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Home » August, 2012

Monthly Archives: August 2012

Breaking News: Minnesota Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Marriage Amendment Supporters!

August 27, 2012 – 4:00 pm

Breaking News from the Star Tribune!

The Republican-controlled Legislature won a pair of battles over proposed constitutional amendments before the Minnesota Supreme Court on Monday.

In a pair of 4-2 decisions, the court ruled:

... In favor of petitions from the Legislature that their proposed titles for both the ID and marriage amendments should be used on the ballot, and not titles written by Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

... "The Secretary of State exceeded his authority ... when he provided titles different from those passed by the Legislature," the court ruled.

... For marriage, legislators called the amendment: “Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman.” Ritchie’s title reads: “Limiting the Status of Marriage to Opposite Sex Couples.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, Marriage, Minnesota, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (14)

Vermont Innkeepers Pay $30,000 for Refusing Lesbian Couple

August 27, 2012 – 2:00 pm

CitizenLink:

The Roman Catholic owners of a Vermont bed-and-breakfast inn agreed this week to pay a total of $30,000 to a lesbian couple that wanted to hold same-sex wedding reception on their property.

In exchange for the payment, the Vermont Human Rights Commission agreed that the O’Reilly family, who own the Wildflower Inn, acted in good faith. In 2005, the commission approved their business practice — which is to disclose to all potential customers their religious convictions while serving everyone. The O’Reillys will pay $20,000 to a trust fund the women set up, and $10,000 to the Human Rights Commission.

The lawsuit was filed by the ACLU of Vermont in 2011, after Katherine Baker and Ming-Lien Linsley contacted the inn about their reception. A former employee falsely told them the O’Reillys wouldn’t allow it to be held on their property, then tried to steer the women toward her personal business.

Jim O’Reilly said his family was settling the case to end the ordeal and preserve their business.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, Marriage, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage, Vermont | Comments (43)

LSN: Gay Activist Admits to Sending 300 Threatening Messages to Pro-Marriage Activist

August 27, 2012 – 1:00 pm

We are sure the majority of gay men are appalled by this kind of behavior. How can it be stopped?

A Connecticut homosexual pled guilty on Tuesday to sending 300 threatening messages, including death threats, to the leader of a state pro-life, pro-marriage organization.

53-year-old Daniel Sarno of Enfield, Connecticut, admitted intimidating Peter Wolfgang, the executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, over a six-month period from last November until May.

One message read: “No mercy for homophobes. I suggest you make your funeral arrangements real soon, Mr. Wolfgang.”

Another said, “I sure hope somebody blows you away. Yer dead.”

Sarno once asked, “Are ‘family values’ worth dying for, Mr. Wolfgang?”

Wolfgang said Sarno identified himself as a homosexual in the letters, which came addressed “Attention: Peter Wolfgang.”

“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident,” Wolfgang said in a statement e-mailed to LifeSiteNews.com. “In fact it is part of a growing and disturbing intimidation campaign among some proponents of same-sex ‘marriage.’ It is clear that their pretense of ‘tolerance’ is over.” -- LifeSiteNews

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

Vandalism is Gay Pride?

August 27, 2012 – 12:00 pm

A minor incident but all too typical in these campaigns:

Photo credit: Minnesota for Marriage's Facebook page.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Culture, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (11)

Olson and Boies, Afraid They Will Lose, Urge Supreme Court Not to Rule on Prop 8

August 27, 2012 – 11:00 am

BuzzFeed Politics:

The case challenging the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 is "an attractive vehicle" for determining "whether the States may discriminate against gay men and lesbians in the provision of marriage licenses" — but the Supreme Court should pass on the case, lawyers challenging the law say, and let stand an appeals court ruling that strikes down the 2008 amendment on narrow grounds.

If the Supreme Court takes the advice of Ted Olson, David Boies and the other lawyers representing the plaintiffs in Perry v. Brown, then Proposition 8 would remain unconstitutional, as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held, and same-sex couples in California would regain the right to marry that they had been able to exercise briefly in 2008.

...The proponents argued to the Supreme Court that the Ninth Circuit had "fundamentally" misapplied the case, as well as another Supreme Court case addressing when states withdraw previously granted "state-law rights."

