Because the United States Constitution states that we should have equal protection under the law, and because bans against same-sex marriage inherently deny equal protection, we, the undersigned affirm our support for the rights of same-sex couples to marry, and to have that marriage recognized. To further that goal, we, who are ministers, justices of the peace, or others who are legally permitted to solemnize marriages in our states affirm that we shall not perform legal marriage ceremonies in any state in which same-sex marriage is banned. We shall still bless, religiously, any marriage, but shall do nothing that we feel will only further the disenfranchisement of same-sex couples. This is not a punishment in any way toward heterosexual couples; it is merely a recognition, that legally, the only way we can treat all couples equally, is to refrain from offering legal recognition to any marriage. When marriage is legally accessible to both heterosexual and homosexual couples, then we shall offer that service to the state and the community. It will be a matter of individual conscience whether we shall recognize civil unions as equivalent to marriage. We shall pass this petition on to our own legislators, advising them of our stance.

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