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Category Archives: March for Marriage

What You Make Possible...

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter ,

I wanted to write today to thank you for everything you have done to make this fight to save marriage possible!

And I wanted to ask you to once again renew your support of NOM by making a donation of $35, $50, $100, $500 or more to help us continue launching major initiatives that will provide marriage with the best defense possible!

I ask because we have another incredible opportunity before us to capitalize on the momentum generated by the March—a generous supporter has pledged to match every donation made to NOM in the coming weeks dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000!

The momentum and publicity we generated from the March for Marriage has been extraordinary. You can see one of the first instances of the Media coverage by watching my interview on Meet the Press (click here).

But although they couldn't completely avoid covering the issue, most of the mainstream media did everything in their power to avoid mentioning the March for Marriage. BUT they could not avoid showing pictures of our marchers in their coverage... there were just too many of us!

As you know, over 10,000 people gathered on the mall in front of the Washington Monument. Well over 60 buses drove in from as far away as Chicago, with 2,000 people busing in from NYC representing the Latino and African American communities of the Bronx and metro NY. One family came in all the way from Utah! It was truly a sight to see thousands chanting "One Man, One Woman" and then "Un Hombre, Un Mujer".

We marched up Constitution Ave to the Supreme Court, sending a clear signal to the Supreme Court Justices that the American people believe marriage is between one man and one woman, and every child deserves a mom and a dad.

We mobilized more than 40 co-sponsor organizations, who stood shoulder to shoulder with us, defending marriage. And we gathered many inspiring speakers, who reminded the Court, the country and the media that America stands for marriage!

An especially moving moment for marchers was watching a video of 11 year old Grace Evans testifying in front of the MN state legislature asking... "Which Parent Do I Not Need?" But every speaker was impressive, and you can now see them all online.

Supporter, the March for Marriage was a home run in every sense!

Everyone left energized and committed to stand-up and defend marriage no matter what.

Please consider making your most generous contribution today to help NOM continue launching game-changing initiatives like our historic March for Marriage!

Now is the time—an incredible opportunity to capitalize on the incredible momentum of the March. With our generous supporter's matching gift, every dollar you contribute will be DOUBLED! And you and I will continue to be able to give marriage the defense it both needs and deserves.

Thank you again for standing up for marriage and for supporting NOM's work in defending this critical cause.

You and every defender of marriage are in my prayers—always.

God bless you!

A Story I Need to Share...

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Yesterday I asked if you had given up… and today, I want to share with you the inspiring story of a young couple I met that is most definitely not giving up the fight to protect marriage!

Let me introduce Melissa, David, Emily and Ella Hunsaker.

They baked and sold 289 loaves of bread (!) to fund their travel all the way from Utah to participate in NOM's March for Marriage in Washington, D.C. along with their two young girls.

Why did they put in so much work to travel across the country?

As David told the BYU student newspaper, the Student Review:

"It is the future of America. I want my children to grow up in a society that values and understands that men and women have unique things to bring to the table. Children deserve both a father and mother. It's about what the children deserve."

I couldn't put it better myself, David! Thank you so much for you and your family's beautiful witness on behalf of marriage!

Part of the reason we organize the March for Marriage was to share OUR stories, stories of sacrifice, love and courage, even in the face of our aggressive and well-organized opposition that constantly attempts to malign us and impugn our motives.

We Americans who believe marriage is about bringing together men and women for the sake of the children are not a minority. We are not motivated by hatred. We are motivate by LOVE —that's why our tools are not angry signs, they are loaves of bread!

Won't you please make a generous donation today of $35, $50, $100, $500 or more to support NOM's efforts to defend the rights and religious freedoms of ordinary Americans like the Hunsakers to stand up and profess their common sense, political, historical and religious views on marriage?

Remember—thanks to a generous supporter, we have secured a NEW $500,000 matching gift! So every dollar you donate will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000!

David recently wrote on his blog:

The March for Marriage was a huge success. Mostly we felt privileged to meet so many wonderful people defending marriage from all over the country and to make our voices heard. It may not have been well represented in the media, but we saw first-hand the thousands of people who still actively support traditional marriage and the way it impacts children and society.

