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Monthly Archives: February 2013

Sun Poll: David Cameron "Badly Damaged" by Gay Marriage

February 16, 2013 – 9:00 am

David Cameron has been badly damaged by the gay marriage row, a Sun poll reveals today.

The PM’s bid to project a trendy new image has alienated millions of voters, including Tories.
Both supporters AND opponents of same-sex nuptials say they see his party in a worse light than before.

And two-thirds believe the Conservatives are now a divided party, according to the exclusive YouGov poll.

Mr Cameron hoped extending gay rights would help shed the Tories’ “nasty party” image.

But the gamble has backfired with 134 of his MPs — over half — refusing to back him.

A senior party figure said last night: “He managed to win the vote but must now be wondering was it all worth it.”

...The top priority should be the economy, 56 per cent said, followed by immigration, the NHS and unemployment.

Only five per cent think gay rights is most important.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Poll, Same Sex Marriage, United Kingdom | Comments (7)

Girgis: Check Your Blind Spot -- What Is Marriage?

February 15, 2013 – 1:30 pm

Today on Public Discourse, Sherif Girgis (co-author of What is Marriage? One Man, One Woman: A Defense) argues that we need to reason about what marriage is--to understand its essential features and why the state has an interest in promoting them--before we can craft sound marriage law:

Everyone has blind spots. It is philosophy’s ambition to cure these by canceling them out, through dialogue and scrutiny of assumptions. But even academic philosophy has its dogmas. One current example is support for same-sex marriage: To question it is to be anathematized by those occupationally averse to anathemas.

So I was both pleased that Alex Worsnip reviewed my co-authored book What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense, and unsurprised that he misunderstood it. My former classmate in Oxford’s philosophy master’s (B.Phil.) program, Worsnip is sharp and serious about arguments, and consistently blind to arguments of certain sorts.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Debating Marriage, Law, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (13)

Gallup: Highest Percentage of LGBTs Live in Washington D.C.

February 15, 2013 – 12:30 pm

Is the LGBT movement "politically powerless"? The nation's capital -- home to politically powerful people -- has by far the highest percentage of people who identify as gay or lesbian, according to Gallup:

The percentage of U.S. adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) ranges from 1.7% in North Dakota to 5.1% in Hawaii and 10% in the District of Columbia, according to Gallup surveys conducted from June-December 2012. Residents in the District of Columbia were most likely to identify as LGBT (10%). Among states, the highest percentage was in Hawaii (5.1%) and the lowest in North Dakota (1.7%), but all states are within two percentage points of the nationwide average of 3.5%.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Culture, Statistics, Washington DC | Comments (13)

Rod Dreher Condemns Treating Orson Scott Card Like a "Thought-Criminal"

February 15, 2013 – 10:00 am

Rod Dreher writes at The American Conservative:

Orson Scott Card is one of the best-selling science fiction writers alive. He is also a devout Mormon who opposes same-sex marriage. A group of pro-gay comics fans is up in arms over the fact that DC has hired Card to write a new Superman series. The Guardian is making it sound like a huge deal:

... “Superman stands for truth, justice and the American way. Orson Scott Card does not stand for any idea of truth, justice or the American way that I can subscribe to,” said Jono Jarrett of Geeks Out, a gay fan group. “It’s a deeply disappointing and frankly weird choice.”

A film of Ender’s Game, co-produced by Card and starring Harrison Ford, is set to be released in November. Jarrett speculated DC was hoping pre-publicity for the movie would drive sales for the comic.

Fortunately, a gay comic writer quoted in the piece understands that blacklisting Card is offensive:

Dale Lazarov, a gay comic writer, said it was counterproductive to attack Card’s appointment: “I’ve known Orson Scott Card is a raging homophobe since the early 90s. I refuse to buy or read his work. But asking that he be denied work because he is a raging homophobe is taking it too far. Asking for workplace discrimination for any reason is counterproductive for those who want to end discrimination on their own behalf.”

True enough. What does Card’s view on homosexuality have to do with Superman? This is about trying to punish Card for thoughtcrime.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Culture, Free Speech, Law, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (29)

CO Senate Approves Same-Sex Civil Unions -- House to Vote Next

February 15, 2013 – 8:00 am

Please take action before the weekend and contact your representatives in Colorado demanding the protect marriage and religious freedom:

Civil unions for same-sex Colorado couples have cleared the state Senate for a third and possibly final time.

The Senate approved civil unions 21-14 without debate. All Democrats voted for the legal recognition for gay partners. Republican Sen. Ellen Roberts of Durango joined them. The other 14 Republicans voted no. (AP)

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civil Unions, Colorado, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (27)

Ken Connelly on The Goodness of Marriage

February 14, 2013 – 1:00 pm

Ken Connolly takes part in a TownHall series of columns related to National Marriage Week (that we recently promoted). You can find the second column in this series here.

G.K. Chesterton observed in The Superstition of Divorce that “reformers of marriage . . . do not know what it is, or what it is meant to be, or what its supporters suppose it to be . . . .” Marriage opponents, who today seek not to reform but rather redefine marriage, appear to suffer from the problem diagnosed by Chesterton almost a century ago.

In their heedless rush to establish the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, they ignore what marriage is and what marriage does.

Marriage between a man and a woman is a universal good that diverse cultures and faiths have honored and relied upon throughout history. An organic phenomenon of human society without parallel, it has emerged spontaneously and instinctively, as if in answer to a deep and abiding human need for order and stability.

Rooted in biological and social reality, marriage has always been marked, for good reason, by its male-female nature and its undeniable link to procreation and responsible childrearing. Not every couple has a child, but every child has a mother and a father.

A healthy marriage culture helps the gold standard prevail, wherever possible, that children are raised by the parents who brought them into this world. The strong families which result from this arrangement produce a vibrant and self-sustaining society which serves as our best guarantee of limited government...

By NOM Staff | Posted in Culture, Marriage | Comments (35)

Attorney: Defense of Marriage Act Protects Kids

February 14, 2013 – 11:00 am

John Mauck, a Chicago attorney, submitted a pro-DOMA brief on behalf of the Manhattan Declaration. He writes in the Washington Times:

The Manhattan Declaration describes marriage as “the first institution of society… on which all other human institutions have their foundation.” Understanding what marriage is – and why it matters – could not be more important.
Pending before the Supreme Court is USA v. Windsor, in which Edith Windsor, a lesbian claiming unfair treatment under federal estate tax law, seeks a declaration that the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. Because resolution of that and a companion case will decide how the Equal Protection Clause applies to marriage laws, the Court decision will not only affect federal policy, but will almost certainly impact outcomes in various states in a number of cases seeking to invalidate traditional marriage.

... If marriage is redefined, eventually millions of our children who are subject to adoption, foster care or custody disputes will be placed in living situations not based on the child’s best interest, but based on the new family structures the Supreme Court or individual states have decreed to be normative. For example, after Illinois enacted the Domestic Partnership Act, Attorney General Lisa Madigan warned Illinois child placement agencies of enforcement action if they “discriminate” based on marital status (including single, homosexual and unmarried). Ms. Madigan’s threat implicitly subordinates the “best interest of the child” standard to political dogma.

By NOM Staff | Posted in DOMA, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (17)

UPI: Senators Ask Supreme Court to Uphold DOMA

February 14, 2013 – 10:00 am

UPI:

Ten U.S. senators have filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a law that defines marriage as a union between a man and woman.

The 10, all Republicans, want the high court to overturn the rulings of multiple lower courts that cleared the way for same-sex marriage, McClatchy Newspapers reported.

In their friend-of-the-court brief, the senators said it is inconsistent for the Justice Department to have assured Congress the Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, was constitutional in the mid-1990s and now raise questions about it.

"The time to speak was in 1996, when Congress gave careful consideration to the need for DOMA," the senators said.

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

WPRO: NOM Poll Says RI Wants SSM on Ballot

February 14, 2013 – 9:00 am

WPRO contributes to the growing awareness that Rhode Island voters want to have their say on marriage:

The National Organization for Marriage, Rhode Island Chapter, or NOMRI, released the results of a telephone poll Tuesday, showing that most Rhode Islanders favor the idea of putting same-sex marriage on the ballot.

According to the survey of 401 registered voters, 74 percent said they believed the “definition of marriage should be decided by the voters of Rhode Island,” versus letting the General Assembly make the call.

Those polled also expressed their opinion that the economy should be the legislature’s priority, with 55 percent saying the same-sex marriage issue should be secondary to the economy.

Visit the NOM-RI website for all the latest.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Let The People Vote, Marriage, Poll, Rhode Island, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (4)

Iowa GOP Chairman: We're the Pro-Marriage Party

February 13, 2013 – 4:00 pm

Pat Brady, chair of the Illinois GOP, should learn a lesson from A.J. Spiker, the chair of the Iowa GOP:

The head of the Iowa Republican Party said he will continue to uphold the GOP's opposition to same-sex marriage.

During a taping of the public television program “Iowa Press” on Thursday, A.J. Spiker said the Iowa GOP believes marriage should be allowed only between one man and one woman.

Some Iowa Republicans have called for the party to embrace same-sex marriage.

Spiker said: “There is one gay marriage party in the state of Iowa, and that's the Iowa Democratic Party.” (Omaha.com)

Please continue to let the Illinois GOP know that Chairman Brady needs to go.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Illinois, Iowa, Marriage, Politics, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)

USAToday: Gay Rights Becoming Controversy in Immigration Reform

February 13, 2013 – 3:30 pm

USAToday:

Gay rights has emerged as an unexpected point of controversy in the congressional debate over immigration reform, prompting key Republicans to warn that it could derail efforts to reach a bipartisan compromise.

President Obama and some congressional Democrats are pushing for any immigration reform plan to include a provision to allow gay Americans to sponsor their immigrant partners for legal residency in the United States. That is a right currently enjoyed only by married heterosexual couples.

But Republican leaders on immigration reform say it's already going to be an uphill battle to convince their GOP colleagues to support a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. Including a provision for gay partners will make reform legislation an even tougher sell, key senators said.

By NOM Staff | Posted in DOMA, Marriage, Politics, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)

CNA: Momentum Builds Around National March for Marriage

February 13, 2013 – 12:30 pm

NOM's Communications Director Thomas Peters spoke with the Catholic News Agency about the March 26 March for Marriage NOM is organizing:

Plans for a national March for Marriage in downtown Washington, D.C., are generating excitement and enthusiastic support, according to organizers of the event.

The upcoming March for Marriage “is an opportunity to witness to the culture about our pro-marriage beliefs,” said Thomas Peters, cultural director for the National Organization for Marriage.

Peters told CNA that coming together visibly to support the institution of marriage is critically important.

The National Organization for Marriage announced in late January that it would be hosting a March for Marriage in the nation’s capital on March 26.

The date coincides with the first day of oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Hollingsworth v. Perry. The lawsuit challenges California’s Proposition 8, a state measure recognizing marriage existing solely between a man and a woman.

... Neither the schedule nor the official route of the upcoming March for Marriage has been made public, but information will be added to the march website, marriagemarch.org, as it becomes available.

Despite the limited amount of information released thus far, Peters said that reactions have “been very positive” and enthusiastic.

“We actually just have a lot of people calling the office saying, ‘What can I do to help?’” he explained.

Peters added that the march will aim to create a “very broad, diverse coalition” in defense of marriage. (CNA)

Please like the march's official Facebook page if you have not already!

By NOM Staff | Posted in March for Marriage | Comments (3)

GoLocalProv on Poll Showing Rhode Island Wants to Vote on Marriage

February 13, 2013 – 11:30 am

GoLocalProv:

"...Christopher Plante, Regional Coordinator for NOM, said the results are clear and show the measure should be decided at the polls.

“It has been clear for years that the vast majority of people in Rhode Island want and deserve the right to vote on the definition of marriage, just as those in 35 other states,” he said. “This year the State Senate has before it resolution 0096 to put the question to the people. That 78% of respondents agree Rhode Islanders deserve the same opportunity will hopefully move the senate to reject redefining marriage and instead put the decision to the people.”

...Plante says his group isn’t adovacating putting civil rights on the ballot. It’s asking, instead, for a vote on what the definition of marriage is.

“The question is what is marriage?,” he said. “The definition of marriage transcends states, countries, societies and history. Further, the high ground claimed by our opponents that marriage should not be on the ballot is moot. It was our opponents who put marriage on the ballot in Maine and are pushing to marriage on the ballot in at least Ohio and Oregon.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Poll, Rhode Island, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (7)

Urgent and Timely for National Marriage Week USA (Feb. 7-14)

February 12, 2013 – 2:35 pm

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

We want you to know about a positive campaign to help marriages. This week leading up to Valentine's Day is National Marriage Week USA (Feb. 7-14), which focuses solely on reducing divorce, promoting marriage over cohabitation, and promoting marriage prior to childbearing — for better outcomes of raising children, and to reduce poverty.

In just its fourth year, there are 1,000 marriage classes, conferences and events being mobilized across the country, with huge potential for growth each year. You may find an event near you or post (for free) any marriage education activity that you are hosting at any time of year at http://www.nationalmarriageweekusa.org/find-events-in-your-area.

Local stories include creative ideas, such as a group in Kankakee County, Illinois, which is setting up a booth in a shopping mall from February 7 to14, offering free marriage counseling services. A team in the Chicago area is mobilizing hundreds of Date Night events. A Louisiana group is seeking its state's top 10 longest married couples to be publicized as was last year's honoree couple, who were married for 81 years! A Sweetheart Dinner and Dance in Ohio will offer a renewal of vows ceremony. Marriage tips and more stories are also at www.NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org.

It has been long proven that children fare best at every level if they can grow up with both their father and mother. Since more than 40 percent of U.S. babies today are born out of wedlock (which is the greatest predictor of poverty for women and children), and we have an alarming drop in marriage rates — nearly 80% of all adults were married in 1970, only 52% today — the need is greater than ever for a positive effort to promote a vibrant marriage culture in America.

The Brookings Institution says that if the U.S. had the marriage rate today that it had in 1970, there would be a 25 percent drop in poverty. The Heritage Foundation says that marriage drops the probability of a child living in poverty by 82 percent.

National Marriage Week USA encourages citizens, organizations, and houses of worship to launch marriage education classes and events, to list them on the National Calendar at www.NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org, and encourages individuals to find an event near them to help their own marriage, or help others.

There is a Tool Kit with easy-to-use ideas for curricula, videos, links to the latest research, talking points, and media tools to help leaders or churches build a local marriage week campaign at www.NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org.

Please consider joining this helpful and hopeful national effort for a positive campaign to help marriages, reduce poverty, and to reach out and help others! To learn more during this year's event week, and to be kept informed leading into next year's efforts, please LIKE this project on Facebook or Register at www.NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org.

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Marriage | Comments (1)

Victory for Marriage Supporters in Hawaii!

February 12, 2013 – 12:30 pm

Thank you, all of you, for taking action! We've scored another victory for marriage:

"The [Hawaii] state House Judiciary Committee has decided not to schedule a hearing for a bill that would legalize gay marriage, which means the issue is likely tabled for this legislative session.

State Rep. Karl Rhoads, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said that after polling his colleagues he determined there was not the political will for a gay-marriage bill this session." (Star Advertiser)