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The National Organization for Marriage Announces Success of Starbucks Protest

August 20, 2012 at 3:45 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)

"Starbucks supported same-sex marriage, saw their support from Republicans dwindle, missed sales projections, and watched the company lose $4.4 billion overnight and over $10 billion from their 2012 high." —Brian Brown, NOM president—

National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C.—Today, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) announced that their protest of Starbucks is achieving results. "Starbucks supported same-sex marriage, saw their support from Republicans dwindle, missed sales projections, and watched the company lose $4.4 billion overnight and over $10 billion from their 2012 high," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "While executives of publicly traded companies have had a wonderful time claiming that not supporting same-sex marriage hurts their employee recruitment and retention efforts, we now have a case study in how alienating millions of customers can directly affect the bottom line of a public company and damage shareholder value."

On Wednesday, March, 21, 2012, Starbucks Chairman and CEO told shareholder Thomas Strobhar, in response to Strobhar's question of whether or not the corporate decision to endorse a controversial social matter was prudent, that Starbucks was going to measure this situation by whether it was in any way dilutive to shareholder value, and that to date it had not damaged their business and that the decision was in the best interest of the entire company. Over $10 billion dollars in shareholder value later it is no wonder that Starbucks turned down same-sex marriage advocates who initially sponsored a Starbucks Appreciation Day and responds to customer inquiries about their corporate position on same-sex marriage with a statement that Starbucks has never donated any actual money to same-sex marriage advocates in Washington State where they endorsed same-sex marriage.

"True success in this protest effort will not be achieved until Starbucks steps back from the debate over the meaning of marriage. The fact is that Starbucks has alienated millions of customers worldwide, has seen their sales fall behind even their own conservative estimates, and has watched their stock value drop as investors and shareholders have gotten cold feet. This should give pause to any publicly traded company that is looking to advocate against the traditional definition of marriage," continued Brown. "Stock prices and sales are subject to a myriad of factors, but business leaders and voters would do well to consider the experience of Starbucks, and the millions of people who voted in support of traditional marriage at Chick-Fil-A on August 1st with their pocketbooks, when they are being told by gay marriage proponents that support of same-sex marriage will be good for their bottom line and the business community in general."

###

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Jen Campbell (x145), [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).

To learn more about DumpStarbucks, visit www.dumpstarbucks.com.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Dump Starbucks, Press Releases | Comments (39)

Video: Would Passing a Marriage Amendment End the Conversation About Marriage?

August 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Kalley Yanta for Minnesota Marriage Minute answers the question "Would passage of the Marriage Protection Amendment end the ongoing conversation that our state is engaged in concerning the appropriate definition of marriage in Minnesota?"

She responds:

"Actually, the opposite is true. There's no doubt that the issue about whether we should redefine marriage is one of the most hotly debated across the nation. [...] Here in Minnesota, enacting the Marriage Protection Amendment would not end the conversation about marriage, it is actually the only way to guarantee that voters will always be a part of the conversation. Without the amendment, special interest advocates could take their cause to activist politicians and judges who would then decide the definition of marriage for us, without letting us have a say. Voters will be excluded from the decision. That's what happened across the border in Iowa. "

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

Naomi Riley Writes on the Academy Saying "Shut Up"

August 20, 2012 at 11:00 am

Naomi Shaefer Riley in the New York Post on the state of the academy when it comes to unpopular speech:

"...Mark Regnerus, a professor at the University of Texas, Austin, recently challenged this idea with an article in Social Science Research, in which he suggested that children of gay parents tend to have lower levels of economic success and more problems with mental health.

Some scholars have reasonably disagreed with Regnerus’ methodology, but interest groups and the guardians of sociology’s orthodoxy have demanded his head. As a result, UT has launched an investigation into accusations of scientific misconduct.

Though the article was peer-reviewed and published by a respected academic journal, one columnist wrote that Regnerus’ study was “designed so as to be guaranteed to make gay people look bad, through means plainly fraudulent and defamatory."

Reasonable people may disagree about Regnerus’ conclusions, Wood’s views of climate science or my opinions on black studies, but on these topics, there is no room for discussion in the Ivory Tower.

And the enforcers of this orthodoxy are shameless. A study out next month in Perspectives on Psychological Science finds: “In decisions ranging from paper reviews to hiring, many social and personality psychologists admit that they would discriminate against openly conservative colleagues. The more liberal respondents are, the more willing they are to discriminate.”

At least they’re honest."

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Culture, Education, Free Speech, Research/Study, Science | Comments (21)

Black Churches Holding Pro-Marriage Vigils in Maryland

August 20, 2012 at 10:00 am

The Christian Post:

A group of several black congregations will be holding a vigil against same-sex marriage in Maryland, a state that will be holding a referendum on the issue in November.

Organized by the National Black Church Initiative, the vigil will take place in Baltimore on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The Rev. Anthony Evans, president of NBCI, told The Christian Post that this vigil was the first of many to be held throughout the state leading up to the November election.

"We are going to hold a series of vigils all across Maryland up until the election. We are determined to gather an army of Christians who believe that biblical marriage is between one man and one woman," said Evans.

"And we are going to defeat same-sex marriage and we are going to continue to defeat that around the country."

Evans explained that NBCI had the support of over a hundred churches in Maryland as well as "the commitment of over 8,000 volunteers."

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Maryland, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (9)

Husband, Wife Team Up to Fight Gay Marriage in Maine

August 20, 2012 at 9:00 am

The Morning Sentinel:

Matt Hutson, who was campaign manager for state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin's U.S. Senate run, has been hired as campaign director by Protect Marriage Maine. His wife, Megan, will serve as grassroots coordinator, the campaign announced Wednesday.

"Matt and Megan are a great addition to our team," said Bob Emrich, chairman of Protect Marriage Maine. "They share our belief that traditional marriage clearly benefits society, and are strongly committed to protecting marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

Matt Hutson has also worked as state director for Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and was the central region director for Rick Santorum for president.

"Megan and I believe strongly in the sanctity of marriage and are thrilled to work with Protect Marriage Maine," Matt Hutson said in a prepared statement. "If the initiative on the November ballot passes, marriage will be redefined for everyone and will be the only legal definition of marriage for anyone in Maine."

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

RedState: "SPLC has Pursued a Political Agenda in Recent Years to Defame Conservative Organizations"

August 20, 2012 at 8:00 am

Daniel Horowitz for Red State:

"...[Last week's] shooting at the Family Research Council brings to mind something that has bothered me about self-described civil rights organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center.  For years, the SPLC has ingratiated themselves to the public by evincing an image of a politically neutral organization that serves as the one-stop resource for information on bigoted and violent organizations.  But instead of focusing exclusively on true “hate organizations” like white supremacists and Islamic jihadists, the SPLC has pursued a political agenda in recent years to defame conservative organizations by lumping them in with neo-Nazis and skinheads. 

... In 2010, SPLC labeled the Family Research Council as a hate group and listed them together with no-name neo-Nazi groups on their site.  They did the same for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group that simply advocates lower levels of immigration out of fiscal and national security concerns.  When did we get to a point where groups that have a different political agenda from the SPLC are branded as hate groups?"

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Politics, SPLC | Comments (21)

The Blaze and Christian Post Report on NOM's Chick-fil-A Wednesdays!

August 19, 2012 at 10:00 am

The Christan Post:

A national organization advocating for defining marriage being between one man and one woman has announced that they intend to hold a weekly "Chick-fil-A Wednesday." 

In response to the success of the Aug. 1 observance, the National Organization for Marriage began having weekly "Chick-fil-A Wednesdays" beginning Aug. 15.

Jonathan Baker, spokesman for NOM, told The Christian Post that having weekly observances of "Chick-fil-A Wednesday" is meant to "help people to realize they are not alone in their support for marriage."

The Blaze:

If you thought the massive support that Chick-fil-A received in the wake of the controversy surrounding its president, Dan Cathy, and his public comments against gay marriage was a passing ship, you’re wrong.

Just weeks ago, following public outcry and claims of “hate,“ Mike Huckabee organized ”Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,” bringing scores of individuals out of their homes and into the restaurant to support its ideals. Now, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), an organization that supports traditional marriage, is coming out with a weekly way to support the food chain — “Chick-fil-A Wednesdays.”

Don't forget to send Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy a quick note of thanks for taking a firm stand on marriage! http://www.thankchickfila.com/

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Chick-fil-A, Events | Comments (3)

Canadian Sperm Donor Father Denied Access to Son Being Raised by Lesbians

August 18, 2012 at 11:00 am

Canada, which has redefined marriage and therefore parenthood, is facing growing cases like this one:

A judge in this small northern Ontario town has ruled that allowing a biological father access to his 22-month-old son, who is being raised by his biological mother and her lesbian partner, is not in the best interests of the child because of “the risk of there being an adverse affect to the child.”

Citing arguments that introducing the child to his father would cause the boy confusion and insecurity, Justice Norman Karam of the Ontario Superior Court in Cochrane said, “Despite the child’s young age, it is impossible to know what disclosure of [the father’s] status as his parent might mean. All circumstances considered, the risk of there being an adverse affect to the child is too great to ignore.”

Justice Karam said he considered allowing access, but imposing limitations on what the child was told about his father, but decided that, “attempting to enforce such limitations would be virtually impossible.”

... Rene deBlois, the biological father of the boy, had requested interim access to his son in January, 2011 pending the outcome of the trial scheduled for October 22, 2012. That trial will look into the paternity rights muddle created when deBlois and the boy’s lesbian mother, Nicole Lavigne, entered into a home-made written agreement that deBlois, who had known Lavigne since childhood, would provide sperm so she could artificially inseminate herself, with the understanding that he agreed to relinquish his paternity rights.

According to a National Post report, part of deBlois and Lavigne’s agreement was that Lavigne would provide deBlois with a child of his own using his sperm following the birth of the first child. deBlois alleges that Lavigne reneged on her offer to carry a second child for him because it was not part of the written “Donor Agreement” that he signed.