Please stand with me, the Hunsakers and the thousands and millions of everyday Americans who support marriage by making a generous contribution to NOM today.

Special Thanks to Melissa, David, Emily and Ella... God bless you all! History is on your side!

Video: All the March for Marriage Speakers!

Did you miss the March for Marriage? Now you can watch the whole program of our rally on the National Mall!

This playlist plays the individual speakers one by one, as well as the introduction and closing remarks by our President Brian Brown:

What's the next step? Signing our citizens petition to the Supreme Court!

WorldTribune: The Newsworthy March for Marriage that Did Not Make the News

Cliff Kincaid, Director of the Accuracy In Media Center for Investigative Journalism, on what he saw at the March for Marriage -- and what you won't see if you only get your news from mainstream media:

Significant news came out of last Tuesday’s March for Marriage demonstration in Washington, D.C. But it didn’t make “news” in the major media.

As one who covered the event, it was significant that there were so many members of minority groups. This was not a mostly white crowd. In addition to the presence of black, Hispanic and Asian supporters of traditional marriage, there were some notable Democrats, such as New York State Senator Ruben Díaz, and he let people know he was several minorities in one.

... J.C. Derrick of World magazine has a good analysis of how the major media, led by The Washington Post, virtually ignored the March for Marriage. But unless you actually see what happened on the ground, as the thousands of traditional marriage supporters held their demonstration, you would miss the true significance of how dishonest the media’s coverage of this issue has become. (World Tribune)

Palko on the Emerging Coalition for Marriage

Christopher Palko at First Things comments on the ethnic diversity of those who united for the March for Marriage last week -- and sees in it a sign of things to come:

Last Tuesday’s March for Marriage contained many of the standard elements for a socially conservative protest march. There were young families pushing strollers, some Catholic parishes that rented buses, youthful nuns praying. In short, it was easy to view as a smaller scale version of the March for Life.

But one thing was conspicuous about the participants: It was a majority-minority group. The March for Marriage had without a doubt the most racially diverse crowd that I had ever seen associated with a right-of-center political cause. On the Mall, you would hear Spanish being spoken behind you, an African-American gospel group singing in front of you, and members of an Asian-American church standing beside you.

... There have been two main pieces of advice given to the Republican party after its 2012 defeat: Win over more minority voters and minimize social issues. These notions contradict each other. If there is anything currently present within the GOP that non-whites are attracted to, it’s precisely the social issues that so many are convinced are an electoral albatross.

Video: Thousands March for Marriage, Media Reports 'Dozens'

The Family Research Council, which co-sponsored the March for Marriage, has posted a video calling out the media for under-reporting the march and for under-estimating its numbers:

March On!

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

2013 March for MarriageThe March for Marriage on TwitterThe March for Marriage on FacebookNational Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

This week, we started something BIG… but we're only getting started!

Click here right away to sign NOM's Marriage Petition to the Supreme Court!

On Tuesday, thousands of people rallied in Washington DC, marching in front of the Supreme Court in support of the true definition of marriage: the exclusive and faithful union of one man and one woman!

NOM brought together a coalition of over 40 groups in support of this effort and it has already made a tremendous impact! We met our opponents on the street in front of the Supreme Court, but thanks to the brave individuals who came out in support of marriage on Tuesday, the UK Daily Mail was able to report that we "easily outnumber[ed] advocates for gay marriage."

See for yourself what an incredible gathering this was by clicking here:

Of course, it took an international newspaper to report these facts.

But you can see the truth for yourself here:

And even on the day of the March, new supporters came on board to voice support for our efforts: right up to the Vatican itself! In a statement from Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, the diversity of ethnicities and faith backgrounds that made up our March was both highlighted and applauded!

This is just one more sign of the incredible momentum the movement to defend marriage is generating world-wide!

Supporter, we will NOT be silenced! I'm proud that NOM can represent your voice and your values despite the efforts of a small, vocal and elite minority to silence us.

We must continue fighting for marriage. Tuesday was not a end in itself… it was just the beginning!

Please continue standing for marriage as we gather as many signatures as we can to present to the Supreme Court in advance of their rulings in the Prop 8 and DOMA cases.

