FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 25, 2013

Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)

"Marriage is not a partisan issue, and NOM does not hesitate to oppose weak Republicans and support strong Democrats."— Brian Brown, NOM president —

Washington, D.C. — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today pledged to spend $500,000 against any Republican legislator who votes in favor of redefining marriage in Minnesota, and will support any Democrat who votes to preserve marriage. NOM's Minnesota state political fund was the largest contributor to the proposed Minnesota Marriage Amendment (giving over $2.2 million) and has helped defeat virtually every Republican who has supported gay marriage, including three Republican state Senators in New York in 2012.

"Republicans like Branden Petersen don't realize that not only is voting to redefine marriage a terrible policy, it is also a career-ending vote for a Republican," said Brian Brown. "NOM will do everything in our power to defeat any Republican who votes in favor of same-sex marriage. Legislators need look no further than what happened to GOP Senators in New York. Four of them were responsible for passing gay marriage. We helped take out three of those Senators by repeatedly informing their constituents of their betrayal on marriage. They are now out of office. We will not hesitate to do the same thing in Minnesota."

Same-sex marriage narrowly passed the New York Senate with the help of seven Senators who flipped their vote, including four Republicans. Of those four GOP Senators, three have been removed from politics. One was defeated in a primary, another was defeated in the general election and a third was forced to retire rather than face reelection. NOM was instrumental in all three outcomes, funding billboards, mailers, telephone calls and grassroots activities. Additionally, NOM campaigned against a sitting Democrat Senator, Shirley Huntley, who changed her vote and helped defeat her in a Democratic primary. NOM ultimately supported three Democratic candidates for Senator in New York, and helped elect two of those to office.

"We urge Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature to vote their values, and not what their party bosses tell them," Brown said. "Standing for true marriage is the right thing to do for Minnesota families, and especially for children. The fact is that Minnesota children, and all children, have a right to expect laws that promote them being raised by a mother and father. We will support those legislators, Democrats and Republicans alike, who vote for Minnesota family values, just as we have done in other states. Marriage is not a partisan issue, and NOM does not hesitate to oppose weak Republicans and support strong Democrats."

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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).