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Monthly Archives: June 2011

Cuomo: NY State (Not Its People) "Entitled to a Vote on This Issue"

June 22, 2011 – 12:39 pm

And no wonder Cuomo wants Albany --not the people-- to vote. Our newly-released poll shows a) New Yorkers don't want Albany deciding this issue, and b) if it was up to them, they'd vote to protect marriage.

The governor said Tuesday that he believed “the people are entitled to a vote on this issue.”

“It is an important issue, there’s been a lot of discussions, there’s a lot of opinions, there’s a lot of information, there’s been a lot of public demonstrations in this building, and I believe people are entitled to a vote,” he said. “Let the elected officials stand up and say yea or nay. I believe that’s how democracy works, and I believe the state is entitled to a vote on this issue.” -- NYTimes

Tell the New York Senators that the people are indeed entitled to a vote -- their own.

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

Rev. Diaz & Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long: "Kill the Bill and Let the People Vote!"

June 22, 2011 – 10:32 am

An op-ed from Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz and Michael Long, Chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State:

Politics is a team sport. The decision of senate Republicans to take up this bill, and thus help enable Governor Cuomo’s goal to pass gay marriage, will affect the way voters across the state view the Republican party — especially if Republican state senators told voters one thing during the campaign, and now propose to change their votes at Governor Cuomo’s behest.

The National Organization for Marriage released a poll of registered New Yorkers, conducted this past weekend. Fifty-seven percent of New York voters agree that “marriage should only be between a man and a woman” versus 32 percent who disagree. Meanwhile, the new NOM poll shows that only about one in four New York voters (26 percent) prefer legislators in Albany to decide this issue, while 59 percent say the issue of marriage should be decided by the voters in New York.

... If gay marriage advocates honestly believe they have a super-majority of New Yorkers in their corner, they should join with us to agree to permit a referendum to decide this issue. If they do not, their claims to represent the majority will ring rather hollow. This gay-marriage bill is not in the best interests of New York, it is not the choice of New Yorkers, and it is decidedly against the interests of the Republican party.

...The last time the Republican party caved on a deeply important social issue — abortion — it destroyed the party’s prospects for years. And for what? To help Andrew Cuomo run for president? As Brian Brown, president of NOM, quipped:

Selling your principles in order to get elected is wrong, selling your principles to help get the other guy get elected is just plain dumb.

Memo to GOP leadership: Kill this bill, and let the people of New York decide the future of marriage.

David Tyree on Fox News: "This Country is Built on Judeo-Christian Values"

June 22, 2011 – 10:28 am

We love this guy! Watch him speak out for marriage on Fox Business last night:

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (7)

Video: Whoopi Goldberg Mischaracterizes David Tyree, Elizabeth Hasselback Defends Tyree

June 22, 2011 – 10:19 am

Notice Whoopi doesn't actually play the quote; Elizabeth Hassleback defends David Tyree on The View:

By NOM Staff | Posted in Culture, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (14)

USDA Brands Marriage "Heterosexism"; Offers Urgent Training to Combat it

June 22, 2011 – 7:30 am

Rowan Scarborough in the Washington Times:

U.S. Department of Agriculture activists want to impose their intense brand of homosexual sensitivity training governmentwide, including a discussion that compares “heterosexism” - believing marriage can be between only one man and one woman - to racism.

... USDA officials have asked the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees all federal employee policies, to impose its gay-awareness programs on all federal departments, according to an internal newsletter. The training includes a discussion of “heterosexism” and compares it to racism. It says people who view marriage as being between only one man and one woman are guilty of “heterosexism.”

... The USDA’s senior training coordinator, Bill Scaggs, has developed a sensitivity program far more extensive than the Pentagon’s training for the anticipated lifting of the ban on open ho[JUMP]mosexuals in the ranks. His training program, which OPM calls “groundbreaking [and a] model for other agencies,” delves more into gay issues and terminology. It also justifies pro-homosexual political positions.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Same Sex Marriage | Comments (8)

Was the NOM Poll Skewed Old or the Siena Poll Skewed Young?

June 22, 2011 – 7:00 am

Possibly both.

After the Albany Times Union attributed NOM's 57% of New Yorkers rejecting SSM to an unusual number of old people, we decided to check NOM's poll and the Siena poll against the 2010 vote.

Here are the percentages of voters in 2010 by age (source: civicyouth.org - page 10):
18-24 5%
25-29 6%
30-44 22%
45-59 33%
60+ 33%

NOM’s poll used different ages as did the Siena poll. Still, here’s a rough comparison:

2010 Voters NOM Poll Siena Poll
18-24 5% 18-39 7% 18-34 22%
25-29 6%
30-44 22% 40-49 15% 35-54 37%
45-59 33% 50-59 31%
60+ 33% 60+ 38% 55+ 37%

Our read is that NOM’s poll is probably lower than the percentage of 2010 voters and the Siena poll is probably high for young voters (based on a very rough approximation that the 2010 voter data would be 23% for 18-39 and 18% for 18-34). NOM’s poll is a little high for 60+ but Siena’s is quite low for that group (based on our approximation of 55+ 2010 voters as 44%). NOM is pretty close on the 40-49 category (We’re guessing it’s 18% of 2010 voters and NOM surveyed 15% in this age group). Siena’s number is probably about right for 35-54.