Click here to sign our petition to the Supreme Court today!

May God bless you this Holy Week!

UKDailyMail: "Christian Opponents Easily Outnumbering Advocates for Gay Marriage"

The UK Daily Mail on our march to the Supreme Court yesterday:

"...Both sides of the debate were out in force, with Christian opponents easily outnumbering advocates for gay marriage.

Inside, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could determine whether the federal government or the 50 states will decide what a marriage is.

Yahoo! News reported that the cast of characters included a drag queen in a rainbow tutu and devil horns, cross-carrying Christians who knelt in prayer, and a host of other activists.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) marchers 'were met by another small group of people that had stretched out a rainbow flag in front of them,' according to Yahoo.

Here are a couple photos of the rally and march (more to come!):


Some Early Media Coverage of the March for Marriage

Some are noting the lack of mainstream coverage of our march for marriage including one blogger who attended and posted their own photos to prove it was happening. Many outlets, however, did cover the thousands who showed up to show their strong support for marriage! Here are a few.

ABC 7 "Thousands march on mall":

Thousands marched from the National Mall to the U.S. Supreme Court to say that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

“What God has instituted man does not have the power, right or authority to alter,” says Lalita Smith of Nashville. “We need to not play with the thing God has instituted.”

The marchers came from all over the country, from pro-family and church organizations.

Politico:

Opponents of same-sex marriage walked in the “March for Marriage,” organized by the National Organization of Marriage, eventually coming down to the street in front of the Supreme Court.

Catholic News Service:

Thousands of people who gathered at one end of the National Mall March 26 in support of traditional marriage took their message to the U.S. Supreme Court as they walked and held aloft placards with signs saying: "Kids do best with a mom and dad."

The court began hearing oral arguments that morning on the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, the law banning same-sex marriage, the day before hearing oral arguments in a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Hours before and up to the minute the hearings began, the street in front of the court was filled with protesters on both sides of the same-sex marriage issue. Those in support of traditional marriage came to Washington with church or parish groups from nearby or had traveled alone or with one or two others from states across the country, including Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota and Florida.

When the groups dispersed, those supporting traditional marriage continued their march back to the rally point on the mall where numerous speakers echoed the message that marriage should not be redefined.

National Review Online:

Families gathered on the mall after marching to the Supreme Court to insist that the Court at the very least leave the future of marriage policymaking to the people rather than judicial fiat. Speakers from the National Organization for Marriage, the Heritage Foundation, Concerned Women for America, and others were in an encouraging mode. One got the sense that this was but a beginning of a conversation, a bit of a wake-up call.

Catholic World Report:

“Marriage is not about what adults want; it’s about what children need,” Teetsel said.

The march, which took place under clear but chilly skies, was held as the high court considered the constitutionality of California’s Prop. 8. On Wednesday, it hears oral arguments about one section of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Marchers—estimated by organizers to be about 10,000 people—walked with placards and banners past the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court, where same-sex “marriage” supporters listened to a rally of their own and packed the sidewalks between the court and capitol.

National Organization for Marriage Leads Massive March and Rally in Support of Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)

National Organization for Marriage Leads Massive March and Rally in Support of Marriage

2013 March for MarriageThe March for Marriage on TwitterThe March for Marriage on FacebookNational Organization for Marriage

"A diverse crowd of more than 10,000 marched today to show that those who protect marriage are on the right side of history."
— Brian Brown, NOM president

Washington, D.C. — More than 10,000 pro-marriage citizens from across the country and from every walk of life marched and rallied today peacefully in our nation's capital, rallying at the National Mall and marching to the Supreme Court with two simple messages: "Respect Our Votes!" and "Kids Deserve a Mom and a Dad!"

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) led a coalition of over 45 organizations featuring over 20 speakers all united in the common purpose of defending marriage between one man one woman while demanding the Supreme Court respect the millions upon millions of Americans who have voted to enact laws protecting marriage in their state constitutions.

Brian Brown, President of NOM said, "A diverse crowd of more than 10,000 marched today to show that those who protect marriage are on the right side of history. The Supreme Court has no right to redefine marriage and roll back the efforts of Americans to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman, the only social arrangement that gives children the mother and father they deserve."

