FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mary Beth Hutchins or Elizabeth Ray at 703-683-5004

WASHINGTON — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today praised the more than ten thousand supporters who crowded streets and plazas in New York City, Albany Rochester and Buffalo in four simultaneous rallies to demand the Legislature give New Yorkers the right to vote on marriage, just as voters in 31 other states have been able to do. NOM estimates that well in excess of 10,000 supporters attended the four rallies.

“The crowds of supporters were just amazing,” said Brian Brown, NOM’s president. “The crowd in Manhattan was so large the NYPD asked us to begin our march early so that we could relieve overcrowding at the gathering site. By the time we reached the United Nation’s plaza, nearly 10,000 people were present. This shows that a new era in the debate about same-sex marriage has begun. It’s not about what politicians think is best, it’s about demanding that the People be given their right to be heard.”

NOM will work with other rally organizers to put a measure on the 2014 ballot to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The organization has committed $2 million toward this goal, with funding the rallies and a series of mailers into state Senate districts being the initial down payment.

“We will ask every legislative candidate – Democrat, Republican and Conservative Party – where they stand on letting the people vote on marriage,” Brown pledged. “If they aren’t willing to commit their support to putting a measure on the ballot, even if party leaders don’t agree, not only won’t they get our backing, they will get our opposition. We’re going to elect a pro-marriage Legislature in 2012.”

Brown said that NOM will help organize monthly activities to keep up public pressure and momentum for putting a marriage amendment on the ballot. “The rallies yesterday were just the beginning. Every month we’ll be calling on supporters to take action and to help us grow our coalition. Working with leaders such as Sen. Ruben Diaz, Bishop Joseph Mattera, New Yorkers for Constitutional Rights president Jason McGuire and others, we will create the largest coalition ever assembled in New York history by the time we’re done. This is a great and righteous cause.”

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, or Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of the Board, please contact Mary Beth Hutchins (x105), [email protected], or Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

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