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Monthly Archives: September 2011

Maggie Foe, Co-Author, to Speak on "Definition of Marriage" in Oklahoma

September 9, 2011 – 9:30 am

John Frank Corvino is a philosophy professor, openly gay, who seeks to confront the definitional arguments opposing SSM.

He's worth hearing, even though we (and Maggie!) deeply disagree. If you live near Oklahoma, take note.

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

Weekly Standard Video: "Weprin Shakes What His Mama Gave Him"

September 9, 2011 – 9:00 am

Friday off-beat ... we'll have more serious updates on the NY-9 special election soon:

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

National Organization for Marriage Launches $75,000 Independent Expenditure Campaign in Race to Replace Anthony Weiner

September 8, 2011 – 6:41 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 8, 2011
Mary Beth Hutchins or Elizabeth Ray at 703-683-5004

NOM Launches Indpendent Expenditure Campaign

Weprin Vote for Same-Sex Marriage Could Cost Him Election to Safe Democratic US House Seat

NEW YORK – The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has launched a $75,000 independent expenditure campaign—the largest independent expenditure to-date—in the race to replace Anthony Weiner in New York's Congressional District 9. NOM aims to defeat Democrat David Weprin because Weprin voted to impose same-sex marriage in New York. NOM paid for separate mailers to Jewish voters, Latino voters and other likely voters. The mailers began hitting mailboxes today.

“This race is critical for the future of marriage,” said Brian Brown, president of NOM. “Why? Because not only did David Weprin, the Democrat running to replace Weiner, vote for same-sex marriage, he tried to use his Jewish faith as a justification for voting to redefine marriage. This has many in this strongly Democratic, but socially conservative district, up in arms and we intend to make sure people know about Weprin’s betrayal. In fact, we have more activities up our sleeves.”

Bob Turner, the Republican in the race has made it clear that he supports marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Proponents of same-sex marriage continue to tell legislators that no one has lost their seat over support for same-sex marriage.

“We know that it is a lie,” Brown said, “because we've defeated hundreds of candidates in states across America over their support for same sex marriage.” Brown said NOM was a leading player in the defeat of Republican Dede Scozzafava in the 2009 special election in New York’s 23rd Congressional district. Scozzafava was forced to withdraw from the race. NOM also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat US Senate candidates Bill Binnie (New Hampshire) and Tom Campbell (California), as well as unseat over 100 pro-same-sex marriage legislators in New Hampshire, Iowa, Maine, and Minnesota.

“We don’t care whether a Republican or a Democrat is elected to office,” Brown said. “We only care that a person who is committed to preserving marriage is elected. And make no mistake about it - there's only one reason David Weprin is in trouble in this race for a very safe Democratic seat: his support for same-sex marriage. We are committed to making sure that he never reaches the halls of Congress to do even more damage than he did in Albany.”

Brown said that NOM has been working hand-in-hand with the Orthodox Jewish and Latino communities to hold Weprin accountable for this his vote to redefine marriage. The group’s mailers will reach nearly 100,000 homes, and will be followed up by tens of thousands of phone calls.

“Our independent effort could make all the difference in this race,” Brown said. “But win or lose, there is no question that we are serving notice on every politician in New York who voted to redefine marriage: We’re going to hold you accountable. No amount of money from Wall Street billionaires and no amount of political cover from Michael Bloomberg and Andrew Cuomo will spare you the price of answering for voting to redefine the fundamental institution of society. We’re coming for you.”

The special election in the 9th congressional district is expected to have low voter turnout. The last poll by Magellan Strategies showed Bob Turner leading Weprin by four points.

“Here’s a question for the Human Rights Campaign and their allies in the mainstream media: if same-sex marriage is as ‘popular’ as is claimed, why isn’t David Weprin proudly touting his vote for this legislation?” Brown asked. “The reason is because when it gets down to it – when media bias and political spin no longer matter and it comes down to actually winning elections -- David Weprin knows darn well that supporting same-sex marriage is a terribly unpopular position for any politician to take. It may very well spell the end of Weprin’s career, and NOM is doing what we can to make sure that is the case.”

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of NOM, please contact Mary Beth Hutchins, [email protected], x.105 or Elizabeth Ray, [email protected], at 703-683-5004 ext. 130.

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By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, New York, Press Releases | Comments (5)

Urgent Action Needed: Vote on NC Marriage Amendment Expected Next Week!

September 8, 2011 – 2:39 pm

URGENT ACTION ALERT

Dear Marriage Supporter,

After years of tireless work by marriage advocates across the state, the North Carolina General Assembly is poised to vote next week on a constitutional amendment protecting marriage as the union of a husband and wife.

Already, the rhetoric is heating up in advance of the vote. Just yesterday, Democrat House Minority Leader Joe Hackney denounced the amendment, calling it "a form of hate speech." If approved, the measure would go to voters in November 2012.

Thirty states, including neighboring Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, have already adopted similar measures.

Help make the North Carolina Marriage Amendment a reality by taking action today! The phone calls and emails legislators receive over the next 7 days may well determine the outcome of next week's vote.

