Kansas Congressman Tim Huelskamp, a
Republican, last week warned that allowing gay couples to marry harms
children, the economy and society.
Appearing on Washington Watch, a
radio program hosted by Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony
Perkins, a strong opponent of gay rights, Huelskamp called on
Congress to approve his Marriage Protection Amendment, which would
define marriage as a heterosexual union in the United States
Constitution.
Huelskamp told Perkins that the federal
courts created “chaos” when they struck down state marriage bans
and now “folks are confused about what a marriage is.”
“[If] we don't protect the
traditional basis for marriage, it harms everyone, particularly our
young children,” he
said, then added that it also “discourages family formation,”
undermines the African-American community and harms America's
“economic well-being.”
“So now is the time when the courts
are trying to rule and might decide to redefine or undefine marriage,
it is critical not just for individuals and for families but for
society as a whole,” Huelskamp said. “At the end of the day,
it's children that are hurt.”
Huelskamp proposed his amendment in
2013, just hours after the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which led to the federal
government's recognition of the marriages of gay couples.
(Related: Tim
Huelskamp's proposed federal gay marriage ban has 28 co-sponsors.)