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Video: How to Talk About Same-Sex Marriage at Thanksgiving

November 25, 2011 at 2:05 pm

Thanksgiving has come and past but many of us will be spending time with friends and family throughout the long weekend. NOM co-founder Maggie Gallagher appears in this video sponsored by the American Principles Project's Culture War Victory Fund on the topic of discussing same-sex marriage if it comes up at family gatherings:

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

GLAAD Asked Activists To Make This an "Awkward Thanksgiving"

November 25, 2011 at 2:00 pm

SheWired reports:

It may sound a little odd at first, but the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is encouraging LGBTs and their allies to speak up and out at the holiday dinner table to make sure this Thanksgiving is an awkward one.

And here’s why.

While the LGBT community has a lot to be grateful this season, we can’t ignore the basic civil rights denied to many, nor the violence, bullying, and oppression many LGBT individuals face in a wide array of places and situations.

But GLAAD came up with this genius campaign to talk real to your loved ones on Turkey day and go ahead, “Let Aunt Betty Feel Awkward.” If enough people start a dialogue, the collective result could lead to real changes in anti-gay myths and prejudices.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Culture, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (36)

Vietnam Veteran to Gov. Cuomo: Don't Question My Patriotism Because I Support Marriage

November 25, 2011 at 1:00 pm

Via New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms:

Hundreds of you told Governor Andrew Cuomo, "It's not anti-American to be pro-family." You weren't the only ones, though. Asm. Daniel Burling (R-Warsaw) also sent a letter to Gov. Cuomo. In the letter, Burling tells Cuomo:

"...I am deeply concerned that you would characterize those who are opposed to same-sex marriage as 'anti-New York or anti-American.' ...It is one thing to object to someone's position on a given matter, but it is quite another to question someone's patriotism. As a US Marine Corps Vietnam Combat Veteran, I take serious umbrage to such an allegation."

You can read the letter in its entirety here [PDF].

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (24)

NY Senate Leader Taking Steps To Save Sen. Grisanti, Now Vulnerable Because of SSM Flip-Flop

November 25, 2011 at 11:00 am

Actions speak louder than words, and the actions of New York Senate Leader Dean Skelos show that he's worried that Sen. Grisanti will lose re-election next November:

...Republican Senators are also reportedly cutting predominantly black churches out of Senator Mark Grisanti’s Buffalo district so the churches there can’t hurt him after his vote for same-sex “marriage”. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos traveled to Buffalo last month in an attempt to secure the Conservative line for Grisanti ahead of next November’s election, despite Grisanti’s flip for gay “marriage”.

Republicans are trying to have it both ways. They’re clearly more concerned with retaining their power, than in protecting the values of their base. The Democrats really aren’t any better. It isn’t new, but it isn’t right. At New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, we're disappointed with both major political parties. They've each forgotten they’re elected to represent their constituents, not their colleagues. -- New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Marriage Election Watch, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)

New Hampshire Citizen Argues Marriage Laws Not Motivated by Bigotry

November 25, 2011 at 9:00 am

William J. of Concord, NH writes in The Concord Monitor:

Granite Staters in any other generation would have scoffed at the idea of gay marriage. Because they were all bigots? Of course not! It's because it goes against a basic common sense truth of who we are as human beings. We are male and female, and when we come together in love, a baby can come into being. Men and women need a relationship in a lifelong pledge of faithfulness. Likewise, children need mothers and fathers.

Somewhere, I believe we all realize this is true. And besides, the vast majority of Americans do not believe in gay marriage.Whenever gay marriage comes up in state referendums, it is voted down. And after all, isn't this a democracy, where the most important issues should be decided by the people themselves?

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

So Much To Be Thankful For!

November 23, 2011 at 11:15 am

Email Header Image

Dear Marriage Supporter,

This Thanksgiving, I'm grateful to live in a country that is still free. Party bosses cannot shut down the authentic voice of a free and good people.

Benjamin Franklin was asked as he left the Constitutional convention of 1787 what form of government the leading men had given to the American people. "A republic, madam, if you can keep it," he responded.

Keeping that republic, our precious inheritance from great and good men, requires respect for the Biblical values that underlay our two century old experiment in democracy, which is undergirded by rights that come not from government but from God himself — and therefore cannot be taken away from us.

That's what "unalienable" means.

Part of that democratic process was on display last week at the presidential Thanksgiving Family Forum hosted by The Family Leader, and co-sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage and CitizenLink.

I was there, and it was really an extraordinary experience.

Six men and women who would be President of the United States gathered around a table and bared their hearts, and their minds, on issues of grave importance, including marriage.

