NOM BLOG

Monthly Archives: May 2011

Talk Show Host Asks: Why Are Some MN Reps Suddenly Opposed to Voter Amendments?

Jason Lewis is a nationally syndicated talk-show host based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and writes in the Star-Tribune:

Funny, but I don't seem to recall the hand-wringing and consternation over proposed constitutional amendments in years gone by. Since 1996, Minnesota voters have actually amended the state's constitution seven times, and nary a peep. In fact, the last two ballot questions -- dedicating hundreds of millions towards environmental, arts and transportation spending -- were somehow seen as sterling examples of allowing voters to choose the laws under which they live.

This year, however, with four ballot measures being considered, you'd think the sky was falling. Republicans have put forth plans for a couple of tax-and-spend limitations as well as a voter-identification initiative. But hell hath no fury like a domestic partner scorned, so the amendment that's really got the cultural elites up in arms is the one that defines marriage as "only a union of one man and one woman."

The Minnesota House Rules Committee has scheduled a hearing on SF1308, the Minnesota Marriage Amendment, for Wednesday May 18 at 8:30 AM.

Report Details Hate Crimes Against Christians and Churches

The European Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians have issued their five-year report (PDF), with pages and pages of recent examples of anti-Christian acts that have taken place internationally, including hate crims against Christian buildings (desecrations, vandalisms, etc).

Here's a couple sample cases included in the report:

Austria: Socialist Pupils Association Encourages Members to Vandalize Churches

March 2008: In a newsletter Austrian "Aktion Kritischer Schüler" (socialist pupils association) encourages members to use the occasion of the international day against racism (March 21st) to vandalize churches.

Russia: Church Service Stormed, Pastor Beaten

April 2008: A Pentecostal service was stormed by perpetrators, the pastor was beaten, parishioners were threatened with pistols held to their heads. No prosecution of the four attackers occurred by the end of 2008.

Excursus - United States: Hate Crimes Against Christians Up 25%

November 2009: New FBI statistics on hate crimes show a nine percent increase in crimes against religious groups in 2008 and an almost 25 percent increase in reported hate crimes against Catholics

Chuck Colson to Christians: Wake Up on the Consequences of SSM

Chuck Colson writes about the numerous consequences of redefining marriage - and the consequences of how activists are trying to accomplish their goal:

For two years now, I’ve warned that the drive for so-called “gay marriage” was the greatest threat to religious liberty we’ve ever faced. But I think I may have underestimated the threat, because now I fear the democratic process and the rule of law are endangered as well.

... So-called gay “marriage” was rejected in all 31 states where the people got to vote! So the gay-rights groups, so far, are carrying the day by doing an end-run around the people, taking their case to the courts, coercing corporations, and now law firms, and finding a willing accomplice to their un-democratic schemes in the White House.

I can’t say this forcefully or clearly enough: Wake up, America! When the executive branch of government rules by fiat and chooses not to enforce the law of the land, the democratic process and the consent of the governed are no longer possible.

“How does gay marriage affect you personally?” Ask Goddard and Vidmar.

Bruce Hausknecht writing at CitizenLink:

Yesterday I wrote about the repercussions from the issue of same-sex marriage in the lives of Peter Vidmar and navy chaplains.

Today’s headlines concern Toronto, where sports anchor Damian Goddard was fired the day after tweeting this controversial line on his personal Twitter account: “I completely and whole-heartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage.”

.. So Goddard gets sacked. Of course, he lives and works in Canada, which legalized same-sex marriage several years ago. That probably accounts for the speed with which Goddard lost his job. In the U.S. it would take several weeks to be fired or forced to resign, as Peter Vidmar experienced.

... So add this little story to your list of responses for the next time someone asks you: “But how does gay marriage affect you personally?”

Queerty's Wrong About One Thing

The Queerty blogger who admitted he wants public schools to teach about gay marriage, was wrong about one thing.  He made a big deal that such education would not include instruction on gay sex.  ("b-f***ing 101!"). 

