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Category Archives: Alerts

By What Authority?

September 18, 2013 – 11:10 am

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Three members of the Richmond City Council have introduced an ordinance that would recognize same-sex 'marriages,' in violation of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia!

This is the latest in a string of nationwide efforts by the same-sex 'marriage' lobby to circumvent the law and impose a genderless marriage regime on the American people against their will.

We can't let this happen in Virginia! Virginians made it crystal clear that they believe man is between one man and one woman when they approved the State Constitutional Amendment in 2006 by a 57 percent majority.

Please stand with us today and demand that the Richmond City Council obey the law of the Commonwealth and the express will of the people!

Here are three things you can do to protect marriage in Virginia:

First, no matter where you are in Virginia, send a message to the City Council urging them to uphold the express will of the people of Virginia and reject Ordinance #2013-154.

Second, if you are anywhere near Richmond, attend the meeting of the City Council Committee on Government Operations where the ordinance is being crafted. Details are below.

The Richmond City Council Government Operations Committee will meet on Thursday, September 26th to discuss this matter. The meeting will take place from 3:00-5:00PM at the Richmond City Hall (900 E. Broad Street), in the large conference room on the second floor.

You do not have to reside in Richmond to speak. Any member of the public may testify.

I hope you will make an effort to attend this meeting and tell the Richmond City Council that it has NO AUTHORITY to undermine the express will of the people of Virginia who voted in 2006 to pass an amendment to our constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman!

Third, you can call the members of the Government Operations Committee and urge them to scrap this ordinance rather than even bring it before the full Council for consideration. Their names and contact info are as follows:

Cynthia Newbille, Committee Chair — (804)-646-3012
Ellen Robertson, Committee Vice-Chair — (804)-646-7964
Jonathan Baliles, Committee Member — (804) 646-5349
Kathy Graziano, Committee Alternate — (804)-320-2454

When you speak with these Councilpersons' offices, or if you testify at the meeting on September 26th, here are a couple of points to mention:

The proposed ordinance (2013-154) is a toothless law and a waste of taxpayer time and money. The Council should be spending its time serving their constituencies and not toying with a radical agenda pushed by a powerful special interest lobby.
Since the ordinance is incumbent on Virginia state law changing to allow same-sex marriage, the only reason it is being proposed now is to make a media event of the issue, and to put pressure on public officials and judges to ignore the will of Virginia voters who passed the Virginia Marriage Amendment by a strong majority in 2006.
The City of Richmond does not have the authority or purview to surreptitiously undermine the law of the entire state in the way, when voters throughout the entire State believe marriage is solely the union of one man and one woman!

Remind the Council, too, that everywhere marriage is redefined, society suffers: people of faith are stigmatized in the public square, bullied at their businesses and places of work, and religious organizations and individuals are forced to violate their conscience or shutter their doors. This cannot be allowed to happen in Virginia.

So please, consider attending the important meeting on September 26th, and taking action today to email and call the City Council. When you've finished, please use the buttons below to forward this email to your family and friends — or share it on Facebook and Twitter — so that the values and beliefs of Virginia's pro-marriage majority are heard loud and clear in Richmond!

Whose Resolve is Stronger?

September 16, 2013 – 5:45 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

The next six weeks are critical to the future of marriage in America.

States like Hawaii and Illinois are convening special legislative sessions in an effort to redefine marriage. New Jersey activists are rallying in an attempt to override Gov. Christie's veto. In Washington, DC, Congress is now back in session, debating several pieces of legislation that touch on marriage and our precious religious liberties.

Activists on the other side are pouring millions into these fights. Bankrolled by same-sex 'marriage' backers like billionaire Paul Singer, they're giving everything they've got to these efforts to redefine marriage.

NOM and our allies in these deep blue states have repeatedly managed to rally supporters to defend marriage, dealing a blow to our adversaries and striking a victory for the truth about marriage. Despite this, same-sex marriage activists have declared "We will keep fighting until we win."

So the question that must be asked is, "Whose resolve will be stronger?"

Will you stand with me today by making a generous donation of $25, $50, $100 or even $500 to support NOM's work defending marriage and religious liberty across the country?

True marriage champions like you and I must continue to stand and defend God's definition of marriage. It will take every one of us, using our time, talent, and treasure, to stop this onslaught against the sacred institution of marriage.

Earlier this year genderless marriage was stopped in Illinois, particularly through the efforts of African American pastors who rallied constituents to reach out to their legislators. These legislators are now being targeted in a multi-million dollar campaign to buy their votes.

Gay 'marriage' activists, with their millions of dollars, have co-opted the unions and other liberal special interest groups into their cause, and they've even got former Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady lobbying in Springfield for them!

I'm confident that our heroes and allies in Illinois will remain strong — but they need our support.

The same holds true in Hawaii...in New Jersey...in Congress...and in many other places around the country where a small but extremely well-funded group of radicals continue to push their vision of a genderless society on you and like-minded citizens who believe in marriage's timeless truth.

I'm asking you to take a few minutes today and make a difference by donating generously to NOM right away. A loyal supporter who is confident we can win the marriage debate has promised to match every dollar NOM raises between now and the end of the year — up to $1 million. If you haven't already done so, today is a great time to take advantage of this special opportunity.

We know those who would redefine marriage are relentless — the fact is we have to be just as committed as they are. The next six weeks will take all the strength, time, and resources we can all muster to protect true marriage and the right of children to be known and cared for by a mom and a dad.

Thank you for standing strong.

For our children and families,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Illinois Marriage Alert

September 16, 2013 – 2:10 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

The next six weeks will very likely decide the fate of marriage in Illinois. Gay 'marriage' activists have declared "We will keep fighting until we win."

