Dear Friends

July 15, 2009

If you thought living in Indiana didn’t mean being on the front line of the culture war, think again. Although the East and West Coasts are where we see much of the battle going on over the legal validity, social acceptability, and cultural plausibility of same-sex marriage, that battle has once again come to the Midwest. On Sunday, July 12, the Elkhart Truth newspaper published in its announcements and engagements section the notice that a same-sex couple with ties to the Elkhart area recently got engaged, and will soon be married in Iowa.

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This development is something that is almost unheard of for Indiana newspapers. Indiana does not allow same-sex couples to marry, and we do not recognize the “marriages” of same-sex couples in other states. Our law holds that only one man and one woman can be married and, conversely, this means that any other type of so-called “marriage” is invalid and non-existent. What the Truth published was an announcement of something that is not recognized in Indiana law or accepted in Indiana culture.

As an attempt to justify their actions, some of the leadership of the Truth has pointed out that the New York Times publishes notices of same-sex engagements and marriages. Additionally, they have argued that it is not their job to agree with the news, but only report the news. This thinking hardly makes what took place appropriate. What Greg Halling, [email: ghalling@etruth.com] the managing editor of the Truth, must know is that Indiana is not New York, and what was published was not “news” because it was not something that can take place in, or be accepted in, Indiana.

Marriage in Indiana has been under assault before, and this is only the latest attempt to undermine our state’s position that traditional marriage is the only kind of marriage that is acceptable or right. Please take action today and call the Elkhart Truth’s parent company, Federated Media, and urge them to stop the Truth from publishing the engagement and wedding announcements of same-sex couples. Indiana does not recognize such unions because they can never be equal with true marriage.

You can reach John Dille III, CEO of Federated Media, by calling 574-295-2500 or email jdille@federatedmedia.com. Your polite but firm message to him, and his company, regarding this matter will make a difference. If we fail to speak out about this first incident, there will be another incident, and then another, until it becomes a regular and accepted practice. You and I must stand up for the traditional values that we believe in; the values that form the foundation for the greatness of our country.

Sincerely,

Brian Sikma
Reclaim Our Heritage
www.reclaimourheritage.us

Note: Federated Media’s local properties:

WFWI-FM 92.3 – Classic Rock
WBYR-FM 98.9 – Active Rock
WOWO-AM 1190 – NewsTalk
WKJG-AM 1380 – ESPN SportsRadio
WMEE-FM 97.3 – Hot Adult Contemporary
WQHK-FM 105.1 – Country
WFGA-FM 106.7 – Adult Contemporary
WAWC – Willie 103.5 Country

Other contacts:

Tony Richards E-Mail: trichards@federatedmedia.com
Chief Operating Officer (574) 295-2500

Mark Osborn Email: mosborn@federatedmedia.com
Director of Sales (260) 471-5100

Jim Allgeier E-Mail: jallgeier@federatedmedia.com
General Manager, Fort Wayne North (260) 447-5511

Mark DePrez E-Mail: mdeprez@federatedmedia.com
General Manager, Fort Wayne South (260) 447-5511

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