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Audio: Son of Billy Graham Endorses Marriage Protection Amendment

May 1, 2012 at 2:00 pm

Dr. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, released a recorded statement in support of the Marriage Protection Amendment. The voters of North Carolina have waited for over a decade to preserve marriage in North Carolina with a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Dr. Graham's endorsement of the Marriage Protection Amendment illustrates that support for the Amendment remains strong among faith leaders.

Urgent Marriage Alert—State House Hearing Tomorrow

May 1, 2012 at 1:46 pm

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Dear Rhode Island Marriage Champion,

Marriage and family needs you to take a stand at the RI State House tomorrow afternoon. Please make every effort to attend the House Judiciary hearing scheduled for approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday May 2nd in State House Room 313 and tell our legislators, "Don't Mess with Marriage!"

Friends, I was reminded that thankfully it has been a while since we have been called into action in Rhode Island. However, the time has come again for those of us who believe in one man/one woman marriage, and the critical importance of our religious liberties, to stand in the gap.

The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday May 2nd to consider homosexual-marriage, same-sex divorce, and the limiting of religious liberties. The hearing will be held on Wednesday May 2nd at approximately 4:30 PM in State House Room 313. Please make the time to come out and stand for marriage and our religious liberties in Rhode Island. The first bill attempts to redefine marriage for all Rhode Islanders by legalizing homosexual marriage. Further, the effort to allow same-sex couples who were married in other states to get divorced in Rhode Island is simply a back-door means to forcing our courts to recognize homosexual-marriage. Finally, the third bill would prohibit churches and their affiliated organizations from exercising their freedom of religion in matters concerning civil unions.

Marriage and our Religious Liberties need your presence and prayers at the State House on Wednesday May 2nd. Please take your stand this Wednesday.

Even if you do not want to testify please consider coming to show your support for marriage and family. Your presence and prayers in the halls of the State House have immeasurable impact.

Hearing and Bill Details:

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
NOTICE OF MEETING

DATE:	Wednesday, May 02, 2012
TIME:	Rise of the House
PLACE:	Room 313—State House

House Bill No. 7752—Same-sex divorce
BY Valencia, Ferri, O`Grady, MacBeth, McCauley
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE—COURTS—FAMILY COURT {LC1384/1}

House Bill No. 7753—Limiting of Religious Liberties
BY Ferri, Walsh, Edwards, Messier, Cimini
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS—CIVIL UNIONS {LC1571/1}

House Bill No. 7845—Redefinition of Marriage
BY Handy, Tanzi, Diaz, Slater, Edwards
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS—PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO MARRY {LC1400/1}

Thank you for praying about, promoting, and hopefully being present at this important hearing.

For our families and the families to come,

Christopher C. Plante
Regional Coordinator
National Organization for Marriage—Rhode Island

By NOM Staff | Posted in Politics, Rhode Island, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (4)

CNN Blog: Columnist Dan Savage Stands by Comments on "Bulls**t in the Bible"

May 1, 2012 at 1:00 pm

Dan Gilgoff at CNN's Belief Blog:

Columnist and gay-rights advocate Dan Savage is standing by his comment that “we can learn to ignore the bulls**t in the Bible about gay people” at a recent conference for high school students, a line that prompted some to walk out and spurred intense online debate.

... Some Christian students walked out of the Seattle speech, prompting another controversial line from Savage: “It’s funny to someone who is on the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible how pansya**ed people react when you push back.”

... One of the teachers attending the speech with his students told CNN’s Carol Costello on Monday that he was taken aback by the speech and that he supported the decision of some of his students to walk out of it.

“It took a real dark, hostile turn, certainly, as I saw it,” said Rick Tuttle, a teacher at Sutter Union High School in Southern California. “It became very hostile toward Christianity, to the point that many students did walk out, including some of my students.”

“They felt that they were attacked … a very pointed, direct attack on one particular group of students. It’s amazing that we go to an anti-bullying speech and one group of students is picked on in particular, with harsh, profane language.”

In case you missed it, here's the video of Savage's speech.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Children, Civility, Education, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (74)

Photo: Marriage Amendment Sign Vandalism in North Carolina

May 1, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Opponents of North Carolina's Marriage Amendment have embarked on a malicious campaign to destroy pro-Amendment signs. Here is one example of the aftermath, which took place near a children's playground:

Source: Vote for Marriage NC on Facebook

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, North Carolina, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (20)

Update: Elderly Woman Files Criminal Report Against Man Who Attacked Her Over Marriage Amendment Support

May 1, 2012 at 11:00 am

An update from Vote for Marriage NC on their official Facebook page:

UPDATE: An elderly woman has filed a police report in Lumberton charging a man with aggravated assault. While looking for her sister, she claims the individual had committed a hate crime by physically assaulting her during an argument over her position on the marriage amendment. In her police report she claims the man was verbally harassing her over her marriage position, and then proceeded to prevent her from leaving. She also claims the man slammed her back with the car door 4-5 times while she tried to escape.