The legislature will resume debating the redefinition of marriage during a special legislative session scheduled to run October 22, 23 & 24, as well as November 5, 6, & 7.

I have to ask you, "Whose resolve will be stronger?"

Will true marriage champions like you and me continue to stand and defend God's definition of marriage? Will you and I bring our family and friends to the battle? It will take every one of us, using our time, talent, and treasure, to stop this onslaught against the holy institution of marriage.

Earlier this year genderless marriage was stopped in Illinois, particularly by the efforts of black pastors who worked hard to communicate with legislators, who responded by opposing the legislation. These legislators have since been the target of a multi-million dollar campaign to buy their votes.

Gay 'marriage' activists, with their millions of dollars have co-opted the unions and other liberal special interest groups into their cause, and they've even got former Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady lobbying in Springfield for them.

I'm confident our heroes and allies have remained strong but they need your support.

There are four things you can do today, that will only take a few minutes, to make a difference:

Make a generous contribution to the National Organization for Marriage. Right now a generous donor who is confident we can win the marriage debate has promised to match every dollar NOM raises between now and the end of the year — up to $1 million. If you haven't already, this is a great time to take advantage of this special opportunity.

Send a message to your legislator urging them to reject the redefinition of marriage (House Bill 110). Use this link to easily send your message and make your voice heard in the halls of Springfield. We stopped them this spring... we can do it again — with your help!

Attend the Defend Marriage Day on Wednesday October 23rd at the State House. Our friends at the Illinois Family Institute (IFI) are hosting this event. Join IFI and Illinois families from around the state to take a stand to protect marriage, religious freedom, parental rights and the innocence of our children! Plan to bring your family and friends, AND organize your church to support the second Defend Marriage Lobby Day this year.

Finally, please forward and share this email with as many family and friends as possible. Multiply your voice in Springfield, multiply your presence at the Lobby Day, and multiply your donation by urging like-minded marriage champions to get involved and stand with you.

So Many Opportunities

September 13, 2013 – 3:30 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Victories! Three marriage and family victories in a week.

If you missed our Newsletter yesterday about the major win for marriage in Australia's Prime Minister elections, check it out here. According to reports, the same-sex 'marriage' platform of the challenger, "sank like a stone."

In Pennsylvania, the state's definition of marriage and the rule of law was strongly upheld when a judge ruled that state and county officials are bound to obey and enforce the law, and certainly cannot issue same-sex 'marriage' licenses.

And in California, legislation that would have stripped groups of their tax exemption if their beliefs and practices don't affirm concepts like "gender identity" and gay "marriage" and other ideas that fly in the face of the teachings of virtually every faith tradition was tabled. Hundreds of Californians answered NOM's action alert and contacted their representatives demanding that the bill be killed.

The voices of marriage and family champions around the globe were heard loud and strong — and they won!

But there's still plenty of work that needs to be done. Read on for other developments this week and to see where your voice still needs to be heard.

Illinois

After their stinging defeat earlier this year in Illinois, gay 'marriage' activists are pulling out all the stops in their effort to redefine marriage. In their attempts to overcome the heroic defense of marriage put up by conservative legislators and people of faith, particularly in the African-American community, gay 'marriage' activists have committed to a multi-million dollar campaign that includes hiring the state's former GOP Chairman Pat Brady.

But we've stopped them once when they thought they had the votes; we can stop them again. Use this button to send an email to your state legislators urging them to defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman and to protect the religious and civil liberties of all Illinoisans.

Pennsylvania

Marriage achieved a tremendous victory in Pennsylvania yesterday when Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini ruled that all state and county officials are required to obey the law as it pertains to the definition of marriage. In 1996 the Pennsylvania legislature defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Despite that, this summer Montgomery County Register of Wills Bruce Hanes began issuing illegal same-sex 'marriage' licenses. Governor Corbett and his administration filed suit to stop this lawlessness, and yesterday Judge Pellegrini agreed.

Take a moment to thank Governor Corbett for his leadership, and ask him to take the next step to ask the courts to declare the scores of illegal licenses that were issued to be invalid.

New Mexico

Meanwhile in New Mexico, Governor Martinez could take a page out of Pennsylvania Governor Corbett's book. While Governor Martinez has voiced her belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and that county clerks should not be issuing same-sex 'marriage' licenses, she has not forcefully used the power of her office to protect marriage and the rule of law in New Mexico. It is good that several republican legislators have filed suit to stop the lawlessness there. However, the Governor should not try to remain neutral.

Send her a message today urging her to put the authority of her office behind the legislators' filing and to urge the New Mexico Supreme Court to refer the matter back to the legislature to allow the people to vote.

Washington, D.C.

Finally, in our nation's capitol, Congressman Tim Huelskamp's Marriage Amendment is still gaining sponsors. We've written to thousands of marriage supporters across the country urging them to invite their own Representative to become a co-sponsor of the proposed amendment. The resolution now has 52 co-sponsors! NOM will be working with our allies on the Hill and among other organizations to keep the pressure on members of the House to support this important bill. Just as in Australia (See our latest Newsletter here), the only way to ensure marriage remains true to its nature and purpose is to enshrine it in our constitution.

Send a message to your Congressman today about this very important Resolution. We've set up the action item such that if your representative has already signed on, you can send a thank you. If they have not yet joined, you can send an email urging that they do so.

Thank you for all you do in your communities and states to stand up for marriage as God designed. It is a privilege and an honor to stand by you in this incredibly worthy battle. Remember, it is your voice and your vote that NOM helps echo in the halls of power across this country. We cannot do this without you.

