Republicans Reject Same-Sex Civil Union...

The Republican party's platform committee is meeting in Tampa, FL to draft the official list of principles and positions on a range of issues. Barbara Ann Fenton of Rhode Island proposed the amendment to endorse religions to define marriage in their own way but allow government to offer same-sex civil unions.

"As a Roman Catholic, there's nobody in this room who believes [more than I do] that the definition of marriage is between one man and one woman," she said. "But those are my religious beliefs, and this country was founded on the separation of church and state." "At 31, I don't see people because of the color of their skin and I don't recognize them by their sexuality," she added. "For my own generation, a lot of times homosexuality is not the biggest deal in the world. And that's okay."

There was strong argument to continue being the party that defends traditional marriage. Jim Bopp went as far to call civil unions "counterfeit marriage".

"I believe this is the most important election of our lives," said Nevada representative Pat Kerby. "I believe this social issues grants Hollywood and the media to paint us as people who aren't after a free country but kind of theological 'we want to impose our will on others.'"

Fenton's proposed same-sex civil union amendment was seconded by a small handful in the room. After debate it failed by voice vote. The GOP will continue its stance of marriage as defined as between a man and a woman. Approximately one million LGBT families are raising two million children in this country. Where is their guaranteed right of pursuit of happiness? Government regulates behaviors like drugs and polygamy. They regulate rights gained by marriage. Government regulates what age one can marry and restricts the degree of relation you can marry. Should they take it one step further and define marriage.