But here's what Helena, Montana proposed to teach sixth graders about sex:

""Understand that sexual intercourse includes but is not limited to vaginal, oral, or anal penetration; using the penis, fingers, tongue or objects." 

"Understand gender identity is different from sexual orientation."

Will he join with me in saying that's wrong?  He's an honest man, enquiring people want to know.

(I apologize for the crudity, but when public schools propose to teach this to 10 years olds, what choice do we have?)

Poor Jim Wallis!

Jim Wallis is the face of "progressive" yet "orthodox" evangelical Christianity. He's taken a great deal of money from left-wing sources, but I don't want to rest my case here on that.

Gay groups are now calling him out, demanding he submit to the gospel of contemporary orthodoxy--or else.

What you sow, you shall reap. I hope he does the right thing.

Queerty: Can We Admit That We Do Want To Indoctrinate Kids?

NOM’s TV ad in New York on the consequences of gay marriage produced this response from a well-known Queerty.com blogger, who boasts openly that the NOM ad’s claim that gay marriage will be taught in public schools is clearly true.

“In response [to NOM’s ad] we say, 'NOOO! We’re not gonna make kids learn about homosexuality, we swear! It’s not like we’re trying to recruit your children or anything.' But let’s face it—that’s a lie.”

He goes on to say “We want educators to teach future generations of children to accept queer sexuality. In fact, our very future depends on it.”

His very future?

In case that’s not clear enough he points out:

“... Why would anybody get all up in arms about punishing teachers who mention queers in the classroom unless we wanted teachers to do just that? In response against the bill, FCKH8 . . . .gave out hundreds of “Don’t B H8N on the Homos” t-shirts, wristbands, pins and stickers to school children in front of TV cameras. Recruiting children? You bet we are.”

He doesn’t stop there:

“... Why would we push anti-bullying programs or social studies classes that teach kids about the historical contributions of famous queers unless we wanted to deliberately educate children to accept queer sexuality as normal?...  I for one certainly want tons of school children to learn that it’s OK to be gay, that people of the same sex should be allowed to legally marry each other, and that anyone can kiss a person of the same sex without feeling like a freak. And I would very much like for many of these young boys to grow up and start f****** men. I want lots of young ladies to develop into young women who voraciously ***** ***. I want this just as badly as many parents want their own kids to grow up ********** to trade proteins and forcefully excrete a baby.

I and a lot of other people want to indoctrinate, recruit, teach, and expose children to queer sexuality AND THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.”

In fact he concludes, “not educating our kids about queer issues makes them ignorant, hateful little morons.”

Gay marriage is the centerpiece of an ambitious movement to use the power of government, including the public schools, to impose a new public morality in the minds of Americans (including of schoolchildren) in which traditional views of marriage are treated as hateful, discredited bigotry, whether parents like it or not.

Ted Olson Comes Out Against Civil Unions for New York

In an op-ed with New York's Attorney General in the NY Daily News.

Diaz Rally Breakthrough: People Who Love Can Disagree

From the same NY Daily News piece:

Among the group was Erica Diaz, the granddaughter of State Senator Diaz, who said she'd been kicked out of the Navy due to her sexual orientation. To her side was her girlfriend, Naomi Torres, who Diaz said she hoped to eventually marry -- but only if the laws changed in New York.

"There is no war in my family," said Diaz. "I respect my grandfather, I respect the fact that he’s a firm believer on what he thinks is right. However, I have my own opinion on this issue. Basically I believe we should all be given a chance to exercise our human right to marry the person we love."

Canadian Sports Writer: "Goddard firing is scary business"

Steve Buffery at the Toronto Sun begins his op-ed by saying that he supports SSM "wholeheartedly", but goes on to say:

That being said, I also believe people should have the right to oppose same-sex marriage based on their religious beliefs, without being mocked and vilified for it.

Or worse, losing their job over it.

Frankly, I found the backlash directed at former Rogers Sportsnet anchor Damian Goddard and hockey agent Todd Reynolds for their opposition to same-sex marriage this week disturbing. Frightening even.

