FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 3, 2008
CONTACT: Elizabeth Ray (x130) or Mary Beth Hutchins (x105), 703-683-5004
IOWA SUPREME COURT IMPOSES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage: “Injustice has been served today. The gay marriage movement has once again used the courts to push an untruth on unwilling Iowans: same-sex unions are not marriages and Iowans should not be forced to treat them as such.”
(Princeton, NJ) – The Iowa Supreme Court released its decision today upholding a lower court’s decision to overturn the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This landmark decision came three months after the court heard arguments from six same-sex couples who had attempted to file for marriage licenses.
“Injustice has been served today,” said Brian Brown, NOM. “The gay marriage movement has once again used the power of the courts to push an untruth on unwilling Iowans: same-sex unions are not marriages and Iowans should not be forced by law to treat them as such.”
“Unlike the people of California, the people of Iowa have no direct way to get this issue on the ballot so that they can take marriage back from the courts,” notes Maggie Gallagher, president of NOM. “Once again the most undemocratic branch of government is being used to advance an agenda the majority of Americans reject. Marriage means a husband and wife. That’s not discrimination, that’s common sense.”
“Even in states like Vermont where they are pushing this issue through legislatures, gay marriage advocates are totally unwilling to let the people decide these issues directly,” agreed Brown. “They’ve just about run out of courts willing to radically redefine marriage. The next step for gay marriage advocates will be to use these new laws to push Congress to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act, and then use the federal courts to impose gay marriage on all 50 states.”
NOM is a national marriage organization that also assists state groups fighting marriage battles. Along with the California group Protect Marriage, NOM was widely credited with putting Prop 8 on the ballot for California voters and emerged as the largest single donor to the Prop 8 effort. NOM’s current media and robocalling campaigns “Don’t Mess with Marriage” and “Gay Marriage Has Consequences” have helped generate enormous grassroots resistance to gay marriage bills pushed in Vermont and New Hampshire.
To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, Executive Director, NOM, contact Elizabeth Ray (x 130, eray@crcpublicrelations.com) or Mary Beth Hutchins (x.105, mhutchins@crcpublicrelations.com) by calling 703-683-5004.
23 Comments
I disagree with Ms. Gallagher's assertion that the courts are an undemocratic branch. The United States system is not one of a direct democracy. Our Founding Fathers saw the wisdom of a Constitutional Republic to protect the rights of its citizens, particularly those in the minority. Within this system, a panel of legal experts ensures that our Constitution remains the highest law of the land, and that a simple majority vote is insufficient to undermine the nature and spirit of the Constitution.
In this case, seven justices appointed by a democratically elected governor determined that their state's constitutional principles rejected exclusionist marriage. As a matter of law, the majority opinion is not relevant to equal protection.
While I believe in your right to disagree with the court's legal analysis, I do not believe that you can charge the court with being undemocratic when they are doing precisely what their role in government demands.
Sorry to see you are censoring comments. Oh well, it's to be expected from people with closed minds. I don't expect to see this comment up either.
Why does Brian Brown preach intolerance?
Marriage isn't entirely about procreation, nor is it a requisite. There are gay man and women who, under same-sex marriage, would make significantly better parents than some of their heterosexual married counterparts. There is no evidence to suggest that the children of two married people of the same sex are psychologically damaged or corrupted, let alone different on any level of importance compared to children raised by heterosexual couple. It is a socially accepted fact that everyone, man or woman, is capable of deeply loving someone else. The immeasurable love expressed between two human beings who legitimately love one another deserves marriage as well as all of its benefits, social and legal. Quite frankly, love is blind to gender. It has been shown time and time again that the children of those united under marriage are deeply cared for and legitimately loved by both parents, regardless of their sexual orientation. Gays and lesbians are people of equal capability and functionality in society just as straight people are. The advancement of the gay civil rights movement past the point of same-sex marriage could not remove the rights of those who do not benefit from it; even the most extreme argument provided as justification for the awkward belief that same-sex marriage implies heterosexuals would loose their rights would only be arguing for rights so insignificant and irrelevant that such an argument could only be possible in a world of theory, but not in reality. Because of these basic facts and truths, same-sex marriage will be an ultimately successful movement due to the expanding views of fairness and acceptance and the growing population of people who favor the legal and social equality that not all Americans currently possess.
