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Monthly Archives: June 2012

Photo: Preserve Marriage Washington Hands in 241,000 Signatures!

June 7, 2012 – 12:15 pm

From the Preserve Marriage Washington official blog:

Olympia, WA – Preserve Marriage Washington (PMW) today will submit over 241,000 signatures in support of Referendum 74, more than two times the number necessary to qualify a referendum putting the definition of marriage on the November ballot.

“The response to our petition drive has been incredible throughout every corner of the state,” said Joseph Backholm, Chairman of Preserve Marriage Washington. “We will submit a record number of signatures, over 100,000 signatures more than were secured in the 2010 R-71 effort, and more than twice the number necessary for qualification. Support for Referendum 74 was strong from the beginning, and has grown as the signature drive has advanced. Our coalition is excited and committed to preserving marriage this November.”

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

Gay Activist Allegedly Sues Colombian Bishop for Defending Marriage

June 7, 2012 – 9:00 am

Catholic News Agency:

Bishop Juan Vicente Cordoba, secretary for the Colombian bishops' conference, has allegedly been sued by columnist and gay activist Felipe Zuleta over his support of marriage as between one man and one woman.

“For now this is all media hype, and very few media outlets have reported on this,” said Father Elver Rojas, spokesman for the bishops' conference, telling CNA that they have yet to receive any official notice of a lawsuit.

Colombian radio reported on May 29 that Zuleta said he is suing Bishop Cordoba for violating the country’s anti-discrimination laws. He argues the bishop’s statements were criminal in nature and punishable by up to twelve years in prison.

He also said local soccer coach Alvaro Gonzalez has also been sued for supposed discrimination against homosexuals.

“We want to see one of these two go to prison so that the country understands that intolerant speech is not acceptable,” he said.

The lawsuit comes one month after Bishop Cordoba called on Colombia’s Constitutional Court to respect the constitution and the concept of the traditional family which it enshrines.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Free Speech, Marriage, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage, South America | Comments (18)

NOM Commends Preserve Marriage Washington for Gathering Record Number of Signatures in Support of Traditional Marriage Referendum

June 6, 2012 – 9:57 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2012
Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)

"This shows the broad and deep support that traditional marriage enjoys, and sets the stage for a tremendous victory for marriage this November."—Brian Brown, NOM president—

National Organization for Marriage

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today commended the volunteer leadership of Preserve Marriage Washington on its incredible effort in collecting a record number of signatures to qualify Referendum 74, which gives voters the ability to preserve traditional marriage in the state. The committee turned in more than 240,000 voter signatures, more than twice the number of signatures it needed to qualify the measure to the November ballot.

"We are so pleased and proud to have supported the Preserve Marriage Washington effort to qualify R-74, and we commend them for the historic signature gathering campaign they have mounted," said Brian Brown, NOM’s president and a member of the Executive Committee of Preserve Marriage Washington. "The signature gathering effort produced more signatures than have ever been collected by any referendum committee in the history of the state. This shows the broad and deep support that traditional marriage enjoys, and sets the stage for a tremendous victory for marriage this November."

Preserve Marriage Washington is a diverse coalition of people of faith and no faith alike. In addition to NOM, the group includes the Washington Catholic Conference and the Family Policy Institute of Washington. Over 5,000 individuals and 2,000 churches circulated petitions to qualify R-74.

"We are excited to support Preserve Marriage Washington in the R-74 campaign and are confident of victory," Brown said. "Thirty-two states in America have voted on marriage and every one has stood for traditional marriage, and rejected redefining marriage. We have no doubt that Washington state will do the same."

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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Anath Hartmann, [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).

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

NOM Co-Founder Maggie Gallagher Discusses New Book Tomorrow at 6pm ET!

June 6, 2012 – 4:40 pm

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Dear Marriage Supporter,

NOM Co-Founder Maggie Gallagher has just released a new book from Oxford University Press entitled Debating Same-Sex Marriage, co-authored with Wayne State Professor John Corvino. The book offers a point/counterpoint discussion of fundamental questions like, "What is marriage," and "What are the implications of same-sex marriage for children's welfare, religious freedom, and our understanding of marriage itself?"