The filing today by the plaintiffs in the case was slightly unusual, as it suggested that the case was "an attractive vehicle for approaching—if not definitively resolving— th[e] issue" of whether states can restrict the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Nonetheless, the lawyers for the plaintiffs assert that Supreme Court's standards for when it takes a case "lead inexorably" to the conclusion that the court should not take the case. In addition to arguing that the appeals court properly applied the Romer decision, the plaintiffs argue that, even if it did not, there remain questions, raised previously, about whether the proponents of the law have legal standing to bring the appeal when the state defendants have not done so. Finally, they argue, there are additional reasons why the courts could strike down Proposition 8, including its claimed abridgment of the affected couples' right to marry.

The proponents, represented by Charles Cooper of Cooper & Kirk, will be able to present the Supreme Court with a response to today's filing, and the court will then consider once the justices return from their summer recess whether they will take the case in the coming term that begins in October.

By NOM Staff | Posted in California, Marriage, Prop 8, Same Sex Marriage, Supreme Court | Comments (23)

Maggie Gallagher: Is Political Pressure Keeping DC Police From Enforcing Hate Crimes Law?

August 27, 2012 – 10:00 am

Like the Anti-Defamation League, and New York Daily News columnist James Kirchick, Maggie Gallagher asks a key question: why won't the police call a politically motivated bias crime a bias crime?

"...So why hasn't the [FRC] shooter been charged with a hate crime?

The Family Research Council opposes hate crimes laws, but that should have nothing to do with whether a law on the books gets enforced equally. Bias crimes are based on the theory that the victims of a bias crime are not just the individual harmed, but all others in the class intended to be terrorized by the crime.

Is political pressure in liberal D.C. keeping the police from enforcing the law?

I ask this question in part for a personal reason. The FRC shooting came a week after a package addressed to me personally showed up in the National Organization for Marriage offices filled with feces and hate and used condoms. (I have stepped down from the NOM board, but apparently the guy who dropped off the package isn't keeping up with the latest.)

According to NOM office workers who were there at the time, the police wanted to investigate it as a potential hate crime. The police LGBT hate crimes division was called to the scene (odd, because obviously the hatred thus expressed against me and NOM was not directed at LGBT people) and told the cops not to investigate it as a hate crime. The cops tried to argue with them, but no deal.

In at least two instances, to my direct knowledge, a crime directed at a person or organization who opposes gay marriage was not investigated by D.C. cops as a bias crime.

A nasty package is a minor event. A shooter who intended mass murder is deadly serious.

Together they make up a pattern.

Do we have to wait for a third incident before the police of the District of Columbia, which is ultimately controlled by Congress, act to make sure the laws are enforced equally for all?" -- TownHall

By NOM Staff | Posted in Culture, Law, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Washington DC | Comments (5)

Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Family Institute Over Marriage Stance

August 27, 2012 – 9:00 am

The Hartford Current:

An Enfield man admitted in court Tuesday that he sent hundreds of threatening letters to the director of the socially conservative Family Institute of Connecticut, which is at the forefront of political opposition in Hartford to gay marriage.

The guilty plea in U.S. District Court by Daniel Sarno comes a week after an apparently similarly motivated event in which an armed man espousing opposition to social conservatism shot a security guard while trying to enter the offices of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 15.

The Family Institute and the Family Research Council are affiliated organizations created to press agendas that include opposition to abortion and to marriage other than that between a man and a woman.

Sarno, 53, admitted orchestrating a letter-writing campaign that began in November and ended in May when U.S. postal inspectors tracked the letters to his house, an official familiar with the matter said. All the letters were addressed to Family Institute Executive Director Peter Wolfgang.

"No mercy for homophobes," said one letter, obtained by The Courant. "I suggest you make your funeral arrangements real soon, Mr. Wolfgang. (Trust me. I know.)"

Sarno pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of mailing threatening communications.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Durham said, "Some of the letters contained threats separate and apart from the generally obnoxious nature of the letters."

Sarno, in many of the letters, referred to people who shared the beliefs of the Family Institute as "Bible thumping," "fear mongering" and "sanctimonious," Durham said.

... Wolfgang, who was in court, issued a statement through his organization thanking authorities for protecting him, his family and his professional colleagues.

"Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident," Wolfgang said. "In fact, it is part of a growing and disturbing intimidation campaign among some proponents of same-sex 'marriage.' It is clear that their pretense of 'tolerance' is over.

"Using death threats to stifle debate is un-American. These types of tactics won't work. The Family Institute of Connecticut will continue its work to strengthen and protect marriage, life and religious freedom."