Here's an 8-minute video of the candidates answering the question of whether and how they would protect marriage (yes, that's me asking the question!):

Brian Brown @ Thanksgiving Family Forum

And here, for those of you who want the complete experience, is the full and uncut version:

Thanksgiving Family Forum

There are some amazing moments, like Rick Santorum talking about his baby Bella, and his realization that he had been withholding his full love from her because he feared the pain of losing her. That's not something you ordinarily see.

It really is a window into the souls of the men and women seeking the honor of serving as our President. I'm very grateful to have been part of it, thanks to your help and support of the National Organization for Marriage.

This Thanksgiving, I am humbled by all the blessings a great and good God has given me — including the treasure of your support, your notes of encouragement, and your steadfastness.

The Pew Forum released a report this week highlighting the fact that NOM is one of the fasting growing "religious advocacy" organizations in the nation, as Roll Call reports:

While the economic downturn has depressed spending by such groups overall, religious lobbying has spiked in some areas while tapering off in others.

The National Organization for Marriage, for example, more than doubled its advocacy expenditures from $3.3 million in 2008 to $8.6 million in 2009, the most recent data available, the group found.

That's one amazing thing you and I and thousands of other Americans working together have accomplished here at NOM.

God bless you!

And happy Turkey Day!

Faithfully,

Brian Brown

Brian S Brown

Brian S. Brown
President
National Organization for Marriage

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

Obscure Gay Rights Figures to Have Place in CA History Classes

November 23, 2011 at 11:00 am

The San Diego Union-Tribune:

Often obscure, figures and events in the history of the gay rights and disabled rights movements will soon have a mandatory place in the classroom right along side Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez and Susan B. Anthony.

... “Our history is more complete when we recognize the contributions of people from all backgrounds and walks of life,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said after the legislation was signed into law in July.

... Overshadowed by the political and philosophical divide is the looming question: just what will be taught to whom, particularly regarding the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

“That’s the million dollar question,” said Hayes, who has helped put together suggested materials for high school teachers to use as part of their ongoing lesson plans on voting rights and civil rights.

Asked about whether there will be some sort of opt-out or notification, Hayes said “that’s one of those things I’ve been trying to find out. There are a lot of questions about it.”

Parents cannot keep their children from the class based on objections to the material, according to Tom Adams, an official with the California Department of education working on implementation.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in California, Children, Education, Prop 8 | Comments (56)

WaPo: GOP Primary Race for New Hampshire Governor Heats Up

November 23, 2011 at 10:00 am

The Washington Post's The Fix blog:

After three unsuccessful bids for office, the stars appeared to be aligning for Republican businessman Ovide Lamontagne to win the New Hampshire governorship in 2012.

He declared his gubernatorial bid back in September, just a few days before Gov. John Lynch (D) announced he would retire, a decision that reset the political calculus in the state. And, since Lamontagne lost a primary to Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) in 2010, he has emerged as something of a conservative kingmaker in the Granite State.

But that coronation has hit a bump in the road of late. Kevin Smith, the former executive director of the conservative advocacy group Cornerstone, announced his campaign last week and there are whispers that popular Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas will also get in the race.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, New Hampshire, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on WaPo: GOP Primary Race for New Hampshire Governor Heats Up

Kathryn Lopez Interviews Domestic Policy Expert on The New Singleness

November 23, 2011 at 9:00 am

Kathryn Lopez of National Review interviews Jennifer A. Marshall, author of "Now and Not Yet: Making Sense of Single Life in the 21st Century" on how we are to understand the new trend of young people delaying (or giving up entirely on the idea of) marriage:

... LOPEZ: “We need to restore cultural respect for the marriage ideal,” you write. “In the meantime, the marriage aspiration is alive and well.” So what can a single 39-year-old do about it?

MARSHALL: Don’t toss out the marriage ideal just because it’s not working out personally at the moment. Don’t let the fog of cultural stereotypes cloud perceptions of men; see them individually for who they are, just as each of us women wants to be seen as a unique person. Keep articulating the challenges on the path to marriage in the wake of the feminist movement and sexual revolution; pastors, leaders, mentors, and parents have wisdom to share but need openness on our part so they can better understand today’s circumstances.

And all of us, no matter what our marital status, should seek solid ground for a sense of meaning and purpose that transcends all life’s seasons.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Divorce, Marriage, Youth | Comments Off on Kathryn Lopez Interviews Domestic Policy Expert on The New Singleness

9th Circuit To Rule on Prop 8 and Judge Walker's Impartiality Simultaneously

November 22, 2011 at 2:30 pm

Metro Weekly (a gay newspaper):

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will be deciding the appeal of U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling striking down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional alongside the appeal of U.S. District Court Judge James Ware's ruling denying the Proposition 8 proponents' attempt to have Walker's ruling vacated because they argued he was biased because he is gay and has a partner.

The decision was announced in a one-sentence order issued this afternoon in granting a request from the proponents that the matters be consolidated.