The courts have ruled that, so long as there is any legal difference between marriage and civil unions, that to refuse gay couples even one benefit of marriage that would not exist in a civil union, even if it's social, would be to deny them the rights guaranteed under that state's constitution.
More simply put, if marriage is to be defined based on religious beliefs or standards, then marriage itself is unconstitutional. If marriage is a legal contract, governed by the laws of the state, then no one can be denied the right to marry based on a religious definition.
The U.S. constitution states that no one can be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
If the "spouse" of a gay couple is refused medical treatment because he is not covered by his domestic partner's insurance, while a straight partner would be covered, and that gay patient dies as a result, you have violated the fundamental principle of the constitution.
If the homosexual domestic partner would get taxed at a higher rate than the surviving spouse, then they are being deprived of property without due process.
"Impose"? How does the Iowa ruling "impose" same-sex marriage?
Biran is a homosexual
Everyone should know that NOM is a front organization for the Mormon Church. I first noticed it when I saw that this website was clearly designed by the same people that designed the Protect Marriage site during the California Prop 8 battle. They didn't even disguise it...
This site tells the full story: http://www.mormongate.com
yeah I agree, brian brown is definitely into dudes
To Pansy,
I think you have a point about Brian being homosexual. Often those who fight against the rights of gays have their own "issues" with their sexuality. Rather than point a finger of blame, we should support people such as Brian, Larry Craig, and Ted Haggart. They are only products of hundreds of years of oppression against gays and lesbians. They are victims of society, and as such should be pitied rather than blamed. Isn't it tragice that religions can instigate and perpetuate such hatred that people cannot even feel free to be who they are on the inside?
CONGRATULATIONS CONNECTICUT! Another victory for marriage equality!! Read it and weep, haters.
I wish NOM would take time to consider the dangers of the "will of the people" (i.e. the majority) on these types of social issues. Was it not that long ago that the "will of the people" included endorsements of social structures such as slavery, abuse of women & children, and criminalizing homosexuality?
In a democratic society Equality does not mean Uniformity, when equality becomes an Enforced Uniformity, then we are no longer a democratic society but a communist one.
If our government can criminalize people who disagree with one group, then our freedom and way of life is in trouble.
I live in Chicago,IL.
I still can't believe what happened in Iowa.
I worry that it is only a matter of time before State of Illinois makes the same mistake.
I cannot wait until one of Brian's sons announces that he is gay. That will be awesome. Ahhhh, to be a fly on the wall!
I cannot understand why all of us, whom know that marriage is between a man and a woman, cannot sue, like a class action suit for the destruction of the home of marriage, for that is what marriage is- the Home of the man and woman, Mr. and Mrs. Husband and wife, father and mother. The damage that the State's are causing is tremendous and destructive to all whom are qualified for this union. It is not only psychologically destructive, but physically and emotionally destructive as well, and I bet a dime to a dollar they know full well and this is their way of claiming political correctness. This government is totally corrupt and incompetent. They are purposely changing laws, without legislation, by a rough group that is twisting arms and breaking the laws. The people need to bring charges against these criminals. For they are in violation of their power and their office. This is the scam of the century, all for the politicians to fill their greed and lust of money and power.
Amen, brother Josh (post 12)! I agree wholeheartedly with you...
I'd add to your list interracial marriage, which has only been approved by a majority of Americans as recently as few years ago, despite being the law for several decades. It means that the public usually gets it wrong when they vote on civil rights. The minority always loses. Who should be surprised by Prop 8? This is what democracy can do if left unchecked. Imagine having your neighbors vote on your marriage. Disgusting...