Finally, allow me to remind you that NOM is in the midst of its $1 million matching gift campaign. Please consider a generous donation today so that NOM can continue to stand with you in defense of marriage and our essential religious liberties. Every dollar you contribute today will be doubled by a fellow heroic marriage supporter.

For our families and those to come,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

We Must

September 11, 2013 – 8:00 am

Marriage Supporter,

I need your help! With summer concluding, we are now actively engaged in raging legislative battles in several states, and in Congress, to defend marriage and preserve religious liberty. Now is the perfect time to make a generous donation to NOM, not only providing us with the resources we need to prevail, but actually doubling your donation thanks to a generous donor who is matching all contributions dollar for dollar through the end of the year!

Won't you please make a generous donation today to help NOM defend marriage and our precious religious liberties?

So far, we're at $150,000. I'm hoping that by the end of the week, with your help, we will be at $200,000. That means $400,000 that is being deployed to preserve marriage and religious liberty in the states and at the federal level.

I want to thank all of you who have been able to give. Your generosity continues to encourage all of us here at NOM.

If you haven't yet be able to donate to our matching gift campaign — now is the perfect time...

From coast to coast, and even out to Hawaii, God's design for marriage continues to be under attack. But we can win and you can make a particular difference by giving this week.

As you know, this week Congress returns to Washington...and NOM is deeply engaged in several issues that have national implications. In the nation's capitol we must push for a federal marriage amendment, while at the same time holding our elected officials accountable, showing them that the people of this great nation believe in true marriage.

We MUST support Rep. Tim Huelskamp, a marriage champion, who has put forward a proposal calling for a Federal Marriage Amendment to the U. S. Constitution; and get the elected representatives from every state which has manifested the will of the people by passing a state Constitutional Marriage Amendment to join in as co-sponsors of the bill!

We MUST get Congress to use its power to determine the source of the crimes committed in releasing NOM's confidential tax return to our political opponents, including a group headed by President Obama's national campaign co-chair. We know that the IRS and the Justice Department will not act to hold the perpetrators accountable, so Congress must intercede to demand answers.

And we must continue working with allied organizations and friends at the state level to promote and protect marriage there.

Yesterday, Governor Abercrombie of Hawaii announced the he was calling a special, emergency session of their legislature to consider a bill redefining marriage. This is a new, urgent fight that we must take on. We're also working hard in Illinois and New Jersey to fend off same-sex 'marriage' in those critical states.

On the flip side, it is expected that this fall the Indiana legislature will vote to put a marriage amendment on the ballot for the people to vote on in November 2014. This will be a major step in the process, but already corporations and big-name activists are lining up to oppose the people's right to vote. We must support our allies in Indiana and provide assistance to them now.

And in Ohio and Oregon, plus potentially a handful of other states, we know that opponents of true marriage are preparing to launch ballot initiatives that would repeal already enacted Constitutional amendments in those states. We can't wait until next year to start the critical task of fundraising, or we will end up being badly outspent by our opponents.

Supporter, marriage needs your help! Now is the perfect time to make a generous, much-needed donation to NOM, providing NOM with the resources we need to defend marriage and religious liberty wherever it is threatened!

Won’t you please make a generous donation today to help NOM do what it
must to defend and our precious religious liberties?

While we're aiming for $1 million dollars before the end of the year, help us reach our interim goal of $200,000 by the end of this week. The $50,000 we're hoping to raise this week will be doubled, giving us an urgently needed $100,000 that can be immediately used for the cause of marriage.

We must respond to and take advantage of these new developments. Please stand with us today by making a generous donation right away to support our critical work.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Marriage Emergency in Hawaii

September 10, 2013 – 5:32 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

It is time to take action and let your voice be heard in the halls of power in Honolulu. Send a message to your legislators today urging them to reject redefining marriage as proposed by Governor Abercrombie.

Yesterday, Governor Abercrombie announced that he was calling a special session of the legislature to vote on legalizing homosexual 'marriage.' The special session will begin October 28th.

Please send a message to your State Senator and Representative asking them to protect true marriage then forward this message on to as many friends and family as possible. The voices of marriage champions like you need to be heard quickly and firmly if we are to stop the redefinition of marriage in the Aloha State.

There are already a lot of misrepresentations being made to the people of Hawaii about this battle. For example, Governor Abercrombie claims that he has the votes to pass same-sex marriage. We have heard this before. In Illinois they claimed they had the votes, but when it got to it, they didn't and never even brought the bill up for a vote. So don't believe claims that we've already lost — in fact, we've only just begun to fight! Claiming victory before the battle has even begun is an old political trick to dishearten us, and we won't fall for that gambit.

In his comments announcing the special session Governor Abercrombie made several other outrageous claims. For example, he claims with a straight face that marriage can be redefined "without violating the religious principals of anybody in this state." That would be laughable if it weren't such a serious issue. All you need to do is look at the landscape littered with the remnants of liberty forcibly stripped from people of faith who stood in the public square for true marriage — bakers and florists sued, innkeepers fined and forced to exit the wedding industry, photographers punished, people threatened with loss of employment, small businesses targeted and threatened, and religious charities forced to close, among many other examples. Make no mistake about it, Hawaii: when marriage is redefined, people who disagree are kicked to the curb, their views trampled by the power of government.

Further, the Governor claims that there have been no complaints or lawsuits in Hawaii — yet. But that's because marriage has not yet been redefined! Just look around elsewhere. In Vermont, Christian inn-keepers were fined for declining to host a same-sex wedding AND ordered to cease hosting weddings altogether.