The statement from the Family Institute said that in the letters, Sarno "identified himself as homosexual and made it clear that he was threatening Peter's life because of Peter's beliefs and public advocacy."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Connecticut, Culture, Law, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)

Georgia Columnist: "Support of Same-Sex Marriage May Hurt Democrats"

August 27, 2012 – 8:00 am

Jerry Haas writes in the Athens Banner-Herald:

"...There has been a backlash among traditional Democratic supporters. The Rev. William Owens, president and founder of the Coalition of African American Pastors, with a membership of 3,742 black pastors, has stated that it is time for African Americans to rethink their support for Obama based on the president’s stance on same-sex marriage. Owens has, in fact, mounted a national campaign aimed at that goal.

“The time has come for a broad-based assault against the powers that be who want to change our culture to one of men marrying men and women marrying women ... they have chosen to cater to the homosexual community, they have chosen to cater to Hollywood, to cater to big money and ignore the people who put the president where he is,” Williams said.

The recent reports on the Democratic Party platform are certain to stoke the CAAP fires, and give Owens a reason to lead more African Americans away from the Democratic Party.

Likewise, it may give other evangelical Christians who have doggedly continued to support Democratic candidates a reason to reflect on how the party’s stands on social issues speak toward a biblical worldview."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Georgia, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Politics, Same Sex Marriage, United for Marriage | Comments (2)

$1 Million GOP Campaign Asks Swing State Catholic Democrats if They Support Obama on Gay Marriage

August 24, 2012 – 2:00 pm

From their press release:

The Republican Union Pac launched a series of grassroots campaigns aimed at convincing conservative Democrat, Catholic voters to vote Republican in the November elections this fall.  Republican Union Pac’s million dollar expenditure is tailored to appeal to disenfranchised Democrats in economically-challenged, heavily Catholic neighborhoods within mid-sized to large cities in Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Dozens of billboards have been erected in these areas by Republican Union Pac with the message “Obama Supports Gay Marriage & Abortion.  Do You?  Vote Republican.”

James J. Brazil, one of Republican Union Pac's founders who is himself a Catholic Democrat said, "Catholic Democrats crossed over to support Ronald Reagan in 1980 against Jimmy Carter and Republican Union will be successful in making a similar case for Catholics to vote Republican this November.”

...Republican Union Pac Spokesman Bo Harmon said, "Republican Union intends to follow up this initial outreach with a targeted boots on the ground effort going person to person, neighborhood to neighborhood.  This personal outreach to voters who have been abandoned by the out of touch policies of the current Democratic leadership will be what determines our success."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Marriage, Marriage Election Watch, Mitt Romney, President Obama, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (22)

New York Retirement Party! Help Send the Turncoat Senators Packing on September 13th!

August 24, 2012 – 1:15 pm

Email Header Image

Dear Marriage Supporter,

In 2011, NOM promised that the Senators from New York who betrayed their constituents by voting in favor of same-sex marriage would face political consequences.

Since that time, we've worked concertedly to flush these slippery traitors out of the tall grass and send them packing. Now it's time to finish what we started. Senators Mark Grisanti and Roy McDonald have read the writing on the wall: they're furiously raising and spending piles of cash, trying to slither unnoticed past the voters. But voters are good at spotting a snake.

We need your urgent help to make sure that these Senators face up to the consequences of their betrayals and slippery dealings. They're using the money that bought their votes for SSM in order to get reelected, but we can defeat them with the help of your immediate contribution! Can you give us $50, $100, or $200 today to finish what we started in the Empire State?

With the primary elections just three weeks from now, we need to make sure that voters across New York State are reminded that these two senators betrayed them, flip-flopped on their campaign promises, and helped Mayor Bloomberg and his elite cronies in the media and on Wall Street impose a redefinition of marriage on the whole state!

We're kicking into high gear to get this message out, with targeted ad campaigns, mailings, phone calls, and billboards, so that Senators Grisanti and McDonald won't be able to hide from the voters on the question of SSM. They will answer for what they did, to the tune of losing their seats to candidates with the courage to stand up for their constituents, who won't sell them out and cash in with the liberal elite. But we can't make this happen without your immediate help!

Please send your generous contribution of $50, $100, or $200 today so that we can work on your behalf to hold these Senators accountable for selling out their values, their constituents, and their State!

Together, we'll make this election cycle one to remember, and send a message to the whole country that New Yorkers know marriage is solely the union of one man and one woman, and that any politicians and judges who try to foist their own liberal agenda on the American people will eventually have to answer to the voters!

