The Knight Initiative and the Faith Community
by Rev. Alan Jones, CAHRO Board Member;
Director of the Interfaith Alliance of California, San Francisco United Methodist Mission

The Knight Initiative (Proposition 22) on the March 2000 ballot raises a series of fundamental issues for us as a human relations community, as well as those of us who lead within the religious communities of California.  Simply put, the initiative  affirms the notion that marriage in California can only be between one man and one woman.

The first question concerns the motive for the initiative and its timing. While many voters will only understand this initiative to simply be a vote on "gay marriage", some of us believe that it is a misguided attempt by certain political interests to impact the course of the presidential primary. On several previous occasions, attempts have been made to place such an initiative on the ballot, but it was not possible to gather enough signatures.  This time, with backing from a number of influential donors from the conservative end of the political spectrum, signature-gatherers were hired and the issue was placed before the voters.  It is a legitimate question to ask why the money was forthcoming for the presidential primary ballot when it was not forthcoming in previous years.  I very much fear that this is an attempt to "use" the gay/lesbian community as a means to garner votes for certain candidates.

A second question concerns the need for such an affirmation.  Marriage in California can only be between one man and one woman under California law. In this sense the measure is redundant.  The intent, presumably, is to use this legal affirmation as a buttress to resist the recognition of same-gender marriages, which may occur in other jurisdictions outside California.  As we have seen so often with the ballot initiative process, this measure will lead to complex litigation concerning its constitutionality, should it be tested in court.

A third question is the basic human rights question: What right does our society have to enforce a particular view of "marriage" over another, and who should be the judges of what constitutes "social damage?"  Supporters of the Knight Initiative ask the question "What will be next if we allow gay marriage, -polygamy, polyandry…?" They see the catalogue of deprivation as endless.  From my perspective it is important to ask questions about social wholeness and social damage.  I see gay and lesbian committed relationships and even gay marriages enriching the social fabric, and providing positive family models.  I do not understand the arguments raised by those who see gay marriage as a threat to the institution of marriage.  On the contrary, I see it as an expansion of affirming options for relationship and family life.

The fourth question concerns the religious community.  The Catholic Church and the Mormon Church are both pouring significant amounts of money into the campaign.  This indicates their passionate feelings around this issue, as it significantly raises questions about their non-profit status.  The Southern Baptists and some other denominations have also gone on record in support.  All of these traditions perceive homosexuality as fundamentally sinful, and any concession to the possibility of gay and lesbian marriages is seen as anti biblical or opposed to the historic teaching of the church.  Though I would want to support them in their expressions of personal conscience, I don't see it this way.  I find nothing in the Biblical material concerning homosexuality, while there is much to affirm loving nurturing, committed relationships.  As a Christian pastor I confess that my Christian tradition has often been scared of sexuality and acted defensively.  I understand sexuality to be a gift of God, which is to be lived out lovingly and honestly.  The Knight Initiative imposes a limited understanding of the nature of God's human creations.  It also attempts to restrict justice and human rights.

The Interfaith Alliance of California and the Impact Network of the California Council of Churches and many other groups in "mainstream" religious communities in California have gone on record opposing the Knight Initiative.  It is bad legislation.  It looks as though an explicit measure to create gay and lesbian marriage in California will be on a later ballot.  We may not see the positive vote I would like to see, but, at least it will be more honest use of the initiative process than is offered by the Knight Initiative.

For more information on how you can work to defeat this initiative, contact The Interfaith Alliance of California at 415-495-1703 or email the Impact Network of California Council of Churches at impactinfo@calchurches.org