Recently, the New Mexico state Supreme Court ruled that Christian photographers must compromise their beliefs and offer their services against their will by photographing same-sex ceremonies. Never mind that same-sex couples can easily find other photographers who are happy to participate in these ceremonies. Instead the court said the price of citizenship is having to compromise your faith. Most recently in Washington State, the Attorney General is suing a Christian florist for declining to use their talents to arrange flowers for a same-sex 'marriage' ceremony, while a baker in Oregon was driven out of business for declining to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because it violated their deeply held religious beliefs. This is what the future looks like in Hawaii if marriage is redefined.

Believe it or not, neither of these claims by the Governor were his most egregious statement. Because the Governor thinks he can trick you into remaining silent, he arrogantly claimed, "Everything that can possibly be said has been said, every issue that could possibly be worked on has been..."

Well, not quite, Governor Abercrombie. Not everything has been said because the Governor and the legislature have not heard from you. Apparently Mr. Abercrombie has forgotten when the people of Hawaii arose to speak about marriage back in 1998 and approved a Constitutional Amendment designed to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Now is the time for the Governor and the legislature to hear from you again. Please make the time to send them an urgent message telling them to protect marriage as one man and one woman, and reject the redefinition of marriage. Tell them not to listen to false promises that "all is well" and to look at the truth in other states. When marriage is redefined, individuals, small businesses, charities and churches are damaged.

We're no longer talking about an oppressed minority being given "equal rights." Instead, those who redefine marriage have become the oppressor, crushing liberty, choice and tolerance for other views in the process.

Please act today to contact your legislators, and then forward this email to as many friends and family as possible so your voices can be heard together.

Faithfully,

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Hawaii, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

The Battle over Marriage in our Military

September 10, 2013 – 4:15 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

In recent days, you might have read the news about the latest battlefront in the fight for marriage: a battlefront, this time, where real soldiers are involved.

I'm talking about the National Guard in Texas and Mississippi, whose leaders are choosing to obey those states' marriage laws instead of a Department of Defense directive that would have the entire DOD recognize same-sex 'marriages.' The contention over that directive from Defense Secretary Hagel is just the latest fallout of June's fateful Supreme Court ruling against Section III of the Defense of Marriage Act.

When marriage is redefined, it impacts the entire society, but especially people of faith and communities of believers — and this is just as true in military society as in the civilian world.

If you haven't seen it already, please take time to watch this video that NOM's Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance produced earlier this year, highlighting the very real threats to our military chaplains that stem from the push to redefine marriage.

The Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance (MADA) is just one of the ways NOM continually endeavors to dismantle the lies of the same-sex marriage lobby and the complicit media — lies we've all heard time and again:

"It doesn't affect your marriage."

"Marriage equality won't bring about any threats to religious liberties."

"No one is telling you what to believe, just that you can't impose your beliefs on others."

We hear these lies every time there's a new push for same-sex marriage. And every time marriage is redefined, we see the opposite becomes true:

Parents' rights to raise their own kids with their values are challenged;
religious and charitable organizations and businesses are faced with lawsuits and sometimes forced to close;
and the simple belief that marriage is the union of a man and a woman is treated like bigotry or racism in the public square, in the media, and sometimes even in the courts!

This is why we'll never stop fighting to reveal the truth about this radical agenda, and to give your values the voice they need and deserve in the halls of power and in the public square.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us.

Sincerely,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Military, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Across the Nation

September 6, 2013 – 6:05 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

In the next couple of weeks, NOM will be unveiling a new website, an updated blog, and better news feeds for you to keep informed and equipped in the battle to protect God's ordained definition of marriage. Similarly, we will be reworking the weekly Newsletter as we go through this process.

It's all part of our end of year push to raise $2 million dollars through our matching gift program. To those of you who have already given generously, I say, "Thank you!" Your support is an encouragement to me and the whole team at NOM. If you have not yet been able to take advantage of the $1 million matching gift provided by a generous donor, please consider a sacrificial donation today.

Your sacrificial support allows NOM to defend marriage and all of our religious liberties across the country and in our nation's capitol. Here are a number of opportunities for you to stand for marriage even today.

Marriage Amendment

With Congress returning to work this coming week, now is a good time to write your Representative asking them to sign on as co-sponsor to Rep. Tim Huelskamp's Marriage Amendment. In the long-run we cannot rely on legislators or judges; we must have a federal marriage amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Congressman Huelskamp's proposal already has over 50 co-sponsors, but we need more. Send your Congressman a message today.

New Mexico

Governor Martinez has still not officially intervened to defend marriage and stop the lawlessness that is sweeping across New Mexico. She has repeatedly declared her belief that marriage is the union of a man and a woman, but she has not yet used the power of her office to stop rogue county clerks from issuing illegal marriage 'licenses.' This week New Mexico's counties officially asked the New Mexico Supreme Court for guidance on the issue, while several legislators filed suit to stop county clerks from issuing same-sex 'marriage' licenses. Now is the time for Governor Martinez to step up to defend New Mexico's marriage law. Please use this link to send a message to Governor Martinez urging her use her power as the chief executive officer of the state to intervene and protect marriage.

IRS

Congress is coming back into session next week and we expect answers from them about the IRS scandal. To date NOM has not received any satisfactory explanations, nor has the perpetrator of this felony been identified, never mind charged with his or her crime. Thousands of folks have sent emails to Chairman Camp of the Ways and Means Committee asking that he use his committee's subpoena power to get to the truth. Now is the perfect time to add your voice as he and other members return to the Capitol this week.

Hawaii

The Governor and the Democratic Caucus in Hawaii are deciding even this week about calling a special session of the legislature to vote on redefining marriage in the Aloha State. The Catholic Church has made its voice heard in objection to this, but we need more folks to send email messages to the legislature urging them to reject this proposal. If you live in Hawaii, please take action today. If you know family or friends in Hawaii, please forward this urgent message to them right away. Let your voice be heard.