By Brian Brown | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (8)

Poughkeepsie Journal: "Marriage Vote Hounds [Pro-SSM Senator] Saland Run"

August 24, 2012 – 1:00 pm

What did we just say about the marriage movement not forgetting when their elected officials betray them on marriage? Check out this report from the Poughkeepsie Journal:

Republican Sen. Steve Saland’s vote last year to legalize same-sex marriage in New York state continues to present political hurdles in his bid for re-election to the state Senate representing the 41st district.

He already faces his first GOP primary challenge in his 32 years as a lawmaker. His opponent, Neil Di Carlo of Brewster, includes in campaign literature a promise “to work tirelessly to restore the institution of marriage to its rightful place.”

Just recently, Di Carlo successfully initiated a write-in primary for the Conservative Party ballot line by filing the required number of voter signatures with the state Board of Elections.

Saland’s vote for same-sex marriage cost him the Conservative Party endorsement for his re-election bid — for the first time in his 12 state Senate campaigns. Di Carlo, though, also failed to gain the endorsement of party leaders despite his opposition to same-sex marriage.

... Richard Van Slambrouck, a Town of Poughkeepsie resident, was one of those who signed Di Carlo’s petitions. He said he will vote for Di Carlo to send a message to Saland, who for years took a stand against same-sex marriage.

“A lot of us were really put out by his vote,” Van Slambrouck said. “We are hoping to show him our dissatisfaction.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, New York, Politics, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (8)

Video: What Are the Benefits to Children of Having a Mom and Dad who are Married to Each Other?

August 24, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Kalley Yanta explains:

"The overwhelming body of scientific evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that children do best when they are raised by their married mother and father. In fact when their parents are married to each other children are more likely to enjoy better relationships with their parents and greater family stability, they enjoy better physical health and experience fewer mental health and emotional problems."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Children, Debating Marriage, Marriage, Minnesota, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (15)

New York Daily News Op-Ed: "No Question [FRC Shooter's] Act Was Politically Inspired"

August 24, 2012 – 11:00 am

James Kirchick, reporter, foreign correspondent and columnist, writes in the New York Daily News:

"...with [FRC shooter] Corkins, there is no question that his act was politically inspired; It doesn’t get more political than “I don’t like your politics.”

... “Today’s attack is the clearest sign we’ve seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as ‘hateful’ must end,” Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, said. He was referring to the tendency of some pro-gay activists to label anyone who disagrees them as purveyors of “hate.”

In recent years, liberal organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center have termed the Family Research Council a “hate group,” a designation long reserved for the likes of the Nation of Islam, the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nations.

However passionately one may disagree with the agenda of an organization which, like the Family Research Council, uses pseudoscience to accuse gays of being prone to pedophilia, it is wrong to lump it together with explicitly racist movements espousing violent agendas."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Civility, Culture, Law, Marriage, Politics, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

Politicker NY: "Dems Who Flipped on Gay Marriage Aren’t Quite Feeling the Financial Love"

August 24, 2012 – 10:00 am

Politicker NY:

"...three Democrats who voted against gay marriage in 2009 also flipped their votes. And two of them—Joe Addabbo and Shirley Huntley, both of Queens—have tough races for re-election and aren’t quite feeling the same love as their GOP counterparts.

“Evidently Addabbo wasn’t as important to them as the Republicans,” Ms. Huntley told The Observer about LGBT donors who showered the four GOP senators with campaign cash. “Evidently our vote wasn’t important. I took a hit for that.”

Ms. Huntley and Mr. Addabbo, like the three Republicans seeking re-election, are all facing challengers who oppose gay marriage, yet there’s a big gap in how strong their campaigns are financially. Ms. Huntley most recently reported having about $33,000 in her campaign account, and Mr. Addabbo a bit over $100,000, while the Republicans range from twice that all the way up to over $600,000."

Gay activists may have forgotten about these three Democrat state senators, but the pro-marriage movement has not!

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, New York, Politics, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

NY Daily News: Embattled Pro-SSM Democrat Huntley May Have Faked Pastors' Support

August 24, 2012 – 9:00 am

The New York Daily News:

An endorsement controversy has emerged in a contentious Queens primary.

The Daily News has learned that a clergy member and several unions that were touted on campaign material as favoring District 10 incumbent state Sen. Shirley Huntley are actually remaining neutral for the Sept. 13 vote.

... “These are the hallmarks of a desperate campaign,” said Sanders (D—Laurelton). “It speaks to her character.”

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, New York, Politics, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)
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