The Honorable Governor Gary Locke
February 16, 1997
Olympia, Washington
Dear Governor Locke:
Washington for Traditional Values (WTV), represents a state-wide constituency of voters who have become concerned
enough about the condition of our society to become grassroots activists, educating and mobilizing citizens to reclaim their
culture and to re-establish the traditional values which made America great.
While societies naturally undergo change, it is vital that some foundational institutions remain untouched, retaining their original
definition and character, in order to ensure that the culture will continue to survive and flourish. One such institution is
marriage.
For over three centuries on this continent, marriage has been recognized and understood to be the formal union of one man
and one woman. It is this basic, beginning family unit which provides our culture with the motivation to improve, and to
prepare for the survival and well-being of the next generation. As our Founders put it: "To secure the blessings of liberty for
ourselves and our posterity."
Marriage, an institution which existed long before any government, should not be experimented with or subjected to false,
politically motivated interpretations, yet there is the very real possibility that this is exactly what will happen in our state, should
pro-homosexual special interests achieve their goal in the state of Hawaii.
Since homosexual people in Washington already enjoy the privilege of being served by a special liaison in the governor’s
policy office, acting specifically as an advocate for their concerns - no such recognition has ever been bestowed on any other
group identifiable only by its claimed behavior - we believe that it is especially inappropriate that homosexuals should seek a
radical redefinition of marriage in Washington state.
We therefore urge you to support and sign Senate Bill 5398, which bans recognition of "same-sex marriage" and which,
significantly, will not remove any existing right, privilege or constitutional protection from any individual or group.
Respectfully:
Robert R. Larimer Jr
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