As Rick Santorum said recently: "Maggie Gallagher is a hero to many of us who care about life, marriage and religious liberty. She is lucid, honest, compassionate, fearless and above all relentlessly reasonable in making the case for marriage as the union of husband and wife. Read this book to learn more about marriage, and about the views of millions of Americans who understand this is one fight we cannot duck."

Click here if you'd like to buy a copy from Amazon or leave a customer review.

Tomorrow evening at 6pm, Maggie and John will be at the Institute for American Values in New York for a discussion entitled "Can We Talk Instead of Shout About Gay Marriage?" Although the event itself is already filled to capacity, their discussion will also be streamed live online at www.conversationcenter.org/debate.

I hope you'll join me in tuning in at 6pm ET tomorrow!

Click here to tune in at 6pm Thursday!

Congratulations, Maggie, on the release of your latest book, and for this important new contribution to a civil and thoughtful discussion about marriage.

By Brian Brown | Posted in Same Sex Marriage | Comments (96)

TAKE ACTION: Tell Sen. McCaskill to Support Conscience Protections for Chaplains

June 6, 2012 – 2:34 pm

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Dear Marriage Supporter,

Lately Sen. Claire McCaskill has been on national TV like Charlie Rose and Chris Matthews calling herself one of the lone Senate "moderates" who is working every day for veterans and our men and women in uniform, while fighting against special interests' control in Washington.

Since she raised it, it's time for Sen. McCaskill to explain why she refuses to protect the conscience rights of military chaplains and the men and women in uniform they have promised to serve.

The challenges for faithful military chaplains continue to mount. A year ago, the Navy issued new "sensitivity training" guidelines that required Navy chaplains to perform same-sex marriages. Last September, the Department of Defense issued two more memos, requiring all military facilities to be available for same-sex weddings and allowing chaplains to participate in same-sex ceremonies. Thanks to leadership from Congressmen Tim Huelskamp and Todd Akin, the Navy backed down and rescinded the guidelines, but the threats to the liberty of our military chaplains continue to mount.

And now, anti-marriage interest groups in Washington have convinced Sen. McCaskill not only to seek repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, but also to refuse needed conscience protections for military chaplains to preach and teach in support marriage (and our service men and women to listen!) during religious services and counseling sessions.

Only pressure from special interest groups could explain why now for Sen. McCaskill, speaking in favor of same sex relationships in the US Armed Forces is protected speech, but for military chaplains and their congregants to speak in favor of marriage is forbidden and subject to punishment as disruptive to good order and discipline. Chaplains and service men and women can—and have—faced punishment for expressing their views. Faced with this situation, Sen. McCaskill offers no sympathy or support.

Take Action Now!

We respect the work that Senator McCaskill and all members of the Senate have done to support America's warriors and veterans. But when she has to make a choice between anti-marriage special interests and our warriors and their chaplains, she has sided with the special interests.

That is not moderate, not pro-warrior and pro-veteran and certainly not free of special interest influence.

If you live in the eastern half of the state call Sen. McCaskill's office in St. Louis at 314.367.1364. If you live in the western half of the state call Sen. McCaskill at her office in Kansas City at 816.421.1639. And, to make sure she gets the message, call Sen. McCaskill's office in Washington DC as well at 202.224.6154.

Tell Sen. McCaskill you are watching her votes carefully:

No chaplain or warrior should be penalized for the respectful or prayerful expression of their moral convictions and support for marriage.

We were told explicitly that the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell would NOT lead to a gag order on Military Chaplains and their congregants, but that is exactly what has happened.

If the special interests want to say support for marriage is bad for good order and discipline, they need to prove it. They cannot.

Sen. McCaskill, we are looking to you to stand up against the special interests creating a problem where one does not exist. Tell the special interests to stop handing our Chaplains and warriors the choice between keeping quiet or facing the consequences—or come back to Missouri and explain to us why you will not.