FRC Action has just launched a statewide radio ad campaign to help spread the word in key districts, urging voters to contact their elected officials. You can make sure your own friends and family are active in this important moment. Together, we will make sure North Carolina legislators get the message: it's time to let the people vote to protect marriage.

Click here to send an email to your state senator and state representative today! In 5 minutes or less, you can customize a letter and let your elected officials you expect them to support marriage.
Tell your friends and family! With your help, we can flood the State Capitol with hundreds, or even thousands of phone calls and emails in support of the marriage amendment. Use the buttons below to share this message with friends and family by email, Facebook, or Twitter!

We have just a few days to protect marriage in North Carolina. Please take a few moments to let your legislators hear from you today!

Faithfully,

Brian Brown

Brian S Brown

Brian S. Brown
President
National Organization for Marriage

By Brian Brown | Posted in North Carolina, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (25)

NYTimes: NOM Invests $75K to Defeat Pro-SSM Weprin

September 8, 2011 – 2:35 pm

UPDATE - read our official press release here.

Thomas Kaplan at the New York Times City Room blog got the scoop:

After the New York State Legislature voted in June to allow gay couples to wed, opposition groups vowed that they would make trouble for lawmakers who supported the marriage bill the next time they had to face the voters.

On Wednesday, the National Organization for Marriage said it would spend $75,000 to help defeat Assemblyman David I. Weprin, the Democratic candidate in the special election to replace former Representative Anthony D. Weiner.

... Brian S. Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, said in a telephone interview that the group planned to spend more money, about $30,000, on automated phone calls, additional mailings and get-out-the-vote efforts before the election, scheduled for Tuesday.

“David Weprin made a terrible mistake when he voted for same-sex marriage,” Mr. Brown said, “and I think his community is going to hold him accountable.”

... according to campaign finance filings, and the group’s [NOM's] $45,000 outlay is the largest so-called independent expenditure in the race to date.

In recent weeks, Mr. Weprin has faced unease among some Orthodox Jews in the district who are uncomfortable with his vote on same-sex marriage. On Wednesday, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a leader in the Orthodox community and a Democrat, endorsed Mr. Turner; last month, Mr. Hikind cited Mr. Weprin’s support of same-sex marriage when he ruled out supporting him in the special election.

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

NC Debate: Should the People Be Allowed to Vote?

September 8, 2011 – 1:33 pm

An ABC news video on the North Carolina debate. The black church is taking a leading role, to Democrats dismay:

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, North Carolina | Comments (14)

Weprin Struggling in NY-9 a "Humiliation for the Democrat Party"

September 8, 2011 – 1:00 pm

That's what happens when you cross the people who you need to vote for you:

Democratic congressional candidate David Weprin is ploughing at least $260,000 into TV ads during the final stretch of the campaign to fight off a strong challenge from GOP rival Bob Turner in Tuesday’s special election for disgraced ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner seat, sources said.

“The idea that this race is so close is a humiliation for the Democratic Party,’’ a New York Democratic official griped. --NY Post

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

FRC Radio Ad Campaign Urges North Carolina Legislature to Support Marriage

September 8, 2011 – 12:37 pm

FRC's Cloakroom blog:

Family Research Council Action (FRCAction), the legislative advocacy arm of the Family Research Council, launched a radio ad campaign today that will run on 20 stations across North Carolina.

The ads, which will run from today through Monday, ask voters to call their state legislators and urge them to vote for adding a marriage amendment to the ballot next year. The ad also encourages listeners to attend a rally at 11 a.m. Eastern on Monday, September 12 outside of the statehouse.

Of the ad campaign, FRC Action President Tony Perkins said:

“Marriage is the fundamental building block of our society. Children grow up with the greatest emotional stability in households with a loving and committed mother and father. Married couples rely less on government programs, and contribute to society rather than depending on the welfare state.

“North Carolina invests in itself when it allows its citizens to vote on protecting and defending marriage. We urge the legislature to take this important step for their state, and join the majority of states nationwide in approving a ballot vote on marriage.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, North Carolina | Comments (1)

Democrat Del. Burns Rallies Black Churches Against SSM in Maryland

September 8, 2011 – 12:15 pm

The Carroll County Times:

To a crowd of about 50 church and community supporters, Del. Emmett C. Burns (D-10th) announced last week his formal opposition to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s decision to sponsor same-sex marriage legislation in 2012.

... Burns wanted to make it clear that “Maryland is not New York,” adding that O’Malley has been “gullible.”

In order to ensure that same-sex marriage does not regain its initial steam and become legal in Maryland, Burns advised his supporters and other community members to contact their local senators and delegates as well as to get minority churches involved.

“Ask members of churches to support their pastors in this opposition,” he said.

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

Two MN News Outlets Confuse Amendment Supporters with Opponents

September 8, 2011 – 11:45 am

Media bias ...or incompetence?

Tom Hauser published this article a couple weeks ago with the headline:

"Gay Marriage Supporters Influence Fairgoers Outside State Fairgrounds".

