NOM BLOG

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE: MAGGIE GALLAGHER MAKES THE CASE FOR MARRIAGE IN MARYLAND

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2011

CONTACT: Elizabeth Ray, x130 or
Mary Beth Hutchins, x105 at 703-683-5004

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE:
MAGGIE GALLAGHER MAKES THE CASE FOR MARRIAGE IN MARYLAND

"SB 116 doesn't just add more people to marriage, it changes marriage."
- Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of NOM

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of the National Organization for Marriage and one of the nation's leading spokespersons for the societal benefits of traditional marriage, today led off the testimony in favor of retaining marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman in the Maryland Senate Committee on Judicial Proceedings.

Gallagher made a powerful case that marriage is and should always be an institution of great importance to civil society as well as one steeped in religious tradition, because it is the only institution purposely established to connect children to their biological parents and tie those parents to the raising of their children into the responsible future generations of citizens.

"Marriage is the union of husband and wife for a reason: these are the only unions that can make new life and connect children in love to their mom and dad. SB 116 doesn't just add more people to marriage, it changes marriage. As so many pro-gay marriage voices testified at this very hearing, gay marriage is grounded in the belief that this view of marriage is like objections to interracial marriage--something that should be discarded in law, culture and society. If Maryland adopts this radical new view of marriage, it will have consequences." Gallagher stated.

Gallagher was asked by local supporters of marriage, including the Maryland Catholic Conference and the Association of Maryland Families, to lead testimony in opposition to SB 116, which would change the definition of marriage in Maryland from a man and a woman to "any two persons."

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in Maryland is stacked with gay "marriage" supporters, with a majority of the committee signed on as sponsors or co-sponsors of the bill. However, passage of the bill on the Senate Floor is uncertain, with supporters at least 4 votes short of the 24 needed for passage.

"Despite Maggie's powerful testimony, we know this committee today was stacked against us, and we expect the legislation to be on the Senate Floor as early as next week," said NOM President Brian Brown. "That is where the real action will be, and I would urge all of Maryland's State Senators to review Maggie's testimony before they vote on the Floor next week. This is no casual act they are considering."

Brown further indicated that NOM and its allies in Maryland will, if necessary, utilize Maryland's referendum process to block passage of this radical redefinition of marriage so that Maryland voters will have final say.

"The legislature should heed the overwhelming call of their constituents not to change marriage in Maryland," said Brown. "If they proceed down this radical path, the voters will surely overturn them in 2012."

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President, or Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of theĀ  Board, of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray, [email protected]@crcpublicrelations.com, (x130) or Mary Beth Hutchins, [email protected]@crcpublicrelations.com, (x105) at 703-683-5004.

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