By Brian Brown | Posted in DOMA, Missouri, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (58)

Fox News Olympia: R-74 Proponents Gather Two Times the Needed Signatures to Qualify Referendum

June 6, 2012 – 1:00 pm

Q13 FOX in Olympia, WA:

Opponents of gay marriage in Washington say they have collected almost two times the number of signatures needed to get Referendum 74 put on the ballot in November.

While only 120,577 signatures are needed to send the decision to voters, the group said they have gathered over 225,000.

If voters approve R-74, the law passed early this year would be upheld and marriage laws in Washington would not take into account the gender of the couple.

If you have not yet please like Preserve Marriage Washington on Facebook!

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Washington | Comments (14)

Local WA Radio: R-74 Official Says Washington State Will Follow 32 Other States and Protect Marriage

June 6, 2012 – 12:45 pm

Local KIRO FM Radio:

Opponents of the marriage equality law approved by the legislature will turn in more than 200,000 signatures Wednesday blocking the law from taking effect Thursday.

Opponents say they have enough signatures to qualify Referendum 74 for the November ballot.

This will be the thirty-third time voters in the US will be asked to legalize same sex marriage. It has been rejected the previous 32 times.

Joseph Backholm, with Preserve Marriage Washington, the group that drove the signature gathering campaign, thinks the Washington decision will fall in line with previous votes.

"This is not about fairness or equality, this is about what is the definition of marriage and we expect Washington state will agree with the other states that marriage is between a man and a woman."

To learn more check out www.PreserveMarriageWashington.com.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Washington | Comments (37)

Local News Source: Proponents of R-74 Force Vote

June 6, 2012 – 12:30 pm

Washington news site KATU:

Opponents of same-sex marriage are set to turn in hundreds of thousands of signatures that will force a new vote on the issue in November.

The new state law legalizing gay marriage was set to go into effect Thursday, but it appears that will not happen. Those against gay marriage plan to unload a heap of signatures at 10 a.m. in Olympia that will place R-74 on the ballot.

... R-74 needs to have 120,577 valid voter signatures to qualify for the ballot, but the Secretary of State's Office recommends at least 150,000 signatures to have a buffer for invalid signatures.

The campaign against gay marriage says it will turn in more than 225,000 signatures. With enough valid ones, the new law, set to go into effect Thursday, will have to wait for an Election Day decision.

Find out how you can get involved at www.PreserveMarriageWashington.com

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Washington | Comments (6)

AP: R-74 Proponents File Over 200,000 Signatures to Overturn SSM

June 6, 2012 – 12:15 pm

The Associated Press on an important landmark being reached (and surpassed!) by our allies in Washington State!

Opponents of gay marriage say they have enough signatures to qualify a referendum for the November ballot.

Preserve Marriage Washington plans to submit more than 200,000 signatures Wednesday, blocking the law from taking effect on Thursday. State officials will review the filings over the next week to determine whether the referendum will qualify for a public vote.

The referendum seeks to overturn the measure allowing same-sex marriage in the state. That law was passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire earlier this year.

The Washington secretary of state's office recommends that campaigns submit about 150,000 signatures in order to provide a cushion for invalid or duplicate signatures. -- AP

Preserve Marriage Washington is now looking for 100,000 volunteers for marriage!

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

ADF Will Appeal New Mexico Court’s Decision Against Photographer

June 6, 2012 – 11:00 am

The Alliance Defense Fund:

Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund will appeal a New Mexico Court of Appeals decision that upheld a ruling by the New Mexico Civil Rights Commission against an Albuquerque photography company. The commission ruled that the company, run by a young Christian husband and wife, was guilty of “sexual orientation” discrimination under state antidiscrimination laws for declining to photograph a same-sex “commitment ceremony.”

“Americans in the marketplace should not be subjected to legal attacks for simply abiding by their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence. “Should the government force a videographer who is an animal rights activist to create a video promoting hunting and taxidermy? Of course not, and neither should the government force this photographer to promote a message that violates her conscience. Because the Constitution prohibits the state from forcing unwilling artists to promote a message they disagree with, we will certainly appeal this decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Free Speech, Law, New Mexico, Religious Liberty | Comments (26)

Carson Holloway: Has Obama Changed His Position on Marriage Again?