Every little bit helps, and with thousands of marriage supporters all across the country, we have the power to effect real change...if you and I act today! Thank you so much for everything you do to defend marriage!

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Featured, Hawaii, New Mexico, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

They are Clueless

September 5, 2013 – 5:30 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

A recent story in the Washington Post illustrates the importance of the work that you and I are doing together. Perhaps you read about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg officiating at a same-sex 'wedding' last weekend. It was not so much her actions that are so problematic, as her motivation.

She said, "I think it will be one more statement that people who love each other and want to live together should be able to enjoy the blessings and the strife in the marriage relationship."

Justice Ginsburg is obviously clueless when it comes to understanding the true nature of marriage. And that is terribly scary since she's one of the nine most important people in America when it comes to preserving the future of this great institution. Like so many who wish to redefine marriage, Ginsburg utterly fails to appreciate this deep, nature-inspired institution that connects men and women to each other and to any children born of their union. She's minimized and reduced marriage to simply government recognition of relationships as a tool to provide for adult satisfaction.

This skewed — frankly, clueless — view of the nature of marriage held by Justice Ginsburg is what is at the root of what we are fighting against. And fight we must. NOM is well into its $1 million matching gift campaign. If you have already given, let me say "thank you." Your support of NOM and commitment to marriage is a great encouragement to me and our team. If you haven't yet made your gift so that we can fight the ideas spewed by the likes of Justice Ginsburg, please take the time now to take advantage of this exciting chance to have your generosity matched dollar for dollar.

Painfully, Justice Ginsburg and the majority of her colleagues in the DOMA case have put the desires of adults ahead of the rights and needs of the most vulnerable and innocent among us, our children. If it were not for the interests of children, then government would have no need for an institution like marriage. Thus, if marriage is redefined to sever its connection to child-bearing and child-rearing, future generations of children will come to suffer the most.

Make no mistake, no matter what clueless statements are made by Supreme Court justices or politicians, no matter how the law decides to treat marriage, there is nothing that people here on earth can do to change the intrinsic meaning and nature of marriage. Eventually, the truth will prevail and so-called same-sex marriage will be seen for the lie that it is.

But at what cost? How many generations of children will be sacrificed to the gods of the gay lobby who demand the redefinition of marriage as an idol to their political movement? How long will children be told that men and women are not unique, that children don't need a mom and a dad, and that there's no special connection between marriage and child birth and rearing — it's just a sperm and egg that can be carried by anyone; any two people will do. Oh, and there's no need to limit parentage to just two people. If adults want to form a plural relationship and obtain rights to a child, who's to say they shouldn't if that makes them happy.

It is for our children, and the generations to come, that NOM fights to defend the God ordained institution of marriage. We fight for a cultural, political and legal restoration of the true meaning and purpose of marriage. We battle before Supreme Court Justices and County Clerks, in Legislatures and in the court of public opinion; in Congress and in statehouses, in corporate boardrooms and school board offices. Across America, wherever marriage is challenged, it's our responsibility to be there to defend her.

As I think of our nation's children, I'm reminded of an old Iroquois Indian saying, along the lines of, "We will never make a tribal decision until we debate the effects out to the seventh generation; even if it means having skin as thick as the bark of a pine tree."

Today you can walk into the grocery store and buy "Seventh Generation" cleaning products and even diapers because it is only right to be concerned about the environment we are going to leave the "seventh generation."

How much more important is the social world we will leave the "seventh generation" of children? Will we leave them a world of husbands and wives, mothers and fathers? Or will these things be meaningless to future generations of American children?

Right now, activists in states like Illinois, New Jersey, Hawaii, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Indiana, and Virginia are attempting to redefine marriage for not just this generation but generations to come. They have amassed tens of millions of dollars in support of the radical social-experiment of redefining marriage, and they are relentless.

From state to state NOM will continue to fight to protect marriage for today and for the future. Our children deserve nothing less.

Please help us. Will you please act today to join the generous donor who put up the matching funds, and make a sacrificial gift to the marriage fight? Your gift will be instantly doubled and will be deployed to the front lines so that we can continue our critical fight for the preservation of the precious institution of marriage. Thank you.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Two Things

September 5, 2013 – 2:30 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Here at the National Organization for Marriage, we are dedicated to one simple mission: protecting and defending marriage and the faith communities that sustain it.

We believe, along with you, that marriage is about bringing men and women together for life, to the benefit of each other, of any children they may have, and of our society as a whole. We work to ensure that you, along with every other citizen, have the right to speak, organize, donate, and vote on behalf marriage as it has served humanity since the beginning of civilization: as the unique and special union of one man and one woman.

How we accomplish this mission is simple: we assist citizens like you to be able to stand united in defense of the most basic institution in society, the family.

We give your values voice, in the halls of power and in the opinion-making arenas of our culture, preventing our common-sense principles from being drowned out by a noisy but powerful lobby. This lobby is funded by Hollywood liberals, aided by a complicit media, and has purchasing power over politicians who place pork-barrel profits before their consciences and their constituencies. But we have the American people on our side.

You are our most important asset. I cannot express how grateful I am for your willingness to stand with us in this noble cause.

We believe every child, in this generation and in generations to come, has the right to both a loving mother and father, because kids do best with a mom and dad. We believe that no American should have to fear legal reprisals or intolerant shaming in the public square for standing on behalf of this time-honored value. And it's thanks to your courage and your commitment to these beliefs that we are able to stand on the front lines defending them.

Let me to give you just a snapshot of what we're doing right now to protect these cherished values.