Problem is, the story is actually about the "Minnesota for Marriage" group, which supports one-man, one-woman marriage!

Then today, Tim Nelson published this article on Minnesota Public Radio with the headline:

"Same-sex marriage supporters find exhibit space on fairgrounds."

But once again, the story is actually about the "Minnesota for Marriage" coalition, which supports the Minnesota amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

Maybe Minnesota is suffering from a crisis of copy editors?

By NOM Staff | Posted in Humor, Minnesota, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Democrat Dov Hikind Endorses Bob Turner in NY-9

September 8, 2011 – 11:30 am

The earth moves in NY 9. Wow:

Running in a Brooklyn/Queens district that is heavily Democratic and heavily Jewish, Republican congressional candidate Bob Turner got a two-for on Wednesday — the cross-party lines endorsement of Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind.

“Bob Turner, getting to know him over the months, is just what we call a real ‘mensch,’” Hikind said, referring to a Yiddish term that loosely translated means “a person of integrity and honor.” -- CBS New York

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

California Professor Files Suit to Correct His Record

September 8, 2011 – 11:15 am

From the Pacific Justice Institute:

Professor Brad Lopez filed suit in federal court in Fresno seeking to correct his employment record at Fresno City College. The College took action against the college instructor after a student and her friends made complaints about his class. The ACLU spearheaded a campaign so the College would censure Dr. Lopez for comments they characterized as anti-homosexual and promoting a Christian belief system.

After a one-sided investigation by the College, not considering either Professor Lopez’s right to academic freedom as well as his own First Amendment privileges, the College decided to place a negative recommendation in Dr. Lopez’s work history file. Pacific Justice Institute’s Associate Attorney Charles Magill, of Magill & Guzman Magill Attorneys, will represent Professor Lopez in the civil rights action aimed at clearing his unblemished work history.

By NOM Staff | Posted in California, Religious Liberty | Comments (1)

Australia Op-Ed: Polls No Indicator for SSM Attitudes

September 8, 2011 – 11:00 am

Jim Wallace is the managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby:

Despite the grandstanding, the Greens' attempt to demonstrate that there is majority support for gay marriage in the suburbs and regional Australia has failed, in fact backfired.

... Firstly in 18 of the 30 electorates on which MPs reported back as required by Adam Bandt, the feeling in the electorate was reported as overwhelmingly for retaining the definition of marriage; well over 90 per cent in a good number of them, with figures like 595 to 14 (Hinkler) and 1,015 to 65 (Deakin). Only six of the 30 reported their electorates in favour of gay marriage, and only three of those produced statistical proof from their consultation and not surprisingly they were from the inner-city seats of Wentworth, Moreton and Melbourne.

Secondly, the great majority of those who support marriage are not going to bother publicly proclaiming it when they are continually subjected to vicious language and abuse whenever they raise their heads. The charges of homophobe and bigot may have neutralised public debate until now, but they will not affect people in the privacy of the polling booth.

... 15 per cent of [Australians] hold marriage so deeply for cultural or faith reasons that it is for them a vote-changer. They simply will not support a party which fails to protect the definition of marriage. They also don't want to see it weakly make marriage a conscience issue, as Labor is now considering, but to show that it stands for this foundational relationship as a matter of principle. --ABC.net.au

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

Jim Garlow Honors Sen. Diaz for Standing "Like a Rock" for Marriage

September 8, 2011 – 10:45 am

Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego writes:

Who is the most courageous pastor in America? There are likely many candidates for this title, but I would nominate Pastor Ruben Diaz of New York City. After you hear what he stands for and what he has endured, you might want to nominate him, too.

... Pastor Diaz has fought hard for traditional, natural marriage, the only Democrat to stand for one man-one woman marriage in bitterly fought legislative battles year after year.

But Pastor Diaz stood – like a rock. And he has paid dearly.

Bottom line: he may well be the most courageous pastor in America.

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

"Outraged Parents Oust Gay Sex books from New Jersey Grade School Reading List"

September 8, 2011 – 10:30 am

An update from a story we covered earlier:

Two books, one containing an explicit depiction of statutory lesbian rape, and the other a homosexual orgy, have been ousted from a local high school by outraged New Jersey parents.

... The books, school officials say, were included on the list by a group of teachers, librarians, and administrators, and approved by the board of education. Chuck Earling, superintendent of Monroe Township Schools in Williamstown, N.J., told Fox News that the committee “didn’t feel it was inappropriate based on the language that’s used, common language used on the street.”

However, after outrage from local parents, the district yanked the books, and Earling apologized. “We were not trying to create controversy. We were just trying to get students to read,” he said. --LifeNews

The New Jersey Family Policy Council added this warning to parents:

The tragedy of this story is not just that the books were assigned, but that they were pulled from the list so late. We have only a few more days before the start of school. Parents, pay attention to your children’s curricula, and do so early. It is you who knows best for your child, not the district, and it is you who must watch your child grow. Your children will come on their own to a point where they can deal with postmodern literature. Its pro-homosexual message does not need to be shoveled down their throats before they can understand its assumptions and its meaning. Be their advocate until then.