Family and Marriage

Protecting the Institution of Marriage

What I Saw at the March for Marriage: Diversity

Thousands made their way past the Court building as part of the March for Marriage, organized by the National Organization for Marriage. Read More.

Free E-Book on Why Marriage Matters

Get answers to 17 frequently asked questions on marriage, answered by Heritage experts—and share it with your friends. Read More.

The Constitutionality of Traditional Marriage

In United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry, the Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of government policies that reflect traditional marriage Read More.

In Defense of Traditional Marriage

Americans respect marriage, not only as a crucial institution of civil society but the fundamental building block of all human civilization. Read More.

Consequences of Redefining Marriage

The Supreme Court is considering challenges to state and federal laws that define marriage as the union of a man and woman. Read More.

The institution of marriage connects men and women to one another and to their children. Marriage recognizes what social science confirms: that children fare best when raised by their mother and father. Despite activist judges’ opinions, the majority of Americans continue to affirm the reasonable conclusion that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

Introduction to the Research

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Experts on Protecting the Institution of Marriage

Ryan T. Anderson
William E. Simon Fellow in Religion and a Free Society
Jennifer A. Marshall
Director, Domestic Policy Studies
Thomas M. Messner
Visiting Fellow

Our Work

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Backgrounder posted January 25, 1996 by Patrick F. Fagan, Ph.D. Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability
Backgrounder posted February 12, 2013 by Romina Boccia How the United States’ High Debt Will Weaken the Economy and Hurt Americans
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Backgrounder posted May 21, 2009 by James Sherk What Unions Do: How Labor Unions Affect Jobs and the Economy

Blog Post on Thursday, May 23, 2013 Crop Insurance Reform Would Save Lots of Taxpayer Money
Blog Post on Thursday, May 23, 2013 Obama Administration Refuses to Label London Attack as Terrorism
Issue Brief posted May 23, 2013 by Baker Spring All Three Budget Options Would Damage National Security
Blog Post on Thursday, May 23, 2013 China Renews Cyber Attacks Against U.S.
Blog Post on Thursday, May 23, 2013 London Terror Attack A Reminder Terrorism Is Not Over
Issue Brief posted May 23, 2013 by Luke Coffey Withdrawing U.S. Forces from Europe Weakens America
Blog Post on Thursday, May 23, 2013 DOJ Blows a "Chill" Wind Through the Media
Blog Post on Thursday, May 23, 2013 Congressional Budget Office Looks at a Carbon Tax
Blog Post on Thursday, May 23, 2013 U.S. Broadcasting Affected by Obama Administration Culture of Intimidation
Blog Post on Thursday, May 23, 2013 Brutal Murder in London Highlights Dangers Faced by Military Personnel

May 29

Event on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Masters of Nothing: How the Crash Will Happen Again Unless We Understand Human Nature
If we are to avoid a second crash, then we must achieve a better comprehension of human behavior and apply this understanding to how the — Read more

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May 29

Event on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 The Last Days of Kim Jong-il: The North Korean Threat in a Changing Era
North Korea has remained a thorn in the side of the United States ever since its creation in the aftermath of the Korean conflict of — Read more

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May 30

Event on Thursday, May 30, 2013 How the West Really Lost God: A New Theory of Secularization
In How the West Really Lost God, leading cultural critic Mary Eberstadt delivers a powerful new theory about the decline of religion in the Western — Read more

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Jun 03

Event on Monday, June 03, 2013 U.S.-India: Prospects for Partnership - A Discussion with Members of the Indian Parliament
Join us as we examine the current status of the U.S. relationship with India – and explore how this relationship might expand. China’s rise, the — Read more

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Jun 05

Event on Wednesday, June 05, 2013 Honor Flight: One Last Mission
A special screeningHonor Flight is a heartwarming documentary about four living World War II veterans and a Midwest community coming together to give them the — Read more

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Jun 06

Event on Thursday, June 06, 2013 The Lack of Science in the Scientific Consensus: The Case of the National Climate Assessment
Global-warming alarmists continually refer to a “scientific consensus” to support drastic policy proposals. They insist on peer-reviewed publications as the standard for debate, while ignoring — Read more

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Jun 06

Event on Thursday, June 06, 2013 After the 2014 Withdrawal: How to Sustain the Decade of Gains for Women in Afghanistan
Co-hosted by the United States Institute of PeaceThe Heritage Foundation and the United States Institute of Peace will co-host Congresswomen Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and — Read more

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Jun 14

Event on Friday, June 14, 2013 American Betrayal: The Secret Assault on Our Nation’s Character
In American Betrayal, Diana West argues that – current policies today notwithstanding – America began to abandon its core ideals and march toward Socialism nearly — Read more

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Jun 21

Event on Friday, June 21, 2013 Lincoln Unbound: How an Ambitious Young Railsplitter Saved the American Dream – and How We Can Do It Again
In a mix of history and politics, author Rich Lowry traces Abraham Lincoln's ambitious climb from provincial upstart to political powerhouse and calls for a — Read more

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Jul 08

Event on Monday, July 08, 2013 Sagebrush Rebel: Reagan’s Battle with Environmental Extremists and Why It Matters Today
Ronald Reagan, with his unbridled faith in American ingenuity, creativity, and know-how and his confidence in the free-enterprise system, believed the United States would “transcend” — Read more

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Blog Post on 5/23/2013 5:10:32 PM Crop Insurance Reform Would Save Lots of Taxpayer Money
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 4:00:09 PM Obama Administration Refuses to Label London Attack as Terrorism
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 3:30:08 PM China Renews Cyber Attacks Against U.S.
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 3:07:13 PM London Terror Attack A Reminder Terrorism Is Not Over
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 2:09:37 PM DOJ Blows a "Chill" Wind Through the Media
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 1:26:29 PM Congressional Budget Office Looks at a Carbon Tax
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 12:30:12 PM U.S. Broadcasting Affected by Obama Administration Culture of Intimidation
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 11:36:31 AM Brutal Murder in London Highlights Dangers Faced by Military Personnel
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 7:25:48 AM Immigration Reform in One Infographic
Blog Post on 5/23/2013 4:36:21 AM

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