Later in the comments they added:

...the elderly woman filed a police report earlier today claiming the man committed an aggravated assault (also marking it as a hate crime). The Deputy also witnesses to red marks on her body.

Click here for a link to the police report (PDF).

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, MarriageADA, News, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (42)

Vote FOR Marriage NC Demands Apology From University Official Who Campaigned Against Marriage Amendment On Public Dime

May 1, 2012 at 10:00 am

From the Vote FOR Marriage NC campaign:

Today, Vote FOR Marriage NC demanded a public apology from UNC Greensboro Provost David Perrin, along with taxpayer reimbursement for his use of state resources to campaign against the marriage Protection Amendment on the May ballot. Failing this, the campaign has called on UNC trustees to remove Perrin from his position.

“This is an outrageous use of taxpayer resources in violation of university policy and state law,” said Tami Fitzgerald, Chair of the Vote FOR Marriage NC campaign, which supports the marriage amendment on next week’s ballot. “We’re pleased that the university has launched an investigation. Meanwhile, Provost Perrin should immediately issue a public apology and write a check to taxpayers for his misuse of state resources to campaign against the marriage protection amendment. If he fails to do so, then we call on university trustees to remove him from his position.”

On April 13, Perrin sent an email from his official state account to other state employees and the university’s Dean’s Council, titled “Vote Against Amendment One.” In the email, Perrin encouraged readers to watch an anti-marriage amendment video he called “wonderful” and to forward it to others. Using state resources to campaign against the amendment is both illegal and against university policy. A university spokesman says they are investigating.

“These academics are so insulated and live in such an ivory tower that they think they can do and say anything they want at our expense,” Fitzgerald said. “This is an example of why the marriage amendment is so necessary. It puts voters in charge of our definition of marriage and protects marriage from being redefined by the elite in academia, and activist judges on our courts.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Education, Marriage, North Carolina, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (12)

Sen Diaz: Adriano Espaillat's SSM Support Offensive to Religious Leaders

May 1, 2012 at 9:00 am

New York City and State's Notebook blog:

State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. says that Congressional candidate Adriano Espaillat is “slapping [religious leaders] in the face” with his full-throated support for same-sex marriage.

In one of his “What You Should Know” missives to the press, Diaz Sr. cites Espaillat’s recent speech at a meeting of the Stonewall Democratic Club, in which he promised to fight to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act at a national level if elected to Congress.

“Apparently now that Adriano Espaillat is running for a Congressional seat which covers a great part of the Bronx, he still thinks that the Christian and Catholic pastors and ministers are unimportant,” Diaz Sr. writes. “Once again, Adriano Espaillat is slapping us in the face by enthusiastically supporting gay marriage – now for the whole nation. He is clearly telling all of us, once again, to take a hike because he doesn’t need our vote.”

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

North Carolina District Attorneys, Family Law Attorneys, Law Enforcement Officials to Hold Press Conference to Address Domestic Violence Allegations

May 1, 2012 at 8:00 am

A media advisory from Vote FOR Marriage NC:

District Attorneys, Family Law Attorneys, Law Enforcement Officials Hold Press Conference to Address Domestic Violence Allegations

WHAT: District attorneys, family law attorneys, as well as other law enforcement officials will hold a press conference to address allegations regarding how domestic violence protections relate to the Marriage Protection Amendment.

WHERE: North Carolina General Assembly, Press Room
16 W. Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.

CONTACT: Rachel Lee (919) 701-0056 // [email protected]

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, News, North Carolina, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off

Deadline Tonight!

April 30, 2012 at 5:02 pm

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Dear Marriage Supporter,

A month ago, I sent out a letter explaining that a generous donor agreed to match any money we could raise before April 30, 2012.

Many thanks to those of you who have already responded!

But I know that many of our online supporters may not have seen the letter that we mailed, and our donor has graciously agreed to include any funds raised in response to this email as part of his match!

A gift of $50 is doubled to $100...
A gift of $100 is actually worth $200...
And even a gift of $500 will be matched to make an outstanding $1000 contribution to the National Organization for Marriage.

Never before in American history has traditional marriage been threatened in so many ways, in so many states, by so many powerful, coordinated attacks.

As one of our generous supporters, I know you already understand the urgency of the situation—and the strategic victories we are poised to win this year! We rely heavily on your support, and I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to double the impact of your gift before midnight tonight!

By Brian Brown | Posted in Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)

Breaking News: Elderly Woman Beaten For Supporting NC Marriage Amendment

April 30, 2012 at 1:30 pm

The Vote YES For Marriage NC campaign is reporting on Facebook that an elderly woman who refused to surrender her "vote yes" sign was beaten by a gay marriage advocate.

I knew of at least one case like this in California. This comes from "de-legitimizing" your opponents, claiming there is no possible argument for any point of view but your own.

