NOM BLOG

Category Archives: Delaware

Brian Brown: Delaware Gay Marriage Vote Will Be Campaign Issue Next Election

Brian Brown spoke with the Associated Press about the fact that gay marriage will be a political issue in the next elections in states where legislators -- especially Republican legislators -- voted to redefine marriage:

Delaware State Capitol"...opponents of gay marriage say Delaware lawmakers will face consequences for supporting the measure, which cleared the Senate on a 12-9 vote and was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Jack Markell barely half an hour later.

“I think there will be some people that will be replaced,” said Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, a conservative group opposed to same-sex marriage.

Brown said he thinks both Cloutier and Rep. Michael Ramone of Newark, the only other Republican lawmaker to vote for gay marriage, will be defeated if they seek re-election.

“Either in a primary or in a general election, we don’t really care,” Brown said, adding that plenty of Democrats oppose gay marriage.

“The reality is that these were very close votes, even with a supermajority of Democrats in Delaware,” he noted. “They needed 11, they got 12.”

While gay marriage is now the law of Delaware, Brown said his group would work to overturn it.

“It may take a long time ... but we’ll continue to fight and continue to support candidates who support traditional marriage,” he said."

National Organization for Marriage Condemns Redefinition of Marriage in Delaware

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)


"Lawmakers in Delaware chose to abandon and discard society's most important institution and put their pro-marriage constituents on a collision course with the law." — Brian Brown, NOM president —

National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C. — The National Organization for Marriage today condemned passage of same-sex ‘marriage' in the Delaware state Senate Tuesday and pledged to make sure that voters know if their lawmakers voted to redefine marriage. The Delaware Senate passed the bill by a vote of 12-9. Two weeks ago the House passed it 23-18. Even in this deep blue state, the final vote was close.

"Lawmakers in Delaware chose to abandon and discard society's most important institution and put their pro-marriage constituents on a collision course with the law." said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "The Senators and Representatives who voted for this bill have endangered people of faith who believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman. In Delaware, as in other states that have redefined marriage, it will not be long before these good men and women feel the repercussions of this new law."

This legislation does not create a new category of marriage for same-sex couples. Rather, it completely redefines marriage for all people in Delaware. While it purports to include so-called religious liberty protections, it contains no protections for many faith-based organizations, small businesses and individuals who are frequently targeted for legal punishment over their refusal to countenance genderless marriage.

In Vermont, it was Christian innkeepers. It was Christian florists in Washington State. Elsewhere photographers, bakers, event venue operators, notary publics, justices of the peace and town clerks have all been targeted for punishment if they do not agree to go along with gay ‘marriage' in violation of their deeply held beliefs.

And the biggest losers in the redefinition of marriage will be children.

"For the first time, the state of Delaware is saying to its children they do not deserve both a mother and a father, and are backing a law that is designed to intentionally deprive some kids of either a mom or a dad," Brown said. "It's bad enough when families break down through divorce or death, but it's unconscionable when a state encourages this through policies that deprive children of the love of both a mother and a father. This is a very sad day for Delaware."

"This is not the end of the debate. We intend to make sure that every citizen in Delaware knows how their policymakers voted on this critical issue. We will hold the politicians accountable for their votes. Republicans like Catherine Cloutier, especially, will have to answer for abandoning marriage — a core position of the GOP platform — and many may face primary challengers, as they should."

###

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).

WE MUST ACT NOW! Tell Dover: Do NOT Redefine Marriage!

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

On Wednesday, the Delaware Senate executive committee cleared consideration of House Bill 75 to be voted upon on the Senate floor as early as next week.

This bill would redefine marriage in Delaware in a radical way: it would re-create parenting as a genderless institution, and deny kids their fundamental right to both a mom and a dad.

Click here to send an URGENT message to your state senator urging him or her to REJECT House Bill 75 and to say "NO" to redefining marriage in the First State.

Supporter, I need your help if we are going to preserve and uphold marriage in Delaware!

Take action today to tell the Senate to vote against this radical legislation which would spell disaster for people and communities of faith in Delaware, and for the future of all Delaware families!

