NOM BLOG

Monthly Archives: June 2009

NOM Marriage News: June 26, 2009

NOM Marriage News.

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Dear Friends of Marriage,

This week, I'm on a road trip across America with Sue and my six kids.

Maggie called me up Monday and said, "Where are you?" Salt Lake City. The next time it was, "I'm in Yellowstone Park."

Let me tell you something, the world that God made is pretty amazing. The country that Americans created is pretty amazing too.

Here's the good news from New York: Gov. Paterson backed down on gay marriage, at least for the moment. He's no longer including gay marriage among the bills he is pushing in special session. At least for the moment. Read More »

NOM Marriage News: June 19, 2009

NOM Marriage News.

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Dear Friends of Marriage, 

Gay marriage advocates push the idea that there is no hope--the future is inevitable and resistance is futile. Well, a funny thing just happened on the way to inevitability.

A CBS News/New York Times poll released last week generated a curious headline: "Poll: Support for Gay Marriage Dips." Read More »

Stand With Carrie!

You've heard the news: Miss California USA pageant official Keith Lewis fired Carrie Prejean. Hollywood is doing a tribal war dance. We're appalled. We're outraged. But we are not worried about Carrie.

Keith Lewis also admitted on national television that he didn't even pick up the phone and call Carrie to tell her before he alerted the media. What kind of boss acts like that? It tells you everything you need to know about who was acting in bad faith here.

Carrie Prejean was asked a question: Do you support gay marriage? She answered honestly—like millions of others in California and across this great country: No. Of course not.

From that day forward the attacks have been unremitting.

First they attacked her, then they tried to get her to recant, then they threw mud at her, now they fired her and continue to besmear and besmirch her. Pageant officials like Keith Lewis claim they want to move on and yet they are going on national TV to attack her, her lawyer, and even her pastor!

What kind of people act like this?

Of course Carrie isn't perfect, but she is honest, courageous and strong in standing up for the truth about marriage. She's being attacked not for anything she ever did wrong but for one great thing she did right! And she's not the only one. Thousands of decent, honorable, law-abiding, good Americans are facing attacks because they, like Carrie, have the courage to speak truth to power, to stand for God's truth about marriage.

So here's my message to Carrie: Congratulations. Free at last. Free at last. Free at last to craft your own mission and message. God has a plan for you Carrie and we look forward to watching and applauding the next stage in your journey towards Christ.

And here's my message for you: Help us get the message out!

Carrie's new website, StandWithCarrie.com, was launched today. Please take a minute to visit her site, and then send a message to five of your friends.

By now, you've probably seen our TV ad highlighting the venom that has been directed at Carrie, and that generated so much attention 6 weeks ago. (Click here to watch the ad.) This ad has already been wildly successful, reaching millions with its poignant message, and yet there's more work to be done!

Same-sex marriage isn't just about two people living as they please, but about whether a large majority of Americans are going to be marginalized as bigots by a group of elites determined to force their new vision of marriage on the entire nation.

Will you help us get this message out today? With your help, we'll expand our ad buys into new markets, increase our online outreach, and together reach our goal of "two million for marriage."

But we can't do it without your help. Please use this hyperlink to make a generous donation right now.

Thank you for standing with us. And please be thinking about two or three friends you could invite to join us as we work to save marriage.

Brian Brown & Jennifer Pizer on same-sex marriage debate strategies

Jennifer Pizer and Brian Brown spoke with VPR's Jane Lindholm about strategies they'll pursue in states where same-sex marriage is being debated.

Upcoming NY Rallies for Marriage

In the upcoming days, New Yorkers will be gathering at sites across the state to take a stand for marriage and let their elected officials know they don't want marriage redefined in New York! We'll do our best to keep you up to date.

Tuesday, June 9 (Albany)
State Capitol
Details Here

Saturday, June 13 (Long Island)
Duryea State Office Bldg
Details Here

And don't forget to keep the emails to your legislators coming!

Sign of the Times….

Check out the marquee on this sign located on NH Rt. 1 bypass in Portsmouth, just a 1/2 mile south of the traffic circle…

NOM Marriage News: June 5, 2009

NOM Marriage News.