For you marriage equality supporters, you might find hope and encouragement in this great NY Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/opinion/19Rich.html?_r=2&scp=3&sq=frank%20rich,%20gay%20marriage&st=cse
Faithful wrote this:
I cannot understand why all of us, whom know that marriage is between a man and a woman, cannot sue, like a class action suit for the destruction of the home of marriage, for that is what marriage is- the Home of the man and woman, Mr. and Mrs. Husband and wife, father and mother.
Dan's answer;
You are forgetting one important aspect, and that is that we are actually strengthening marriage not destroying it. There will be more people who make the lifelong committment to be together, raise their kids and have the legal and societal support they need to prosper. Marriage is only strengthened by same sex marriage, not weakened. In fact, more children in Maine are now legally protected today then they were two days ago, because their parents can now marry. It's a wonderful day for marriage! Society, children, couples, we ALL benefit...
FIRST OF ALL: This is NOT an issue of civil rights, its a moral and ethical issue based on Liberty; and it is that gay (*#@*%*) judge that is interfering with our right to pursue HAPPINESS. We just want to get away from something that is stinky, disgusting, and immoral. We oppose that gay judge attacking our beautiful women, our values, and making us unhappy with exposure to his disgusting immoral sewage. Now, Just in case Donald Trump decides against Carrie Prejean, this should be our response: Carrie's RIGHT to support the (NOM) and marriage between a man and a woman is based on the Declaration Of Independence (that the USA is founded upon), which states that “We The People” have the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the [[ PURSUIT ]] of [[ HAPPINESS ]]. In litigation thereafter, the U .S. Supreme Court declared in,( Loving v. Virginia (1967) 388 U.S. 1); that, the freedom to marry is recognized as a vital [[ PERSONAL RIGHT ]] essential to the pursuit of happiness. As a result, that gay judge has violated the liberty rights of Carrie Prejean by condemning her pursuit of happiness to marry a MAN. The (NOM) can file suit against that gay judge, who slandered Carrie Prejean, because of her support for traditional marriage and for her pursuit of traditional happiness; because, that gay judges slanderous attack is meant to destroy Carrie's career, and livelihood, because of her LAWFUL pursuit of happiness (Meyer v. Nebraska (1923) 262 US 390). You see, Carrie didn't attack him, he attacked and slandered Carrie because she rejected his pursuit of happiness, and this the way all of you gay rabid dogs are, you exist to give us a problem, where we have none.
whats next? legalize man and pet marriage? crazy humans...
How on earth does someone else's marriage effect you?
If you believe that marriage is only between a man or a woman, or between people of the same religion, or only between people of the same race, it is your right to do so, only get married that way and teach your children the same.
But why on earth would you get to dictate to the rest of the country what families they form and how they get married?
Former Vice President Dick Cheney was just on Fox News, and said he believed that people should be able to enter any kind of relationship they want, the problem is marriage is a defined legal relationship, by it's characteristics of man and woman, Bride and
Groom, Mr. and Mrs., husband and wife, father and mother. He said he believes that the States should make that determination. But the fact is So-Called gay marriage in Massachusetts, which was approved by Mitt Romney, after the court recommended that he approve so-called gay marriage, has effected the schools, by way of approving assaults on children, by way of teaching them deviant sexual practices and information on all types of sexual practices know to mankind. This is a most disgraceful and morally corrupt way of denying parents their right and responsibility of protecting and respecting their children's innocence and their emotional and physical health. This puts children at risk of many assaults as adults can talk or show and tell of such so-called required subject matter that should be locked away from schools and children. Children count on adults for respect and protections, and as we see in the schools teacher after teacher having sexual relations with students, The RED FLAGS, of WARNING- Have been burnt , The Parents have been SLAPPED IN THE FACE, And STABBED in The HEART. Society is in the toilet and the runaway train is about to CRASH. Our Federal Government does need to settle this matter, once and for all. The Military Needs this ruling and all of the Citizens of this country need to know what where up against. Because once you mess with mother nature ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE. SEE OUR COUNTRY FALLING APART BY IT'S SEAMS, I DO!!!!