FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2012
Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)

"This shows the broad and deep support that traditional marriage enjoys, and sets the stage for a tremendous victory for marriage this November."—Brian Brown, NOM president—

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today commended the volunteer leadership of Preserve Marriage Washington on its incredible effort in collecting a record number of signatures to qualify Referendum 74, which gives voters the ability to preserve traditional marriage in the state. The committee turned in more than 240,000 voter signatures, more than twice the number of signatures it needed to qualify the measure to the November ballot.

"We are so pleased and proud to have supported the Preserve Marriage Washington effort to qualify R-74, and we commend them for the historic signature gathering campaign they have mounted," said Brian Brown, NOM’s president and a member of the Executive Committee of Preserve Marriage Washington. "The signature gathering effort produced more signatures than have ever been collected by any referendum committee in the history of the state. This shows the broad and deep support that traditional marriage enjoys, and sets the stage for a tremendous victory for marriage this November."

Preserve Marriage Washington is a diverse coalition of people of faith and no faith alike. In addition to NOM, the group includes the Washington Catholic Conference and the Family Policy Institute of Washington. Over 5,000 individuals and 2,000 churches circulated petitions to qualify R-74.

"We are excited to support Preserve Marriage Washington in the R-74 campaign and are confident of victory," Brown said. "Thirty-two states in America have voted on marriage and every one has stood for traditional marriage, and rejected redefining marriage. We have no doubt that Washington state will do the same."

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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Anath Hartmann, [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).