By providing funding, messaging expertise, and coordination of local groups, we are working to defend marriage in states where it is presently under attack, by lawless elected officials, out-of-control legislatures, and activist courts; and we are preparing for defense in states we know will be targeted by the same-sex marriage lobby in the coming year;
Through our Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance (MADA), we're shedding light on examples of intolerant and bigoted discrimination suffered by ordinary Americans simply because they believe marriage to be the union of one man and one woman.
With a pending lawsuit, NOM seeks to hold the IRS accountable for politically-motivated criminal activity, in particular for their illegal disclosure of our very own confidential tax documents to the ultra-liberal, pro-gay marriage lobbying group, Human Rights Campaign;
Through grassroots lobbying and targeted action alerts, NOM is rallying support for a Federal Marriage Amendment, such as the one currently being proposed by Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas.

All this, and so much more...

Which brings me to the question: Will you recommit today to standing with us in this civilization-defining battle?

I'm asking you today to reaffirm your stance for marriage, for religious liberty, for the rights of children, and for the health and well-being of our society.

Here's two simple ways you can do this:

First, you can visit our Advocacy Center and, with just a few clicks, raise your voice for marriage and speak truth to power. Some of our current highlighted action items include:

Second, if your means allow, you can make a contribution today to our ongoing work, and take advantage of a unique giving opportunity to have your donation doubled! That's right: a generous donor has pledged to match every donation NOM receives through the end of this year — up to $1 MILLION. That means we have the chance to raise $2 MILLION FOR MARRIAGE by the end of this year — but only with your help!

In the end, it's ordinary citizens like you who will make the difference in this most crucial battle for the heart and soul of our nation, for the future of marriage as we know it, for our prized freedoms of speech and religious expression, and for our precious children's right to be raised by their own mom and dad.

Please stand up today and add your voice to the growing list of marriage champions around America. Join us, and together we will seek righteousness and truth, and achieve the victory that we know belongs to our noble and just cause!

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts | Comments Off

Some things You Just Don't Want to Miss

August 30, 2013 – 4:15 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

It has been an incredible week for marriage and I want to make sure you've heard all the news.

This week was the launch of our $1 million dollar match campaign. A faithful and generous donor, who believes we can win the marriage battle, has stepped up and promised to match every dollar we raise between now and the end of the year. Up to $1 million dollars!

If you haven't taken the opportunity to have your donation doubled by this incredible donor, please do so right now. Help us defend marriage in the legislatures of Hawaii, Illinois, and New Jersey. Help us prepare for ballot fights in at least three and maybe eight states. Help us defend your religious liberties from coast to coast. Your sacrificial donation today will be doubled dollar for dollar.

After you've made your contribution there is still plenty of work to be done. NOM has several action items that you can take to protect marriage, defend our religious liberties, and urge a return to the rule of law in our land:

First is calling and sending an email to Chairman Camp of the Ways and Means Committee. In investigating the IRS scandal and the felony committed against NOM, the Ways and Means Committee has not conducted an in-depth investigation or questioned under oath anyone from the Human Rights Campaign, nor gotten full answers from anyone at the IRS including the former Acting Director. Please use this link to get Chairman Camp's phone number; then, after you’ve called his office, send him an email demanding he use the subpoena power of his committee to get to the bottom of the scandal.

Next, is the state of Hawaii. In Hawaii, the Governor has presented the legislature with a draft bill to legalize same-sex 'marriage' and he may call a special session of the legislature to force this through. If you're in Hawaii, or know family and friends there, please take action to send the State Representatives and Senators an urgent message urging them to reject the redefinition of marriage.

Moving east from Hawaii, the California Legislature is at it again, this time considering legislation that would strip groups of their tax exemption if their beliefs and practices don't affirm concepts like "gender identity" and gay "marriage" and other ideas that fly in the face of the teachings of virtually every faith tradition. SB 323 was originally aimed at the Boy Scouts, falsely claiming that they engaged in discriminatory practices by supposedly not accepting homosexual members. But the fact is that the bill would punish any type of group with traditional values, and allow only liberal groups that affirm the homosexual agenda to enjoy a tax exemption. If you are in California or have friends and family there, please use this link to send a message to the CA Assembly asking them to reject this discriminatory law.

Continuing our journey east, New Mexico and Texas continue to be in the news. In New Mexico, county clerks across the state are deciding for themselves to issue same-sex 'marriage' licenses, against the June written opinion of the Attorney General. Thousands of you have already sent emails to Governor Martinez asking her to intervene to restore the rule of law and defend marriage as one man and one woman. If you haven't yet, use this link to send her a message then forward it to any friends and family you have in New Mexico.

Finally in Texas of all places, religious liberties and the freedom to speak and live our faith in the public square is under attack by a proposed San Antonio city ordinance that would bar anyone who has ever allegedly "discriminated" in word or deed from working from the city. This includes organizations that have contracts with the city to provide essential services. Churches and other faith groups are understandably up in arms, knowing that this ordinance would impact them and anyone who has ever voiced support for traditional marriage. Homosexual activists consider the mere act of supporting marriage as the union of one man and one woman to be discrimination per se. The City Council vote is September 5th. Faith groups have begun having rallies and will continue to work to stop this unconstitutional proposal. Please take the time to make your voice heard by sending Governor Perry and the Attorney General of Texas a message urging them to do what they can to stop this proposal.

And don't forget the $1 million match. Please make sure you donate today to have your generous gift doubled in the fight to defend true marriage and our first amendment right of freedom of religion.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, California, Featured, Hawaii, New Mexico, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments Off

Take Immediate Action To Stop Discrimination Against Pro-Family Groups

August 28, 2013 – 4:15 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

The California Legislature is at it again, this time considering legislation that would strip groups of their tax exemption if their beliefs and practices don't affirm concepts like "gender identity" and gay "marriage" and other ideas that fly in the face of the teachings of virtually every faith tradition. SB 323 was originally aimed at the Boy Scouts, falsely claiming that they engaged in discriminatory practices by supposedly not accepting homosexual members.