In other words, NOM's poll may skew slightly old, but Siena's poll overesamples young people, compared to actual voters in New York elections. No poll has ever shown that gay marriage is a high priority for any sizable number of New Yorkers. Or that New Yorkers prefer to leave this issue to the legislature.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Christian Post: New Poll Shows New Yorkers Oppose Same-Sex Marriage

June 22, 2011 – 6:30 am

The Christian Post picks up on the new poll we released today, showing that New Yorkers oppose same-sex marriage and don't want Albany taking the question into their own hands:

A poll released Tuesday by the QEV Analytics, a public opinion research firm in Washington D.C., shows that 57 percent of New York voters oppose gay marriage.

The results of the survey were released just as Senate Republicans are debating over whether to bring the gay marriage bill to a vote. The bill has 31 votes and needs 32 to pass. The New York State Assembly passed the measure last Wednesday. The poll of registered voters in New York found that 57 percent agree that "marriage should only be between a man and a woman," compared to 32 percent who disagree and 11 percent who answered don’t know, or did not respond.

About 59 percent of New York voters say the issue of marriage should be directly decided by voters in New York. Only 1 in 4 voters or 26 percent say they prefer legislators in Albany to decide on the issue of changing the definition of marriage. The other 16 percent say they don't know or gave no response.

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

Brazilian Judge Declares Civil Unions Unconstitional

June 22, 2011 – 6:00 am

An update from Brazil:

A Brazilian judge has nullified the civil union of two homosexuals in the state of Goias, and has declared that a recent decision by the nation’s Supreme Federal Tribunal legalizing the practice is “unconstitutional.”

Jeronymo Pedro Villas Boas, a municipal judge, says the nation’s highest court “went beyond the limits” of its authority when it recently decreed that homosexuals have a right to civil unions, directly contradicting the Brazilian Constitution. He called the decision “illegitimate and unconstitutional” and ordered the couple’s union struck from the registry. --LifeSiteNews

By NOM Staff | Posted in Same Sex Marriage | Comments (11)

Raw Video: Marriage Rally in Albany

June 22, 2011 – 12:07 am

We think our supporters would enjoy seeing the entire, unedited video from our marriage rally in the New York State House this week -- please continue to take action to contact the undeclared Senators by phone, email and social networks:

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

CRITICAL NY UPDATE: Final Day - Tell Senators to Let the People Vote

June 21, 2011 – 5:15 pm

One more day to change history.

A week ago, same-sex marriage supporters were giddy with excitement. Five senators had just announced their intent to vote for same-sex marriage, leaving supporters one vote shy of the 32 votes needed to pass a same-sex marriage bill. But for a week now, there has been no new movement as the legislative session has gone into overtime.

As expected, last night Governor Cuomo extended the legislative session in hopes of reaching a deal on several of his signature agenda items, including same-sex marriage.

And after hours of negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos announced early this afternoon that a deal had been reached on rent control, property tax cap, and SUNY tuition—three of the four major issues still before the Senate. He indicated that at this time there is no deal on same-sex marriage, and that there would be no further action on the bill today—although closed-door negotiations are continuing. At the same time, Skelos told reporters that he expected the legislative session would finally come to a close tomorrow.

The next 24 hours will likely decide the future of marriage in New York.

Thousands of you have called, emailed, and even delivered your messages to Albany in person, calling on your state senators to support a referendum allowing the people of New York to vote on marriage. It is a privilege to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, with the other state groups who are doing such a tremendous job on the ground, and with each of you who are making your voices heard.

It's time for one final push!

Join us at the Capitol Tomorrow!

Please, if at all possible, come to the Capitol in Albany tomorrow (directions here). Come any time that you are able. There is no stronger statement than that of marriage supporters taking time off work, traveling with their families, committed to making a public stand for marriage.

Join us as we remind Senate Republicans that there is no reason they should have to vote on this bill. Marriage belongs to every New Yorker, not just to 62 politicians in the state senate. It's time for a referendum that would let the people of New York decide the future of marriage for themselves.

Keep up the Phone Calls and Emails!

Even if you can't make it to Albany tomorrow, you can still make your voice heard. Have you called these 7 senators yet today? Please call each of them—tell them it's time to let the people vote!

And if you can't make phone calls, click here to contact these senators by email!

Stephen Saland	(518) 455-2411
Andrew Lanza	(518) 455-3215
Mark Grisanti	(518) 455-3240
Greg Ball	(518) 455-3111
John Flanagan	(518) 455-2071
Joseph Addabbo	(518) 455-2322
Shirley Huntley	(518) 455-3531

Tell a Friend!

Share this message with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and by email.

Whatever you can do, please do it now. Come to Albany, make phone calls, and forward this message to everyone you know who lives in New York. The outcome tomorrow will have widespread implications for the entire nation.

Seldom have I come to you with a more urgent need for immediate action. Time is short. Please join us today!