Brown continued: "The fact that our supporters remained peaceful, kneeling in prayer and singing songs and chants even in the face of verbal attacks and intimidation by our opponents is a testament to the respectful way pro-marriage activists carry themselves, even when harassed."

Brian concluded: "Forget the media hype and confusion, our numbers today show that the American people are strongly pro-marriage and pro-marriage Americans aren't going anywhere. This is the beginning of the fight to protect marriage. Our opponents know this, which is why they are hoping the Supreme Court will cut short a debate they know they will ultimately lose if the political process and democracy are allowed to run their course. Those who believe that marriage is the unique and special union of one man and one woman are on the right side of history."

Please visit www.NationforMarriage.org and www.NomBlog.com for photos and videos from the march and rally.

Donate Today

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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 Jen Campbell (x145), [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).

VIDEO: Recap of the March for Marriage

Watch the video recap of the March for Marriage!

Update -- video now fixed:

NOM at the 2013 March for Marriage!

We're marching for marriage today from the National Mall to the Supreme Court!

This post contains a slideshow of today's march from the morning rally to the actual march to the Supreme Court. Please check back regularly for new pictures!

ONLY 6 HOURS LEFT!

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

2013 March for MarriageThe March for Marriage on TwitterThe March for Marriage on FacebookNational Organization for Marriage

SPECIAL NOTE: If you are attending the March, please make sure you have looked over the map of the march route and the schedule!

Dear Marriage Supporter,

There are only a few hours remaining to double your donation in defense of marriage and the faith communities that sustain it!

We're only $25,000 short of our $500,000 goal — will you help us close the gap now?

This is your absolute last chance to contribute and have your contribution doubled:

www.marriagepledge.com

Can't Wait To See You Tomorrow!

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

2013 March for MarriageThe March for Marriage on TwitterThe March for Marriage on FacebookNational Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

We march tomorrow! I look forward to being able to stand with you in this historic demonstration. Thank you so much for your dedication to marriage.

Please be sure to double-check www.marriagemarch.org for a copy of our map and schedule to bring along with you tomorrow to DC.

As you may know, just yesterday approximately 1.4 million French citizens marched in Paris to demonstrate their support for marriage as the union of one man and one woman — the SECOND time this year that more than one million people have gathered to stand for marriage in Paris!

What you may not know, is that NOM's marriage march video was shown to the crowds there, and that one of our speakers — Professor Robert Oscar Lopez — was on hand to tell the French marriage heroes about our own upcoming March. Here's what one of the attendees in Paris, a French-American woman, emailed us last night to say:

This pro-marriage movement is growing slowly but surely with people involved, from various ways of life, political backgrounds and associations. The special TGV train reserved for the event, from the cities of Toulon and Marseille, was sold out (1200 seats). Many large families were able to go thanks to donations made by families living much nearer to the capital.

We stood massed along the avenue de la Grande Armée, as well as several other adjacent avenues for nearly three hours....

I was in tears to see the witnessing of one of my American compatriots, the last speaker [Prof. Lopez] who announced the upcoming Marriage March in Washington on March 26th, and the short announcement film for the march was seen by over a million French! The applause and cheering was astounding!

I hope this makes you as excited for tomorrow as it makes me. And it might help to watch our March video again, too:

I can't wait until tomorrow to be a part of this growing international movement to defend marriage. And I can't wait for you to join us!

See you at the March!

Only 12 Hours Left!

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

2013 March for MarriageThe March for Marriage on TwitterThe March for Marriage on FacebookNational Organization for Marriage

SPECIAL NOTE: If you are attending the March, please make sure you have looked over the map of the march route and the schedule!

Dear Marriage Supporter,

We're only one day away from our historic March for Marriage.

And that means we only have 12 hours left to raise the remaining $40,000 toward our $500,000 matching gift goal.

We're so close to reaching our goal!

If you donate immediately, your contribution will automatically DOUBLE, maximizing the impact of your gift for the defense of marriage.

Will you please click here to make an urgent donation of $50, $100, $500, or $1,000 or more knowing that every dollar you give for marriage will be doubled to fund the March and the defense of marriage all across the country?

Can I count on your help in this critical hour?