In his application to the court for paternity rights, filed three months after his son Tyler’s birth in October, 2010, deBlois stated that he had been coerced into signing the Donor Agreement by Lavigne, who he described as a “bully” who forced him to sign “under duress.” -- LifeSiteNews

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Canada, Children, Law, Parenting, Same Sex Marriage, Science | Comments (31)

Study: Loving Dads Play Significant Role in Early Child Development

August 18, 2012 at 9:00 am

The UK Christian Institute:

Fathers who lovingly bond with their babies in the first months of their lives have a good influence on their later behaviour, a study has shown.

Researchers watched dads interacting with their infants at three months and then assessed the same babies’ behaviour at twelve months.

They found that babies whose dads were more engaged at three months had fewer problems when assessed at twelve months.

But babies with remote or distant dads were more likely to have behavioural problems when they reached the age of one.

The report referred to research showing that the “roots of enduring behavioural problems often lie in early life, and the trajectories of behavioural problems often extend back into the preschool years”.

Dr Paul Ramchandani, who led the research, said: “We found children whose fathers were more engaged had better outcomes.”

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Children, Parenting, Research/Study, Science, United Kingdom | Comments (16)

Video: Minnesotans Voting Yes on the Marriage Protection Amendment, #7

August 17, 2012 at 5:00 pm

Let's wind down this busy news week with some testimonials from more pro-marriage activists in Minnesota explaining why they are voting yes in November!

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

More Coverage of FRC Shooting and NOM's Response

August 17, 2012 at 4:30 pm

CBN News:

Local Fox 8:

"The National Organization for Marriage, which has actively campaigned against same-sex marriage efforts, also condemned what it termed an attack on the Family Research Council."

The Wall Street Journal:

"Elizabeth Ray, a spokeswoman for the National Organization for Marriage, said the group increased security at its Washington, D.C., offices after the shooting, as did similar groups at the state level."

CNN:

The Associated Press:

Though authorities did not publicly reveal a motive, advocacy groups across the ideological spectrum condemned the violence, with some casting it as a hate crime.

"Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as `hateful' must end," Brian Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, said in a statement.

Religion News Service:

The FRC’s strong stance against gay marriage and abortion have led some to question the motive for the crime. The National Organization for Marriage quickly condemned the attack and suggested the shooting may have come in response to characterizations of the FRC as “hateful.”

The Daily Caller:

“Today’s attack is the clearest sign we’ve seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as ‘hateful’ must end,” NOM president Brian Brown said in a statement. “The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Family Research Council a ‘hate group’ for its pro-marriage views, and less than a day ago the Human Rights Campaign issued a statement calling FRC a ‘hate group’ — they even specified that FRC hosts events in Washington, DC, where today’s attack took place.”

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Media, Washington DC | Comments (9)

SPLC Claimed No Difference Between FRC and KKK

August 17, 2012 at 4:00 pm

NOM's co-founder Maggie Gallagher in National Review Online:

SPLC’s research director Heidi Beirich told Talking Points Memo on November 24, 2010, that there was no difference between Family Research Council and the Ku Klux Klan:

I asked her if a Republican choosing to address the FRC [Values Voter Summit] convention next year would be making the same choice as one who addressed an Aryan Nation rally.

“Yeah,” she told me. “What we’re saying is these [anti-gay] groups perpetrate hate — just like those [racist] organizations do.”

The SPLC can see no difference between Family Research Council and a group that lynched black people in order to keep them from voting.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, SPLC | Comments (35)

Video: Tony Perkins Holds Press Conference Outside FRC

August 17, 2012 at 3:30 pm

Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, held a brief press conference yesterday outside the FRC lobby where Wednesday's shooting took place:

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in News, Washington DC | Comments (2)

"Heroes Don't Work for Hate Groups"

August 17, 2012 at 3:00 pm

WorldNetDaily:

"... [Matt] Barber noted that the security guard was described by Washington, D.C., authorities as a hero.

“Heroes don’t work for hate groups,” he said. “Shame on the SPLC, the fruits of your propaganda are coming to fruition and you have blood on your hands.”

WND contacted the SPLC and asked specifically about the group’s labeling of Christian organizations as “hate groups.” A spokeswoman said she could not comment and no one was available to comment."

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, SPLC | Comments (62)

ADL Urges DC Police to Investigate Motive Behind FRC Attack

August 17, 2012 at 2:30 pm

From the press release:

David C. Friedman, ADL's Washington, DC Regional Director, issued the following statement:

FRC shooter Floyd Corkins

The use of violence against an individual or organization because of a disagreement with their beliefs, values, or policy positions is unacceptable and indefensible.    Free speech – no matter who the speaker is, no matter how offensive or objectionable the speech, is one of the foundation principles of our nation.

We are confident that the Metropolitan Police Department will fully investigate this crime.  If the facts reveal that the perpetrator was motivated by unlawful bias, law enforcement authorities should consider prosecution under the D.C. Bias Crime Statute

Bias or hate crime statutes have been adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. Many of those laws are based on a model statue crafted by the ADL, which has long been in the forefront of national and state efforts to deter and counter act hate-motivated criminal activity.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, News, Washington DC | Comments (8)
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