Letter: Marriage is focus of our society

Friday, Nov. 1, 2002 | 9:36 a.m.

Question 2 opponents have continuously claimed that we are bigoted and hateful ("Question 2: It's all about love, not hate" by Jon Ralston and "Question 2 is about creating a culture of discrimination" by Erin Neff in the Oct. 25 Las Vegas Sun).

We have never used hurtful language or resorted to name-calling. Not so for Jon Ralston. In over three and a half years he has not been able to glean one derogatory word from the coalition, so he resorted to attributing bigoted and hateful words to a straw man.

Ms. Neff mentions a letter sent to me last week by political consultants and Question 2 opponents Billy Vassiliadis and Sig Rogich, asking support for hospital visitation legislation.

The timing and tenor of the letter, along with the fact that copies were sent to the media, suggests that their letter was a media play and not a serious attempt at hospital visitation legislation.

Ms. Neff dutifully took their bait by stating, "If Ziser and his herd of homophobic sheep don't want to be seen as bigots, they would support (the proposed legislation)."

It is entirely misleading to suggest that Question 2 will impact anyone's right to visit a loved one in the hospital. As with any proposed legislation, we will study the language, obtain legal advice and consider the best alternatives to accomplish the purpose without unintended consequences.

Our opponents repeatedly ignore the essence of marriage as being between a man and a woman and focus on hospital benefits, as though marriage involved nothing more than hospital visitation rights.

The people of Nevada realize that marriage is much more ... it is the institution around which our society has been built. It's the focal point of our families and churches and neighborhoods.

RICHARD ZISER

Editor's note: The writer is chairman of Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, the group supporting Question 2.