Starbucks Doesn't Know Beans about Marriage

Coffee isn't the only thing brewing at Starbucks. So is controversy--as customers learn about the company's bold blend of liberal politics. This week, the coffeehouse jumped into a fierce battle over marriage in Washington State, home to the Seattle-based company. While the state is still sharply divided over same-sex "marriage," Starbucks has decided to sweeten the pot for homosexual activists and join the attack on local families. According to Starbucks Executive Vice President Kalen Holmes, the bill to legalize counterfeit marriage "is core to who we are and what we value as a company." A preview of the endorsement came last November, when Starbucks signed on to a legal brief that argues traditional marriage is "bad for business." For customers, who were already having a hard time swallowing the company's partnership with Planned Parenthood, this may be the final straw.

Despite the coffeehouse's meddling, families in Washington State are doing their best to keep the legislation at bay. Local groups say the bill has enough support to pass, but as we witnessed in Maryland last year, the outcome could hinge on a single vote. Don't let Starbucks do all the talking. Speak up and contact your leaders.

Meanwhile, the President, who claims his position on marriage is still evolving, made it clear which side of the marriage movement he's on by blasting New Hampshire leaders for exercising their right to repeal gay unions. Asked by a reporter what the President thinks of the push to overturn the same-sex "marriage" law, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama "believes strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away." Interesting, since that implies the President thinks same-sex "marriage" is a right to begin with. In the past, President Obama has said the definition of marriage should be left to the states. Now he's opposing a bill that does what he claims to support! Regardless, the state's Judiciary Committee has already voted to wipe the law off the books and send the measure to the floor. "It's very significant," said state Rep. David Bates. "This will be the first place ever, anywhere in the world, where a legislature has reversed its position on same-sex 'marriage.'" Although Gov. John Lynch (D) promises to veto the repeal, conservatives are still confident that they have the votes to override him.

That's not the case in New Jersey, where liberals won't have the backing to overcome Gov. Chris Christie's (R) opposition to their bill. A measure to legalize counterfeit marriage had just been forwarded to the state Senate floor when Gov. Christie, keeping his campaign promise, announced he would oppose it. "The institution of marriage is too serious to be treated like a political football. I would hope the legislature would be willing to trust the people the way I'm willing to trust the people." Although his statement threw some cold water on the effort, leaders still intend to force it. Encourage them to spend their time on the state's real priorities by emailing them here.

After going down to the wire in the last session, Maryland is trying its luck at legalizing same-sex "marriage" for the second time. Liberals think their odds have improved in the only state to gain Democratic seats in the last election. Senate President Mike Miller has sent mixed signals on the bill--first promising to hold a vote, while also telling reporters that he sees same-sex "marriage" as "an attack on the family." Help him make up his mind by emailing his office here.

In Maine, homosexuals activists are hoping for a different result after voters overturned the state's counterfeit marriage measure at the ballot box. Winning the law back will be a tall task in the state, especially after such a recent defeat. Fortunately, two states have a chance to make a permanent dent in the Left's hopes by passing marriage amendments in Minnesota (which votes on November 6) and North Carolina (May 8). Check out the Cloakroom Blog for the latest on marriage battles in your area.

The Measures of a Man

The March for Life may be over, but the momentum has carried on right into the U.S. Capitol, where two men are doing their part to put feet to the prayers of millions of American seeking to restore the right to life in our nation. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) is kicking things off with a push to ban D.C. abortions after the 20^th week of pregnancy, when it's widely believed that babies can feel pain. "It will emphasize the humanity of the child and the inhumanity of what is being done to them," Rep. Franks told the Washington Post. As chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee that handles the District, he is all but guaranteed a vote on the House floor. Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has filed the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act, which, like Texas's law, requires doctors to perform an ultrasound and describe the baby's development before a woman consents to abort. So far, the measure has 44 co-sponsors. Encourage your member to become one of them. Contact your representatives and ask them to support the Franks and Jordan bills.

** If you missed this afternoon's special lecture, "Responding to Islam: Lessons from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl Barth, and Bishop George Bell," you can watch the archived version here.