I hope North Carolina does not become a repeat of the harassment and occasional violence we saw in California:

By Maggie Gallagher | Posted in Same Sex Marriage | Comments (77)

NYTimes Says Marriage = Bigotry

April 30, 2012 at 1:00 pm

No-one is surprised the New York Times editorialized against the NC Marriage Amendment. Yawn.

The most important thing about the vote in North Carolina is that for opponents it's not a vote on gay marriage at all. They have given up the idea they can win a referendum on gay marriage and instead are pouring millions of dollars into persuading North Carolina voters that the amendment does bad things to opposite sex couples, like taking away domestic violence protection.

They've conceded that they cannot win on the marriage question.

But if their strategy of deception and misdirection succeeds look for the mainstream media to ignore these facts:

"...In their zeal, lawmakers got careless with the wording of the measure, known as Amendment One. It would constitutionally prohibit recognition not just of same-sex marriages, but of other legal arrangements like civil unions and domestic partnerships. That could harm all unmarried couples, imperiling some children’s health insurance benefits, along with child custody arrangements and safeguards against domestic violence.

...Polls suggest that defeating this measure remains an uphill struggle, but at least its approval is no longer an entirely foregone conclusion. Much will depend on turnout, especially by voters on college campuses, who will need to vote in larger-than-usual numbers to defeat this declaration of officially sanctioned discrimination." -- The New York Times

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

Video & Reaction: Dan Savage Lashes Out at Christian Teens

April 30, 2012 at 12:30 pm

CitizenLink posts the actual video showing Dan Savage verbally abusing Christian teens at a school assembly on, of all things, anti-bullying (warning: language):

This morning, Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy interviewed Rick Tuttle, a California high school teacher whose students were among those who walked out because they were so offended by Savage's comments:

Meanwhile, the father of two students who attended the conference is speaking out in outrage:

"My son is the first boy you see leaving on the video. My daughter is right behind him. They felt that they were there to hear about journalism and this man's fight against bullying. They had no idea, and neither did I, of who Dan Savage actually was.

"As he started to insult the children's God, Bible, and choice of lifestyle, my son felt he had enough and calmly got up to leave. My daughter followed him and then the rest of their 22 classmates all got up and left.

"After they had left the room Dan Savage made his derogatory remarks in a cowardly fashion about them not being able to take it."

Naman says that organizers failed to provide satisfactory answers as to why Savage had been allowed to speak in the first place. -- Breitbart

By NOM Staff | Posted in Children, Civility, Education, President Obama, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (158)

Video #3: North Carolinians Explain Why They're Voting YES on Marriage

April 30, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Even more North Carolinians explain why they're voting FOR marriage:

Early voting has already begun, find out more at the Vote FOR Marriage NC website.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, North Carolina, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (10)

Breitbart.com: DOJ Asked to Investigate How Obama Campaign Co-Chair Obtained Stolen IRS Tax Return

April 30, 2012 at 11:00 am

Rob Bluey of the Heritage Foundation's investigative unit with an exclusive update for Breitbart.com:

The National Organization for Marriage is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute the individuals responsible for leaking the organization’s confidential U.S. tax return and then illegally publishing it.

The stolen tax return was first published by the Human Rights Campaign and subsequently the Huffington Post. HRC is led by Joe Solmonese, who also serves as a co-chairman of President Obama's reelection committee.

In an April 25 letter to Kathryn Keneally, assistant attorney general for DOJ’s tax division, NOM President Brian Brown and Chairman John C. Eastman request an immediate investigation “to identify the person(s) responsible for these illegal actions.” (The letter is published below.)

Brown will provide an update on the brewing scandal at The Bloggers Briefing. Breitbart TV, in partnership with The Heritage Foundation, will air it live on Tuesday at noon ET.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Ethics, Human Rights Campaign, IRS, Law, President Obama | Comments (6)

Anti-Bullying Speaker Dan Savage Curses Christian Teens

April 30, 2012 at 10:00 am

Todd Starnes of FOX News & Commentary:

As many as 100 high school students walked out of a national journalism conference after an anti-bullying speaker began cursing, attacked the Bible and reportedly called those who refused to listen to his rant “pansy a**ed.”

The speaker was Dan Savage, founder of the “It Gets Better” project, an anti-bullying campaign that has reached more than 40 million viewers with contributors ranging from President Obama to Hollywood stars. Savage also writes a sex advice column called “Savage Love.”

Savage, and his husband, were also guests at the White House for President Obama’s 2011 LGBT Pride Month reception. He was also invited to a White House anti-bullying conference.

Savage was supposed to be delivering a speech about anti-bullying at the National High School Journalism Conference sponsored by the Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. But it turned into an episode of Christian-bashing.

Rick Tuttle, the journalism advisor for Sutter Union High School in California, was among several thousand people in the audience. He said they thought the speech was one thing – but it turned into something else.

“I thought this would be about anti-bullying,” Tuttle told Fox news. “It turned into a pointed attack on Christian beliefs.”