In the Sun Journal on March 28, the Human Rights Campaign assailed the strategies of the National Organization for Marriage, insinuating, among other things, that it was playing racial politics, "dividing gays and blacks."

This is a media play on 3-year-old, in-house documents recently released by the Maine courts describing a number of NOM projects for 2009 and 2010.

This is 2012. Many blacks and Hispanics, Republicans and Democrats, are still unified in defending basic principles affirming a most fundamental institution: marriage. Animus against gays is not the object. Redefining marriage is the issue, and yes, it is "socially radical."

Marriage is a distinct state, recognized by its unitive and procreative qualities; a union ordered in nature recognizing a meaning and purpose of gender. It is not popular opinion or adult desires that define it. We, who affirm marriage, embrace that fundamental biological definition.

Traditional marriage recognizes the rights of children and helps to order human society. A marriage between a man and a woman is the institution adult society uses to pro-actively protect the rights of children to know and be known in a connection with both parents.

Social science affirms that the optimal model for raising children suggests "mother" and "father" relationships to form gender identity and reduce problems, particularly during adolescent development.

Identify the real issues and explain the positions. Avoid the accusations of "racial politics," bigotry and discrimination. There are voters who need information in order to make an important choice in November.

Margaret Yates, Wilton