June 6, 2012 – 10:00 am

Carson Holloway at CatholicVote:

The Obama campaign has a new ad featuring actress Sarah Jessica Parker. In the ad Parker invites viewers to enter a contest to win a ticket to a dinner for the president and the first lady, a dinner to be held at Parker’s New York home.

In this ad Parker characterizes the president as “the guy” who, among other things, “says you should be able to marry anyone you want.”

...So now the president is now not content to advocate redefining marriage as being possible between two people of the same sex. He is now in favor of redefining marriage so that it can be any union at all — which is to say, he is in favor of abolishing any publicly normative definition of marriage. If “you should be able to marry anyone you want,” then you should be able to marry someone who is already married, you should be able to marry your father, your mother, your sister, your brother, whoever. Taken as stated, the president’s position, proclaimed by his actress-spokesperson, is to personally advocate polygamous and even incestuous marriages.

No doubt the president does not really intend to say this. But why not, at least on the logic of the left-wing marriage nihilists whose rhetoric he is parroting? Conservatives say that same-sex marriage is a step towards the destruction of marriage. Their liberal opponents respond that this is childish, that letting gay people marry does not threaten any existing marriage. But that response completely misses the point, which is this: the argument by which the left defends same sex marriage is inseparable from an argument that marriage should be anything anybody wants it to be, which is the same thing as saying there should be no publicly normative definition of marriage, which is the same thing as destroying marriage as a public institution.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Same Sex Marriage | Comments (56)

Wedding Photographer May Be Required (on Pain of Legal Liability) to Photograph Same-Sex Commitment Ceremonies

June 6, 2012 – 9:00 am

Eugene Volokh's legal experts blog:

"So the New Mexico Court of Appeals held last week in the long-pending Elane Photography v. Willock (N.M. Ct. App. May 31, 2012). The court began by holding that the state law that bans sexual orientation discrimination in places of public accommodation applies to professional wedding photographers’ decisions not to photograph same-sex commitment ceremonies: Such photography businesses are “places of public accommodation” under the language of the law, and the discrimination between legally recognized opposite-sex marriages (New Mexico only recognizes such marriages) and same-sex commitment ceremonies constitutes discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The court then rejected the argument of the photographer (Elane Huguenin, the co-owner and principal photographer for Elane Photography) that penalizing her for not photographing such same-sex ceremonies was an unconstitutional “speech compulsion.” The First Amendment, Huguenin argued, has been repeatedly held to protect the right to speak as well as the right not to speak; and the right not to speak includes the right not to create artistic expression that one doesn’t want to create. And just as the First Amendment protects speech that is said for money (indeed, most books, newspapers, movies, and the like are created and distributed commercially), so it protects the right not to create certain artistic works for money, even if one is in that line of business. But the court disagreed..."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Free Speech, Law, New Mexico, Religious Liberty | Comments (11)

Washington State Rep. Says His Campaign is the Victim of Hate Crime Over His R-74 Support

June 6, 2012 – 8:00 am

State Rep. Matt Shea (R-Spokane Valley)'s statement as published by the Washington State Wire:

“As most of you already know, I am the state representative for the 4th Legislative District, an ardent supporter of Israel, and a committed Christian. However, some of you may not be aware of the support my campaign has received within the Messianic Jewish community.

“Sometime between 10:30 p.m. May 29, 2012, Tuesday night, and 6:00 a.m. May 30, 2012, Wednesday morning four campaign signs were vandalized in the north Spokane Valley area. The signs were spray painted with violent, threatening, hateful, sexually explicit, anti-Semitic, and anti-Christian words and symbols. This is clearly an attempt to threaten, harass, and intimidate me and my family.

“The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and I have also notified members of the Messianic Jewish community.

