The following is a letter I just wrote and sent to my US Senators (North Carolina), emphasizing that they need to vote AGAINST H.R. 8404 – the “Respect for Marriage Act,” sponsored by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY).

I sent the identical message to Senator Thom Tillis.

Hello Senator Burr,

I am writing to ask you to please, please, please VOTE AGAINST H.R. 8404. It is very important and not only that, it is the right and the constitutional thing to do.

The First Amendment reads: “Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise.” This is a cornerstone of the freedom and liberty we enjoy and cherish in this country. It is an absolute bar on the intervention of Congress into matters of religion. There is no such thing as “Wall of Separation of Church and State”; it is a legal fiction. It was only introduced, against the standard practice of the Supreme Court of referring to primary documents and references in reaching its opinion on a particular case, in the case of Everson v. Board of Education of Ewing Township (1947). It was introduced in the majority opinion by Justice Hugo Black, a leadership member in the KKK. “Wall of Separation” was a provision included in the KKK oath. 

H.R. 8404 reads: “(a) In General.—No person acting under color of State law may deny—
“(1) full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals; or
“(2) a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals.
“(b) Enforcement By Attorney General.—The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any person who violates subsection (a) for declaratory and injunctive relief.
“(c) Private Right Of Action.—Any person who is harmed by a violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against the person who violated such subsection for declaratory and injunctive relief.

H.R. 8404 is a liberal attempt to not only codify “same-sex marriage” into federal law, but it is egregious attempt to violate the first amendment’s guarantee that US citizens and US churches have the FREEDOM to worship and believe as they choose (the “Free Exercise” Clause).

If passed, churches and other religious organizations, will be forced to accept the LGBTQ agenda and will be forced to recognize and accept gay marriage. It is a blatant attempt to destroy our traditional family structure.
I am not saying that I am against tolerance or in favor of discrimination. In fact, I am not. I believe people love who they love. It’s a matter of the heart. But just because we want to live in an ideal world and an ideal country, we cannot violate our US Constitution, our Bill of Rights, to do so. That is where the Article V amendment process comes into play. That is the constitutional provision that allows the Constitution to update to the changing societal values (that is the only way the Constitution can be “a living, breathing document.” Justices, on their own, cannot take it upon themselves to do an end-run around the Constitution and change it at will).

You have taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution. “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”

Please honor your oath, support and defend our US Constitution, and bring honor to the federal government. The States, which are the true depositories to define and regulate marriage, will do what they think best. We have to believe and have faith in that.

Most Sincerely,
Diane Rufino, attorney, molecular biologist, high school teacher, writer, blogger, and activist
My Blogsite: www.forloveofgodandcountry.com