But the fact is that the bill would punish any type of group with traditional values, and allow only liberal groups that affirm the homosexual agenda to enjoy a tax exemption.

SB 323 is an example of what happens when marriage is redefined, as tragically happened when the US Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of the Proposition 8 case. Seven million Californians had their victory for marriage stolen by a single, rogue federal judge in San Francisco — someone who himself was engaged in a long term homosexual relationship just like those who were challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8. Because the state officials responsible for defending Prop 8 refused to do so, and because a bare majority of the Supreme Court said the proponents of the initiative couldn't defend it, the decision of this lone judge was allowed to stand, redefining marriage over the express determination of the people themselves.

It's no wonder that the main group that opposed Proposition 8, the mis-named Equality California, is the same group that is sponsoring SB 323. They, with their allies, want to silence faith groups and those who stand in the public square for a traditional view of sexual morality. In fact, they'd like to punish us by stripping faith groups of their tax exemption.

Think about how outrageous this legislation really is. Groups that have historically fed the hungry, housed the homeless, cared for orphans, educated the young, and tended the sick are all being targeted by homosexual advocates who demand conformance to their narrow agenda. No matter the incredible service that church groups and those who hold a traditional set of values and beliefs have performed for society and youth, they are to be punished if some state official determines that they "discriminate" by not going along with the gay lobby's agenda.

It is imperative that we all fight back now by contacting our state Assembly representative and urging him or her to oppose SB 323. It's unfair, un-American, one-sided and frankly outrageous. Contact your representative here.

We have a real chance of stopping this legislation, but we need you to act immediately. Please act this very minute to contact your Assembly representative.

Now that homosexual marriage advocates have gotten the courts to do their dirty work and impose same-sex 'marriage,' they now are focusing their efforts on silencing all those who oppose them. And make no mistake, that's exactly what SB 323 is intended to do.

Already in other states, we've seen lawsuits by government officials and gay advocates against florists, photographers, inn keepers, bakers, churches and others, all because they don't want to personally participate in same-sex ceremonies. We expect similar actions in California. But no state has yet gone as far as the bullies behind SB 323 in California who want to put their opponents out of business, and allow only groups that embrace a homosexual-friendly agenda to enjoy a tax exemption.

We can't let them get away with this. And with your help, they won't get away with it. Please contact your state Assembly representative immediately and demand that he or she oppose SB 323.

Thank you for your attention to this critically important issue.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, California, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Will They Hear You?

August 28, 2013 – 4:00 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Governor Abercrombie has announced his intention to call a special session of the legislature in the event that there appear to be enough votes to redefine marriage in Hawaii to make it genderless.

We're urgently asking you to act right now to let your elected officials know that you oppose any such measure, and that they should vote to preserve and defend marriage in Hawaii as it has been legally defined: as the union of one man and one woman.

In a letter to the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu on August 22, Bishop Larry Silva wrote that "several legislators who are not in favor of same-sex marriage have told [him] that the loudest voices on the issue are those who favor it, while those who say they are opposed are relatively silent" [emphasis added].

This is how marriage has been redefined elsewhere around the country: the powerful lobbying forces and the noise-making power of an elite minority drown out the voices of the countless majority of Americans who believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

We can't let that happen in Hawaii. Don't let the noisy few foist this radical agenda on the pro-family majority. Let them hear from you today!

We cannot remain "relatively silent" and expect marriage to be preserved against this latest attack. That means it's important to consolidate our voices and speak truth to power together. So, please, after you've taken action today, forward this email to your family and friends, and share it on Facebook and Twitter so that the loudest voice heard in Honolulu is yours!

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Hawaii, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Here's a No Brainer... Every Dollar You Give Now to Save Marriage Will be DOUBLED!

August 28, 2013 – 9:56 am

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Last week I let you know about the many good things going on in the marriage battle around the country. Today I have even better news! An incredibly generous donor, who is confident in the marriage battle and our collective ability to prevail, has committed to a $1,000,000 matching gift! That's right, between now and the end of the year, every dollar you donate will be DOUBLED up to $1 million.

Your help is needed now more than ever. We have momentum, and we have the American people — a recent Fox News poll demonstrated that 56% of Americans oppose redefining marriage. But marriage and our American way of life are still under attack… and NO state or municipality is safe!

In New Mexico, the State Supreme Court ruled that Christian wedding photographers and other service providers MUST compromise their faith and their first amendment rights by providing services for same-sex 'marriages.'
In Washington State, the State Attorney General has brought suit against a Christian florist for declining to provide flowers to such a ceremony.
And in Vermont, Christian bed-and-breakfast owners who chose not to host a same-sex couple's ceremony have been forced to pay a hefty fine and cease hosting any weddings, depriving them of a good part of their livelihood.

And there are countless other examples around the country. This is not the America our Founding Fathers envisioned.

Again, in New Mexico, the outbreak of lawlessness surrounding the debate on marriage has continued, with a Dona Ana County Clerk deciding to take the law into his own hands and begin issuing illegal same-sex marriage 'licenses.'

This comes on the heels of a rogue county official in Pennsylvania who felt it was more important to 'be on the right side of history' than to uphold his oath of office and the rule of law — and in the aftermath of Governors and States' Attorneys Generals who have abandoned their sworn duties and the trust of those who elected them.

And this lawlessness goes right to the federal government, with the IRS refusing to even acknowledge that NOM was the victim of felony when someone within the IRS leaked our confidential tax return to the same-sex marriage lobbying group, Human Rights Campaign at the very time their president was a national co-chair of President Obama's reelection campaign!

