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Monthly Archives: February 2013

Pro-family Groups Applaud Supreme Court of Canada Ruling in Favor of Marriage

February 2, 2013 – 9:00 am

A Supreme Court of Canada decision that upheld Quebec's laws which provide rights to married couples that do not apply to couples merely living together has been applauded by pro-family organizations as a recognition of the unique and distinctive role that true marriage plays in society.

In what has become known as the Eric and Lola case, pseudonyms designed to protect the couple’s three children, the court ruled that the Quebec law that excludes cohabiting couples from receiving spousal support in the event of relationship breakdown is constitutional and does not discriminate against couples who choose to live together without the benefit of marriage.

In a close 5-4 decision, Chief Justice Beverley McLaughlin wrote, "Those who choose to marry choose the protections, but also the responsibilities, associated with that status. Those who choose not to marry avoid these state-imposed responsibilities and protections."

The Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC) says that the decision accurately reflects the social science research which shows marriage to be substantively different from living common law.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Canada, Law, Marriage | Comments (15)

FRC Files Amicus Briefs in Prop 8, DOMA

February 1, 2013 – 4:00 pm

PR Newswire:

Family Research Council (FRC) and the Thomas More Society (TMS) of Chicago, Illinois, today announced the filing of amicus briefs opposing the lower court decisions in the two marriage cases the U.S. Supreme Court will hear in late March, 2013. Hollingsworth v. Perry comes to the Court out of the Proposition 8 litigation in California. United States v. Windsor involves a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and arose out of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

... Of the cases FRC President Tony Perkins said:

"The health of our nation's families determines the strength of our nation. Redefining marriage only undermines the societal purpose of marriage which has always been to build healthy families and provide children with both a mom and a dad.

"The Supreme Court must strike down the lower court decisions against the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8. DOMA was completely appropriate in 1996, when it passed bipartisanly through Congress and was signed by Democratic President Bill Clinton. The uniformity in federal law it creates by explicitly confirming that 'marriage' would be between one man and one woman for federal purposes ensures equal treatment under law for all Americans. Americans have overwhelmingly decided to uphold this definition of marriage, as a significant majority of states in the U.S. consider marriage to be between one man and one woman.

"Additionally, we believe the people's vote on Proposition 8 should be respected. It is the constitutional right of the people to create their own state laws where the federal Constitution has not already ruled. Activist courts like the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit should not overturn the vote of the people. We hope the Supreme Court will recognize the right of voters to uphold natural marriage as the law of their state," concluded Perkins.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Prop 8, Same Sex Marriage, Supreme Court | Comments (11)

URGENT: Action Needed to Stop Same-Sex Marriage in Hawaii!

February 1, 2013 – 2:00 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

We urgently need your help to stop same-sex marriage in Hawaii.

Twenty years ago, an out-of-control judge first tried to force same-sex marriage on Hawaii, launching our nation's ongoing debate about marriage. But thanks to a dedicated band of pro-family heroes, his ruling was not the final word!

It's a story we've seen play out time and time again in state after state...activist judges and politicians influenced by same-sex marriage lobbyist money try to force same-sex marriage on the people — only to run into a grassroots revolt from voters who know that marriage means a husband and wife joined together for the benefit of not only their own children, but all of society.

Today the need is perhaps even greater. Fresh off electoral victories in November, gay marriage activists are pressing hard to pass a same-sex marriage bill in Hawaii this year — even though Hawaii's civil unions law went into effect just a year ago.

It is critical that we step up today. Polling has shown that the people of Hawaii don't want same-sex marriage. But the pressure on politicians — from out-of-state activists and lobbyists flown in by the Human Rights Campaign all the way to President Obama himself — is growing intense.

Your legislators need to hear from hundreds or even thousands of their constituents right away!

That's why I am asking you to do two things immediately:

Contact your state senator and representative today! Use this link to send an email to your elected officials.

Or — better still — click here to look up their phone numbers and make a personal phone call to tell your senator and representative: Oppose Senate Bill 1369!

Please take action right now. It only takes a minute to send your lawmakers a message, and it is vitally important that they hear your voice right away.

Forward this email to friends and family throughout the state, or use the buttons below to share on Facebook and Twitter. It's going to take thousands of Hawaiians working together to protect marriage and freedom in the Aloha State. Help spread the word today!

I know that I can count on you to stand up for marriage today!

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Hawaii, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (14)

Indiana GOP Close to Deciding if it Will Push for Marriage Protection Vote

February 1, 2013 – 1:30 pm

More evidence that our calls and emails are more needed than ever at this critical time!

Republican leaders say they are close to deciding whether a proposed state constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage will get a hearing this year in the legislature.

Indiana’s proposed marriage amendment cleared its first hurdle in 2011, as members of the General Assembly overwhelmingly passed it. In order to go on the election ballot in 2014, the legislature needs to approve the measure again either this session or next. (Indiana Public Media)

By NOM Staff | Posted in Alerts, Indiana, Marriage | Comments Off

VICTORY: Chick-Fil-A Sales Up $500 Million as 96 New Locations Open

February 1, 2013 – 12:30 pm

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Chick-Fil-A Appreciation program! Your efforts help demonstrate to Americans of good will that pro-marriage business owners have a right to their beliefs and we have a right to support them!

Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s controversial comments on “biblical” marriage last summer and the uproar that followed didn’t dampen the Atlanta company’s annual sales.

The fast food giant, the nation’s second-largest chicken chain, ended 2012 with $4.6 billion in sales — up 14 percent from $4.1 billion a year earlier. The company also opened 96 news stores, four more than the year before.

The company does not have to publicize financial results because it is privately owned. It made revenue and store growth figures available at the request of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Supporters of Cathy’s views against gay marriage and his right to express them hailed the numbers as a victory, saying a summer boycott of the chain by backers of gay marriage failed. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Corporate Ethics, Events | Comments (8)

VICTORY: Wyoming Defeats Domestic Partnership Bill That Could Have Threatened Marriage

February 1, 2013 – 11:30 am

A shout-out once again to our marriage supporters in Wyoming (the "Equality State") -- yesterday your representatives in Cheyenne defeated a domestic partnership bill that could have threatened marriage by a vote of 35-24. Courts have used domestic partnerships and civil unions as an excuse to challenge laws protection marriage:

A bill that would have would have allowed same-sex couples in Wyoming to create domestic partnerships carrying most of the legal rights of marriage died Wednesday on a close vote in the House of Representatives.

... Opponents warned that the bill threatened to open the state to legal action seeking to force it to approve same-sex marriage.

Rep. Mark Baker, R-Rock Springs, spoke against the measure, saying: "We all know that this is about same-sex marriage and civil unions." (AP)

Rep. Lynn Hutchings made a particularly strong comment before she cast her vote:

... Rep. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, testified against the bill. She said she had received scurrilous emails, including some containing racial epithets, after testifying earlier in the week against the domestic partnership bill at a committee hearing. Hutchings, who is black, had called on gays and lesbians to "please stop carpet-bagging on our civil rights movement."

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

GOP County Committee in Illinois Unanimously Calls for Chairman Brady to Resign Over SSM

February 1, 2013 – 10:30 am

The Illinois Review:

The Williamson County Republican Central Committee has unanimously voted on a resolution calling for Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady to resign. In a press release, the Central Committee wrote:

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady recently participated in a campaign urging Republican lawmakers to back legislation to legalize “same-sex marriage” in Illinois. Williamson County Central Committee Chairman Sue Hamilton said that while Brady claims to have acted as a private citizen – it is impossible to separate his personal views from his public position as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.

As a result of Brady’s actions, the Williamson County Republican Central Committee debated and unanimously passed a motion on January 10, 2013 calling for him to resign.