“This hate crime follows on the heels of my involvement in the R-74 campaign to stop the blatantly unconstitutional SB 6239 and my outspoken criticism of current Democrat leadership in Olympia and their continued inability to pass a truly sustainable balanced budget after wasting half the session on homosexual marriage. It appears I was targeted by members of the violent and radical progressive movement for my conservative consistent stand for limited constitutional government and my religious beliefs.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Washington | Comments (5)

Ninth Circuit Speeds Prop 8 Case Toward Supreme Court!

June 5, 2012 – 6:00 pm

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Dear Marriage Supporter,

Just hours ago, the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit denied an en banc rehearing of this past February's decision striking down California's Proposition 8.

The decision clears the way for an immediate petition to the United States Supreme Court, and we need your help.

Would you please consider making an immediate, confidential, tax-deductible gift of $25, $50, $100 or even $500 to help bring this case to the Supreme Court?

The majority decision authored by Stephen Reinhardt last February (the most overturned judge on the most overturned court in America) literally dismissed the history of legal precedent on marriage—only including it in a footnote in his decision!

And now a majority of judges on the Ninth Circuit have refused even to reconsider his ruling.

Judge O'Scannlain's dissent to today's ruling bluntly criticized the court's refusal. Noting President Obama's recent call for the "conversation [to] continue in a respectful way," he put it perfectly: "Today our court has silenced any such respectful conversation."

O'Scannlain continued:

Based on a two-judge majority's gross misapplication of Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996), we have now declared that animus must have been the only conceivable motivation for a sovereign State to have remained committed to a definition of marriage that has existed for millennia, Perry v. Brown, 671 F.3d 1052, 1082 (9th Cir. 2012). Even worse, we have overruled the will of seven million California Proposition 8 voters based on a reading of Romer that would be unrecognizable to the Justices who joined it, to those who dissented from it, and to the judges from sister circuits who have since interpreted it. We should not have so roundly trumped California's democratic process without at least discussing this unparalleled decision as an en banc court.

Disagreeing with same-sex marriage is animus and bigotry. The votes of 7 million Californians are worthless. Open democracy is dying.

My friends, this is what Judge Walker's and Judge Reinhardt's decisions mean.
Help us stop this once and for all at the Supreme Court!

Please make a secure, tax-deductible donation right away to NOM's Legal Defense Fund to help us bring this case to the United States Supreme Court!

We have already donated over $400,000 to help defend Prop 8...but so much more is needed to ensure we are able to mount the best defense possible in the coming months!
Remember, the Proposition 8 case is about more than just California.

If we allow this ruling to stand, then every single legal protection for marriage in every single state is in danger...

...and the day will soon come when same-sex marriage is the law of the land all across America.

Please help us right this wrong and let the voices and votes of over 7 million Californians be heard, once and for all!

God bless you for all that you do. Together, with your help, we will overcome.

To learn more about Prop8, visit www.prop8case.com.

By Brian Brown | Posted in California, Prop 8, Supreme Court | Comments (37)

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Overrules the Will of the People

June 5, 2012 – 2:00 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2012

Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)

"This is a gross miscarriage of justice that we trust the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court will rectify." —Brian Brown, NOM President—

National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C.—Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) released the following statement in response to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision denying an en banc hearing regarding Proposition 8:

"Today the full 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to re-hear the decision striking down Prop 8. Millions of Californians who gave their time and treasure to protect marriage deserve better," stated Brown. "We are calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to preserve our democratic rights and overturn this action of judicial arrogance. As Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain, dissenting from the 9th Circuit's refusal to hear the case, stated:

Today our court has silenced any such respectful conversation. Based on a two-judge majority's gross misapplication of Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996), we have now declared that animus must have been the only conceivable motivation for a sovereign State to have remained committed to a definition of marriage that has existed for millennia, Perry v. Brown, 671 F.3d 1052, 1082 (9th Cir. 2012). Even worse, we have overruled the will of seven million California Proposition 8 voters based on a reading of Romer that would be unrecognizable to the Justices who joined it, to those who dissented from it, and to the judges from sister circuits who have since interpreted it.

"This is a gross miscarriage of justice that we trust the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court will rectify," Brown added.

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