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Monthly Archives: February 2011

MD SSM vote may come down to the wire

February 16, 2011 – 5:37 pm

One of the last wavering Senators in MD has announced he will vote against the SSM bill there. [WaPo blog]

By NOM Staff | Posted in Maryland, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Video: New Mexicans Rally to Support Marriage!

February 16, 2011 – 4:31 pm

Marriage proponents gathered in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Valentine's Day to promote marriage this week, and to support laws aimed at keeping families "strong and together." Preserving marriage they said would "help curb crime and save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Video from KOAT Action 7 News Albuquerque, NM (KOAT.com)

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, New Mexico, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

CA Supreme Court to decide Prop 8 standing question today

February 16, 2011 – 12:53 pm

From the LA Times:

The California Supreme Court will meet behind closed doors Wednesday to deal with a pressing question in the legal battle over gay marriage in California.

... Depending on the state high court's ruling, the 9th Circuit could either dismiss the appeal on procedural grounds -- limiting the case's effect to California -- or rule on federal constitutional questions that would affect same-sex marriage throughout the country.

By NOM Staff | Posted in California, Prop 8, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (5)

God Bless Rep. Steve King!

February 16, 2011 – 9:00 am

Huffington Post tries to stick it to Iowa Rep. Steve King.

We say, God bless your decency and courage.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Iowa, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Insights into Age of Marriage and Divorce Rates in the Church

February 16, 2011 – 8:00 am

From FOF's Family Insight:

1) Age of Marriage - There's lots of debate about what the best age for men and women to marry. What ages at marriage increase and decrease marital happiness and stability? Good research offers some consistent answers and we provide a quick, smart overview summary here.

2) Divorce Rates in the Church – Is the divorce rate as high in the church as in the general population? Many Christian leaders cite that stat widely, but it’s not quite true. Here we look at strong data from leading sociologists of family and religion that provide an informed view. Yes, serious practice of faith does make a difference in marital stability! See the summary here.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Science, Statistics | Comments (5)

Flashback: Video of NOM Marriage Rally in the Hoosier State

February 15, 2011 – 8:08 pm

Now seemed like the right time to pull up this video from our Indianapolis stop on the 2010 Marriage Tour, to thank everyone who came to our rallies and supported us, and to be thankful that our efforts to defend marriage are now bearing fruit in the Hoosier State:

By NOM Staff | Posted in Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)

BREAKING NEWS: Marriage Protection Amendment Passes Indiana House 70-26!

February 15, 2011 – 6:08 pm

Good news out of the Hoosier State!

HJR 6, the Marriage Protection Amendment, just passed the Indiana House with 70 votes... 70-26.

The bill had nearly 40 co-authors, including the Speaker of the House, Brian Bosma.

Congrats to Micah Clark of AFA-IN, Focus on the Family, the Indiana Family Institute, and to all the other pro-family groups that worked so hard on this.

UPDATE: Local Press and the Associated Press have picked up this news.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Indiana, Marriage | Comments (24)

Baptist Press: 2011 could be defining moment for SSM

February 15, 2011 – 6:06 pm

Michael Foust reports:

In what is shaping up as a pivotal moment for the future of "gay marriage" in America, a dozen or so state legislatures are expected to debate the issue this year, with two or three potentially legalizing it and at least seven states moving in the opposite direction by possibly protecting the traditional definition in their constitutions.

Keep reading for quotes from our own Brian Brown.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Maryland, Rhode Island, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)

Andrew Sullivan Endorse Mitch Daniels, Rebukes Rush

February 15, 2011 – 5:59 pm

Well, not quite, but close.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012 | Comments (2)

Breaking News: New Federal Study Confirms Marriage, Intact Biological Families Protect Children's Health

February 15, 2011 – 5:29 pm

From Family Structure and Children’s Health in the United States:

Highlights
Children in nuclear families [one or more children living with two parents who are married to one another and are each biological or adoptive parents to all children in the family] were generally less likely than children in nonnuclear families
• to be in good, fair, or poor health [Note: these three categories are considered “less than optimal”];
• to have a basic action disability;
• to have learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder;
• to lack health insurance coverage;
• to have had two or more emergency room visits in the past 12 months;
• to have receipt of needed prescription medication delayed during the past 12 months due to lack of affordability;
• to have gone without needed dental care due to cost in the past 12 months;
• to be poorly behaved;
• and to have definite or severe emotional or behavioral difficulties during the past 6 months.

h/t: FRC for pointing this out.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Parenting, Same Sex Marriage, Science | Comments (4)

Video: Maggie Gallagher Testifies Before Maryland Senate

February 15, 2011 – 4:11 pm

This was recorded at last Thursday's SSM hearing in Maryland:

Source: Yusef Najafi (www.metroweekly.com)

By NOM Staff | Posted in Maryland, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (15)

Star Parker: 'Gay conservative' is an oxymoron

February 15, 2011 – 4:04 pm

From the Washington Examiner:

CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, has been an annual gig for me for years. But this year I concluded it was not my place and I declined to participate in the various venues at the event for which I was invited.

Yes, the reason I declined was the inclusion of GOProud, a group identifying itself as representing "gay conservatives and their allies," as a sponsor of the event.

By NOM Staff | Posted in GOProud | Comments (2)

"Where else, but in San Francisco?"

February 15, 2011 – 4:01 pm

Local ABC 7 reports:

By NOM Staff | Posted in News | Comments (6)

Urgent Alert: Marriage Hearing in Concord this Thursday!!!

February 15, 2011 – 3:41 pm

It's time for action!

This Thursday at 10am, the House Judiciary Committee will be hearing two bills (HB 437, HB 443) to repeal same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. While strong majorities in both houses favor the repeal of same-sex marriage, prominent House Republicans have publicly argued that the bills should be retained in committee until 2012.

Here’s what I need you to do:

1) Email the members of the House Judiciary Committee urging them to approve the same-sex marriage repeal bills quickly, sending them to the full House for a vote. Gay marriage advocates pushed same-sex marriage through in 2009 during the worst of the economic crisis, with heavy-handed pressure, backroom deals, and multiple votes. It’s time to undo the damage. The time for action is now – not next year! Voters expected better.

Your email will go to each of the members of the House Judiciary Committee, with copies also going to your own state representative, House Speaker Bill O’Brien, and House Majority Leader DJ Bettencourt. Click here to send your email now!

2) Attend Thursday’s hearing. Gay marriage supporters will be out in force, and we need to make a strong showing. NOM Chairman Maggie Gallagher will be among those testifying at the hearing. There has been a lot of misleading information reported in the press lately – come show up in person and let your representatives see the face of New Hampshire families who care about marriage, and expect them to keep their word.

The hearing will begin at 10am this Thursday morning (2/17) in Representatives Hall at the Statehouse in Concord. (Click here for directions.) Please come early to make sure you get a seat, as it’s expected to be a full house.

This is our moment. We have a chance to make New Hampshire the first state to legislatively repeal a same-sex marriage statute. Please stand with us by taking action today!

By NOM Staff | Posted in Alerts, Marriage, New Hampshire, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (11)

The Donald comes out against SSM

February 15, 2011 – 11:50 am

On Gretawire:

Asked about his positions on social issues by Greta Van Susteren, Trump said he doesn't support abortion rights or gay marriage, insisting he's in favor of "almost all conservative principles."

Trump entered into the gay marriage fray in 2009, when he defended Carrie Prejean's stated opposition to gay marriage. Trump, who owns the Miss USA pageant, defended Prejean for speaking out, comparing her views on gay marriage to President Barack Obama's.