Neither said they hate gay people. What they said was that they oppose same-sex marriage based on their religious beliefs.

Yet both have been unmercifully attacked and ridiculed, on Twitter particularly. Sportsnet fired Goddard, even though the network insisted he wasn’t fired specifically because of his opposition towards same-sex marriage. Of course, no one really believes that.

There seems to be a double standard here with the message being: If you don’t believe what we believe, we’ll brand you a hater and a bigot and run you out of town.

NY Daily News: Diaz Rally "Massive" ... Small Counter-Protest

The NY Daily News says the Diaz's rally was "massive" and the counter-protest small:

State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. held a massive rally Sunday outside Bronx Supreme Court against gay marriage - only to prompt a counterprotest by his lesbian granddaughter.

We're looking to post the video of Sen. Diaz's lovely response to his grandaughter, who disagrees with him on SSM:

... Before the rally ended, Ruben Diaz's granddaughter made her way to the steps of Supreme Court, reached out and hugged her grandfather.

"This is my granddaughter," he announced in response. "And I love her."

Here's a photo of the rally that one of our supporters sent us (more pictures and video coming soon!):

NY Sen. Greg Ball Raps Sen Gillenbrand, SSM Advocates: "Zero Dialogue about Protecting Religious Liberty"

From the Wall Street Journal:

"It has to have real religious protections in it," said Greg Ball, a Hudson Valley Republican who is among several Senate Republicans thought to be potential supporters of a gay marriage bill.

"There has been zero dialogue about fundamentally protecting religious institutions and promoting equal rights," said Mr. Ball. "There are many members who are not going to be voting for a piece of legislation that shuts down Catholic services or adoption agencies."

Mr. Ball said he raised those concerns with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a moderate Democrat who supports gay marriage, when she spoke to him three days ago about his position on a pending bill. A spokeswoman for Ms. Gillibrand didn't respond for comment on Sunday.

Video of Mike Huckabee: "Not Defending DOMA Will Be A Huge Issue For Obama"

Before announcing over the weekend that he would not run for President, Mike Huckabee had this to say about DOMA and marriage on The O'Reilly Factor last week:

George Soros' Ties to Over 30 Major News Organizations

Follow the money?

When liberal investor George Soros gave $1.8 million to National Public Radio , it became part of the firestorm of controversy that jeopardized NPR’s federal funding. But that gift only hints at the widespread influence the controversial billionaire has on the mainstream media. Soros, who spent $27 million trying to defeat President Bush in 2004, has ties to more than 30 mainstream news outlets – including The New York Times, Washington Post, the Associated Press, NBC and ABC. --Fox News

"If Your Boss Opposes Gay Marriage, You Can't Talk to Our Students About the Importance of Thrift"

Does this make any sense at all?

Amber Lapp writes at FamilyScholars:

I wanted to write a story featuring [a] class project for National Thrift Week, which is a public education campaign that “seeks to bring together a broad coalition of citizen leaders who share an appreciation of thrift as the wise use of resources and a conviction that thrift is the friend of sustainable prosperity, broad economic opportunity, beautiful neighborhoods, and a healthy planet.”

Sounds harmless, right? Of all the social movements imaginable, I’d say that a movement to renew thrift is one that can bring together a broad base of support from a truly diverse group of people. And that’s the beauty of it. In a world so filled with bitter disagreement, surely thrift is a concept as innocuous as they come—and yet one with real promise and potential to create social change for the better.

Or so I thought.

My cell rang. It was the supervisor of the urban farm.

“Ummm…sorry to call so late, but we actually don’t think it’s appropriate for you to come meet the students.”

“Do you mind if I ask why?” It was hard to believe that this was the same woman who had been so enthusiastic during our previous conversations.

“Well…” she stammered uncomfortably. “Your website is just too conservative. [She was referring to familyscholars.org, rather than newthrift.org, which is the website for the Center for Thrift and Generosity and is separate from the Center for Marriage and Families.] You support marriage, and we’re not comfortable with that. We accept all forms of union.”

A few weeks earlier the same thing had happened with two different organizations.