By Brian Brown | Posted in New York | Comments (6)

New Poll: 57% of New Yorkers Reject Same-Sex Marriage, Just One in Four Want the Legislature to Decide the Issue

June 21, 2011 – 5:00 pm

“Kill this divisive bill, and let the people of New York decide.” -Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM)

NEW YORK – The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) commissioned a poll in New York asking voters their view on marriage. Some of the results include:

· Only about 1 in 4 New York voters (26 percent) prefer for a legislator in Albany to decide this issue, while 59 percent say the issue of marriage should be decided by the voters in New York.
· 57 percent agree that “marriage should only be between a man and a woman” vs 32 percent who disagree and 11 percent who answered don’t know, or did not respond.
· 91 percent of registered New York voters say that have heard of the recent push for same-sex marriage in the state.

Note: Poll Sample: 302 registered voters with voting history randomly selected from voter registration file in New York. Margin of Error is 5.6% (at the 95% confidence interval). Survey dates were June 18 and 19, 2011.

“New Yorkers have heard of Andrew Cuomo’s push for gay marriage, but they do not share his priorities. For the Republicans to use their newfound control to pass a measure with such weak public support in order to help Andrew Cuomo run for president of the United States is not only wrong but a colossal blunder,” said Brian Brown. “To sell your principles to get elected is always wrong. To sell your principles to get the other guy elected is just plain dumb. Our message to the New York legislature is simple: Kill this bill and let the people of New York vote on the issue--that’s good sense and good political sense too.”

The full results of the poll can be found here and below:
NOM NY 2011 Survey on Marriage

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Poll, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (18)

ESPN Columnist: Tyree "Isn't Going to Back Down", Has Right to His Views

June 21, 2011 – 4:45 pm

Jemele Hill writes at ESPN:

If you're expecting Tyree to recant anything he said, prepare to be disappointed. When ESPN.com reached him Monday night, Tyree wasn't backing down.

"As great as a catch as that was, that doesn't define me as a person," Tyree told me.

Tyree's comments have, predictably, generated two reactions: disdain and ridicule.

I'm going to try a different reaction: acceptance.

... Tyree is being depicted as an uninformed religious zealot, but at least he's up-front. He helped deliver thousands of petitions against the same-sex marriage bill and joined the National Organization for Marriage at a recent news conference in Albany.

That doesn't sound like someone who is crazy. Rather, it sounds like someone who isn't going to back down from what he believes.

See Tyree in action at the Albany State House yesterday, expressing his views to the press:

By NOM Staff | Posted in Free Speech, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (4)

Video: Sen. Greg Ball Discusses the Marriage Debate on CNN

June 21, 2011 – 4:25 pm

This interview was conducted yesterday:

A couple highlights from the transcript:

On the bad consequences of gay marriage: "We've seen this happen in other states that have [passed gay marriage], so we're not talking some fairy land, we're talking about something very real and we don't want to see this play out in New York state."

On if he would vote for a bill with new religious protections:

"Without those religious protections I would be an absolute NO and those other senators, I can't speak for them but I can tell you that without the religious protections from my personal perspective I don't see how the Governor gets it done. I've spoken to the Governor personally on this, his staff has come back and initially said those religious protections aren't important as you think..."

"Dotting those I's and crossing the T's is exactly what we're supposed to be doing as responsible legislators and you'll remember the whole "read the bill" that came out of of every tea party across America - it's kind of important ... a bill the Governor hasn't even release yet."

"Just like there are those on the right who don't appreciate those on the left who view it as a civil rights issue there are those on the left who are pushing this bill and advising the Governor who do not really pay respect to the fact that there are those on the right who view it as an affront to their firmly-held religious beliefs and I believe this Governor is in a position where he's being pushed from the left but he has to pay attention to those in the middle with commonsense and that's all that those religious protections would do and, like I said, I think there are other Senators who feel that those religious protections are extremely important."

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

Video: Sen. Leader Skelos Talks to Reporters After Cuomo Meeting

June 21, 2011 – 4:12 pm

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos spoke with reporters this morning after meeting with Governor Cuomo and the State Assembly leader:

There's still time to call and email the New York Senators and make your voice heard! The SSM vote could happen anytime in the next 24 hours.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (5)

Breaking News: Gov. Cuomo Avoids the Press After End-of-Session Framework Omits SSM

June 21, 2011 – 2:08 pm

More rumblings that our message is resonating in the halls of the New York State House:

State leaders have the framework of an agreement on end of session issues -- a property tax cap, rent control, state university tuition -- but the deal does not appear to include an agreement on same-sex marriage.

The log jam broke after a two-hour, closed-door meeting between Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

"There's a framework by which we plan to end session," Silver, D-Manhattan, said. "We will be developing with the conference, over the next several hours, the various areas that are important to close down session and hopefully complete session as quickly as possible."

He and Skelos refused to offer details of the agreement before briefing members of their conferences; Cuomo refused to address journalists after the meeting.

... "We're working on details, but I'm very confident in working with the governor, he has shown tremendous leadership, and the speaker, showing flexibility, that we will have a session completed tomorrow," Skelos, R-Long Island, said. -- Albany Times Union

The end is in sight: keep calling and letting your voice be heard!

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)