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Dear Friends of Marriage,

A battle update:

In New York, we're proud to be working with an extraordinary group of local leaders including New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom, the black and Hispanic pastors who brought 10,000 people to the streets of New York to protest gay marriage, and state senator Ruben Diaz, the principled maverick Democrat standing up to the special interests--along with the new Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, and the other Catholic bishops of New York, who just issued a strong statement opposing gay marriage: "We face today the prospect of a law in New York which would radically change the timeless institution of marriage. As pastors of citizens from every corner of our great state, we stand unified in our strong opposition to such a drastic measure." Read More »

Diaz to Duane: On gay marriage votes, put up or shut up

Times Union, June 3, 2009

Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., the Senate’s most ardent opponent of gay marriage, has just released the following message to gay marriage bill lead sponsor Tom Duane:

“If  Senator  Tom  Duane  has  the necessary Senate votes to pass the homosexual  marriage  bill  in New York State, then he should release the  names of those Senators who are supporting the bill.  If not, he should  shut  up.  If any member of the State Senate is so ashamed to have  their  names released or to release their own names for this or for  any pending legislation, then they clearly feel ashamed of their position.

If  any Senators are unwilling to release their names prior to voting for the homosexual marriage bill, they are sending a clear message to the  gay  community  and  to  the  whole State of New York that these Senators  are  unwilling  to  let  the  public know and that they are ashamed to be publicly associated with the gay community.

Any  Senator  who  commits himself or herself to something, should be man  or  woman  enough  to  take  a  stand  and  stand  by his or her convictions.  If they give their word to support  something that they are ashamed of, then that is a hypocrisy, and could be interpreted as not wanting to be associated with the matter.

It  is  a  disgrace that Senator Duane is playing this mind game with his colleagues and  with the public.  If Senator Duane has the votes, he  should  release  the names.  If not, then he should be ashamed of himself. ”

Duane has said he has the votes to pass the bill right now; but that message has not yet been conveyed to Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, who said he’ll put the bill to a vote when he thinks it will pass.

A NY1 survey found that 28 senators have said they will vote against a bill which would allow gay couples to receive marriage licenses. 20 said they would vote yes, 9 are undecided, and 5 could not reveal their position.

Rules, schmules: Larsen doesn't care

Union Leader, June 3, 2009

Legislators vote today on amending the same-sex marriage bill so it meets Gov. John Lynch's approval and can become law. It's telling, however, that Senate President Sylvia Larsen had to violate Senate rules to get this language passed.

Senate rules require that all committee of conference votes be unanimous. They also require that committees of conference contain senators from each party. When Sen. Sheila Roberge, R-Bedford, refused to sign the conference report approving the amendment to the same-sex marriage bill, Sen. Larsen removed her from the committee and replaced her with Sen. Matthew Houde, D-Plainfield. Voila! The language was passed.

Supporters of same-sex marriage talk all day long about fairness. But to get their bill through, they intentionally violated Senate rules written to guarantee minority approval of controversial legislation. Gov. John Lynch ought to veto the bill for that reason alone. A matter as divisive as this should pass into law by force of persuasion, not by sleight of hand.

Read more>>

RI Marriage Alert: Same-Sex Divorce Hearing Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, Wednesday June 3 at 4:00 PM, another important bill is coming before the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee. Bill Number 5926 would pave the way for the Rhode Island Family Court to issue divorce decrees in the case of same-sex marriages performed in other states. The bill states,

"Regardless of whether the parties would have been eligible to marry in Rhode Island, the parties to any marriage, or other domestic relationship granting substantially similar rights and obligations of marriage, recognized in any state of the United States, possession of the United States, or in any foreign country, may petition for a divorce proceeding in this state so long as the parties meet the jurisdictional requirements of section 15-5-12."

Note the important word "any" throughout the bill. Any marriage from any location will be recognized in Rhode Island for the purposes of divorce. This is one very small step away from any marriage being recognized in Rhode Island period, and it is a clear step the Same-Sex Marriage movement wants to take. If same-sex divorce is approved it will not be long before same-sex marriage is approved.

We need to have your voices heard: Marriage is between a man and a woman. Rhode Island must not recognize "any marriage" from "any place" unless it is between a man and a woman.

The National Organization for Marriage--Rhode Island's position is simple. First, to recognize a same-sex marriage for purposes of divorce is to recognize same-sex marriage period, something Rhode Island law prohibits. To take this step is to move ever closer to legalizing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. Next, proponents of this bill will claim because they live in Rhode Island they have no recourse to end their unhappy "marriages." This is not true. These couples went to other States to get married and they can, as hard as it may be, go back to these States for their divorce. To claim they are stuck in legal limbo is a fallacy. Finally, Rhode Island should not be amending its laws to solve a problem created by Massachusetts or any other State. Those States amended their marriage laws, they can amend their divorce laws to fix this issue.

NOM - RI urges you to come out the State House, Room 313 Wednesday June 3rd at 4:00 PM, and make your voice heard. Marriage is between a man and a woman! Rhode Island must not take any action to recognize any other type of "marriage" from any other place unless it is between a man and a woman.

If you can't come out to the hearing please contact the House Judiciary Committee by email here.