On Wednesday we released the news that we're forming a new NOM Maryland PAC, and we pledged to throw $1 million into the next election cycle in Maryland to do two things: protect pro-marriage Democrats, and go after Republicans (Like State Sen. Allan Kittleman) who vote for gay marriage.

Here's how I explained it in NOM's press release:

“It's become quite clear in recent days in Maryland that the Democratic leadership and the same-sex 'marriage' lobby will resort to any tactic, including threats and intimidation, to coerce Democratic legislators to support their agenda. We want to be sure those courageous Democrats who cast their vote of conscience in favor of marriage will have a strong supporter if the radical gay activists come after them in their next primary election.”


NOM PAC Maryland will also oppose in their primaries any Republicans who support gay marriage. The PAC announced that it will target for defeat State Senator Allan Kittleman in his expected race for Howard County Executive.

“We don't question whether Senator Kittleman or any other Republican who might support gay marriage is voting so out of political calculation or are voting their true beliefs,” I said in the press release. “But we do question whether such a vote is consistent with the desires of their Republican constituents. NOM has defeated every pro-gay marriage Republican we've ever targeted, and we're quite confident Senator Kittleman will be next.”

The press has already taken notice. Here's how the Baltimore Sun reported the news:

National anti-gay marriage group commits $1 million.

The National Organization for Marriage today pledged at least $1 million to help defeat Republicans who favor same-sex marriage and assist the campaigns of Democrats who oppose it.

Brown said the National Organization for Marriage has been working behind the scenes in Maryland, contacting more than 500,000 voters through the mail or phone calls. The group urges those voters to call their legislators.

According to lawmakers, they've been doing so in large numbers. Several delegates said during today's floor debate that they had never heard from so many people on a single issue.

"They've never heard from so many people on one issue in their life!" legislators are saying.

Ultimately we at NOM have no power except that which the people give us, by standing up for marriage. And it's humbling how enormous and unexpected the response from ordinary people has been in deep-blue Maryland.

I got this email from a friend who went with her pastor and a group of fellow churchgoers to meet with Veronica Turner on Tuesday.

"She had a long line of constituents waiting to meet with her. They were all on the same side," i.e. OURS! my friend reports.

It never stops:

Gay couple files complaint against Dallas Morning News for not printing wedding announcement

A gay couple has filed a discrimination complaint against The Dallas Morning News for refusing to publish their same-sex wedding announcement.

Mark Reed-Walkup and Dante Walkup, who were legally married in Washington, D.C., in October, filed the complaint on Friday, Nov. 19. The couple’s wedding has made international news in recent weeks because it was held in Dallas but officiated from D.C via teleconference.

Reed- Walkup, a board member for the national LGBT direct action group GetEQUAL, said he’s been trying for several weeks to get The Morning News to publish their paid announcement in its “Weddings” section.

But the newspaper has refused because of a policy that says same-sex wedding announcements can only be published in a separate section called “Commitments.” The policy is based on the fact that same-sex marriage isn’t legally recognized by the state of Texas.

The couple filed the complaint under a 2002 city ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations. (source: www.dallasvoice.com)