Supporter, your generous financial support is urgently needed this very minute if we are to stop the corruption that is occurring all around us and continue to fight for the truth of marriage. We've got to organize supporters to put a halt to elected officials taking the law into their own hands and imposing same-sex marriage where it is currently prohibited.

Additionally, state marriage battles across the nation are already heating up and NOM needs your help to continue standing on the front lines against the redefinition of marriage.

In particular, we are fighting furiously in the legislatures of Illinois and New Jersey to prevent a redefinition of marriage in the closing months of this year. And just this week a new fight has erupted in Hawaii, where a pro-same-sex marriage governor is threatening to call a special session to redefine marriage in the next two weeks. In each of these locales, our opponents are amassing millions of dollars to spend against us, yet we remain hopeful that gay 'marriage' can be stopped in these places.

However, the fact is that we need your sacrificial gift right now to prevail. Through God's grace, a major donor will immediately match your donation, and we can deploy those resources where they are most needed.

In Illinois, courageous black legislators and pastors worked with us to stop same-sex 'marriage' earlier this year, but in the fall we're facing a multi-million dollar campaign to overcome their resistance.

In New Jersey, Governor Christie vetoed redefining marriage, but homosexual 'marriage' activists are vowing to try to override his veto.

In Hawaii, a special session to redefine marriage is looming, and legislators who support traditional marriage say they are only hearing from people who want to impose same-sex marriage on the state. It's imperative that we work in concert with allies to help organize the grassroots to inundate lawmakers with appeals to preserve marriage as God designed it.

Finally, as we look to next year, we expect at least three and maybe as many as SIX state initiatives to be on the ballot in November 2014.

Indiana, behind the strong leadership of Governor Mike Pence, will likely have a marriage amendment before the people of the Hoosier State, while in Oregon and Ohio homosexual 'marriage' activists will attempt to overturn existing marriage amendments already passed by the people.

We know our opponents will be committing TENS of millions of dollars to these fights.

I won't lie to you. We have a lot of work cut out for us, and we'll need as many resources as we can muster to succeed. Sometimes I feel like the Israelites from the Old Testament, when their rag tag army was arrayed against the vast power of the Philistines and their giant warrior, Goliath. Of course we know how that confrontation ended, and we can win a similar victory for marriage if only you will help us fill our pouch with stones. That's why it's so crucial to take advantage of this very special opportunity between now and the end of the year, as a generous donor who believes we'll deliver a victory for the truth of marriage and is inviting you to join us in the battle.

Please make a sacrificial gift today knowing that every dollar you can spare will be DOUBLED.

And please forward this email, or share it on Facebook and Twitter, to as many family and friends as possible. Ask them to join you and our generous benefactor in this special opportunity to double your money for marriage.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Demand Chairman Camp Subpoena IRS Perpetrators

August 26, 2013 – 8:00 am

Dear Marriage Supporter,

The IRS is back in the news this week, with liberal media pundits trying to downplay charges of political targeting based on alleged new evidence that left-leaning groups were impacted along with conservatives. This new spin might be used to try to convince federal legislators to stop digging into what went on at the IRS during the last election cycle. We can't let that happen.

We need you, no matter where you are, to contact Chairman Dave Camp of the Ways and Means Committee. The Ways and Means Committee has held hearings on the IRS scandal but has not used all their power to resolve this issue. Please call AND email Chairman Camp urging him to make sure this powerful committee subpoenas and puts under oath critical players in this criminal investigation.

Remember, NOM's story with the IRS has always been markedly different from various other accounts of inappropriate political targeting and harassment reported by non-profit groups. NOM and its supporters were the victims of a felony at the hands of the IRS! And yet we still don't have answers as to who was involved and whether justice will be served.

That's why I need you to take this important step today: Email and call Congressman Dave Camp right now, urging him to use the full leverage of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee its subpoena powers to get to the bottom of this outrageous scandal!

No matter what the 'new evidence' touted by the mainstream media may mean for the broader IRS scandal, it certainly doesn't explain away these troubling facts:

In March 2012, someone at the IRS leaked the National Organization for Marriage's confidential tax return to the same-sex marriage lobbying group, Human Rights Campaign — and NOM has evidence to prove it.
After the leak, the HRC used this document (2008 Form 990 Schedule B) to harass NOM and the dozens of major donors named on the confidential release.
At the time of the incident, HRC President Joe Solomnese was serving as a national co-chair to reelect President Barack Obama.
To date, the IRS, the DOJ, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) have all failed to bring charges against the individual or individuals who perpetrated this crime, and NOM's frequent demands for information on the investigation have been consistently ignored.

There's no spin cycle that can remove the stain of scandal here. We need answers, and we need them now!

That's why Chairman Camp needs to hear from you right away. Insist that House Ways and Means subpoena Joe Solomnese and other HRC staff for questions about their knowledge of or role in this crime, and demand that IRS officials make a full disclosure of what their internal investigations have revealed.

And this matter is so important that, after you have taken time to email Chairman Camp's office, I'd ask you to pick up a phone and place a call as well. The number for Chairman Camp's office is 989-631-2552.

Remember, NOM's story is not simply about political targeting and inappropriate scrutiny — that would be bad enough! But we were victims of a felony disclosure of confidential documents to a political group known for its aggressive harassment of our organization and its supporters. That sort of thing simply cannot be allowed happen in an agency as far-reaching and powerful as the IRS without serious consequences.

So please email Congressman Camp today, and give his office a call at 989-631-2552. Demand that House Ways and Means get to the bottom of this matter, subpoena those involved, and bring justice to those who broke the law.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown