For eight hours, in a packed hearing room in the State Capitol, legislators on the Assembly Judiciary Committee and visitors heard how people from both sides of the issue think marriage should be defined in this state. The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin was among the many who presented testimony in support of Wisconsin's Defense of Marriage Constitutional Amendment, Assembly Joint Resolution 66. Julaine Appling, the Institute's executive director, told lawmakers that "marriage predates human law and government. Law and government did not, nor do they now, create marriage. They simply regulate and proscribe the established social institution, which is appropriate." "What isn't appropriate, Appling noted, "is for government to allow a small but vocal minority to change the very nature of this institution, whether through legislation or judicial fiat, over the objections of the majority." Joining The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin in favor of protecting one-man/one-woman marriage was Timothy Dailey, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Center for Marriage and Family Studies with the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council. Dr. Dailey countered the argument from opponents that allowing something other than one-man/one-woman marriage is a civil rights issue. "That argument...is patently false. Homosexuals enjoy the same rights as other citizens. They also have the right to marry. However, like the rest of us, they face restrictions based on the common good as to whom they can marry." Pro-family citizens came from all across Wisconsin, including Oshkosh, Tomah, Appleton, Milwaukee, Burlington, Watertown. Many took advantage of the opportunity to address the committee, sharing with them that they believe permitting anything other than one-man/one-woman marriage in Wisconsin was bad public policy. Several noted that they were small business owners and should marriage in Wisconsin be opened up to include people of the same sex, they would be forced to recognize those "marriages" and offer benefits, in violation of their religious beliefs. While emotions ran high on both sides, the public hearing was generally civil and respectful. Unlike the hearing held last August on a similar bill, this time both legislators and participants conducted themselves with decorum. "I appreciated the atmosphere in the hearing," Appling said. "This was a good example of how our participatory government is supposed to work. Committee Chairman Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) kept things in control. He and the other committee members listened attentively through hours of testimony. It was a long day for everybody, but a good day. I'm extremely grateful to all the folks who took time to come to Madison in a show of support of one-man/one-woman marriage. They're the ones who sacrificed time and money to be involved in the process—and they're the ones legislators listen to." The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan, pro-family education and research organization headquartered in Madison.