... With today's order, all of the questions relating to the validity and merits of the constitutionality of Proposition 8 could be decided by the Ninth Circuit in one decision, allowing for the most clean appeal possible to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The only ancillary matter still unconsolidated is the question of whether the tapes of the Proposition 8 trial conducted by Walker in January 2010 and concluded that June can be released to the media and public. The Ninth Circuit oral arguments on the appeal of that question will be held at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time Dec. 8.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in California, Law, Marriage, Prop 8, Same Sex Marriage, Supreme Court | Comments (3)

Prop 8 Lawyer: Case is Headed to the Supreme Court

November 22, 2011 at 2:00 pm

The Christian Post:

Proponents and opponents of California’s Proposition 8, the amendment that essentially bans gay marriage in the state, are in a fierce legal battle. But one thing they can agree on is that the case will likely head to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Andrew Pugno, general counsel of ProtectMarriage.com, the official proponents of Prop. 8, told The Christian Post on Friday that yesterday’s court ruling means the voter-approved ballot initiative is not dead and that “both sides agree this case is ultimately destined for the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Proponents of California’s Prop. 8 saw a major victory Thursday when the California Supreme Court ruled they had legal standing and could continue defending the amendment.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in California, Marriage, Prop 8, Same Sex Marriage, Supreme Court | Comments (25)

Video of Presidential Thanksgiving Forum: Protecting Marriage and Family

November 22, 2011 at 1:30 pm

Here's an 8-minute video of the candidates at the Presidential Thanksgiving Family Forum answering the question of whether and how they would protect marriage (yes, that's our own Brian Brown asking the question!):

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Iowa, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (8)

Psychiatry Expert on the Flawed Studies Claiming Kids Don't Need a Mom & Dad

November 22, 2011 at 1:00 pm

Rick Fitzgibbons, director of Comprehensive Counseling Services in West Conshohocken PA, has practiced psychiatry for 35 years. He writes in MecatorNet about the numerous studies that show children do best with a mom and dad. He also takes some space to point out the deep flaws that try to claim the opposing view:

Not surprisingly, there are scholars who oppose this weighty evidence [that children do best with a mother and father]. Two major studies published in 2010 are often cited by homosexual activists and the media. Nanette Gartrell and Henry Bos (10) and Timothy Biblarz and Judith Stacey (11) claim that children who were deliberately deprived of the benefits of gender complementarity in a home with a father and a mother suffer no psychological damage.

However, all data in the Gartell and Bos article are self-reports by the mother and the child. The mothers were aware of the political agenda of the research and this must have skewed the results. This defect in methodology severely weakens the report.

In the meta-study by Biblarz and Stacey, in 31 of the 33 studies of two parent families, it was the parents who provided the data, which consisted of subjective judgments. Once again, this created a social desirability bias because the homosexual parents knew the political agenda behind the study. Furthermore, of the 33 studies in two-person families, only two studies included men, although the title, “How does the gender of parents matter?” suggests that both men and women were fully represented.

Much of the research on same-sex couples tends to have serious methodological flaws. It is often argued that there is no evidence that children are harmed if they are raised by homosexual men. This is true, but the absence of evidence does not prove the case. It means that there is no evidence. Studies of children raised by homosexual men are rare. No studies have examined the long-term effects on adult males raised by homosexual men.

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

Pew Study: NOM Among Fastest-Growing "Religious Advocacy" Organizations

November 22, 2011 at 12:48 pm

Roll Call:

...  among the top spenders are organizations fighting for or against abortion rights and groups that endorse traditional cultural values, according to the report by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The report examined direct lobbying to influence legislation and issue-oriented public policy work, offering the first detailed analysis of religious advocacy in two decades.

... While the economic downturn has depressed spending by such groups overall, religious lobbying has spiked in some areas while tapering off in others.

The National Organization for Marriage, for example, more than doubled its advocacy expenditures from $3.3 million in 2008 to $8.6 million in 2009, the most recent data available, the group found.

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

LifeSiteNews Editor Says Damian Goddard "Fearlessly on Fire for the Truth"

November 22, 2011 at 12:30 pm

Steve Jalsevac of LifeSiteNews in Canada has kind words to say about the new spokesman for our Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance project:

I met and took part in a lengthy discussion this morning with Damian Goddard, the TV sportscaster fired for a tweet supporting hockey agent Todd Reynold’s tweet defending true marriage. Damian is impressive. He is fearlessly on fire for the truth and so naturally convincing and articulate about the issue that he has became the spokesman for the U.S.-based Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance. If you heard Damian as I did today, I have no doubt you would be as uplifted. Dynamic, young new recruits to the culture wars such as Damian are going to bring about big changes.

NOM
By NOM Staff | Posted in Canada, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments Off on LifeSiteNews Editor Says Damian Goddard "Fearlessly on Fire for the Truth"
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