We need to stop this radical legislation in the Senate because the State Constitution does not give citizens recourse to overrule legislators through a ballot initiative down the line; and Governor Markell has thrown all of his support behind this bill.

I need you to do two things for me right away:

  1. Send your state senator a strong, clear message that marriage should NOT be redefined in Delaware.

  2. Forward this email to your friends and family all across the First State. For your convenience, you can use the buttons below:

Facebook ThisTweet ThisEmail This

We MUST get the word out far and wide. House Bill 75 will have devastating effects for families, children and people of faith. I'm counting on you to take action right away and to get at least three or four of your family and friends to do the same.

Tell the Senate: Do NOT Redefine Marriage in Delaware!

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

You must act TODAY to preserve and uphold marriage in Delaware!

Click here to send an urgent message to your State Senator and the members of the Senate Executive Committee urging them to REJECT House Bill 75 and to say "NO" to redefining marriage in the First State.

This week, the Senate Executive Committee is considering House Bill 75 (HB 75), which would impose genderless "marriage" on the citizens of Delaware!

Governor Markell has said that same-sex marriage in Delaware is "inevitable," but you and I know that the people of Delaware are resilient and strong.

The time we have left in which to act is rapidly slipping away. We need to stop this radical legislation in the Senate right now—the State Constitution does not give citizens recourse to overrule legislators through a ballot initiative down the line.

THE TIME TO ACT IS TODAY!

Click here to send a strong and clear message to your leaders in Dover that marriage is not of the State's making, and not the State's to un-make!

Marriage is good for children, good for men and women, and good for society as a whole. And everywhere marriage has been redefined, the consequences for ordinary citizens, and men and women of faith, have been disastrous.

There's every reason to believe that the consequences in Delaware of marriage redefinition would be even worse: the inappropriately named "Civil Marriage Equality and Religious Freedom Act of 2013" (HB 75) does nothing to protect people's conscience and religious freedom.

There are no protections offered to individuals of faith and faith-based business owners from legal repercussions for opting out of assisting in same-sex 'weddings'—to say nothing of the fact that people who believe in marriage between one man and one woman would now be stigmatized in law as backward-thinking and haters, the equivalent of bigots or racists.

We cannot allow this radical legislation to determine the future of marriage in Delaware. We need to preserve and protect marriage for our children's and grandchildren's generations.

Tell the Senate today: marriage deserves to be defended—not redefined!

Thank you for your quick attention to this crucial matter.

PS: Click the buttons below to forward this action item on to your pro-marriage family members and friends, or to post to Facebook and Twitter. EVERYONE needs to take action right away so that the Senate knows without a doubt that the people of the First State stand for marriage!

Please take a few minutes out of your day to contact your Senator, and then find at least two or three friends who can similarly take action! The future of marriage in Delaware is at stake—let's give it the best defense possible!

National Organization for Marriage Urges Delaware Senate to Reject Legislation Redefining Marriage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)


National Organization for Marriage

"Marriage is intrinsically the union of one man and woman; attempting to redefine it will strip the institution of its meaning, harm children and open people of faith to real consequences." — Brian Brown, NOM president —

Washington, D.C. — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today urged the Delaware Senate to defeat legislation that would redefine marriage. The House narrowly passed HB 75 yesterday, sending the measure to the Senate.

"The passage of HB 75 by the Delaware House was expected, though the vote was closer than many anticipated. It's now up to the upper chamber to exercise restraint and preserve the institution of marriage," said Brian Brown NOM's president. "Marriage is intrinsically the union of one man and woman; attempting to redefine it will strip the institution of its meaning, harm children and open people of faith to real consequences."

The Delaware legislation makes marriage genderless so that people of the same sex can be 'married' under the law. As such HB 75 shifts the purpose of marriage away from bringing men and women together to provide mothers and fathers for children, and instead changes the institution into state recognition of romantic relationships.

"The only reason that Delaware or any other state has any business being involved in licensing marriages is the interest of children," Brown said. "The state has a profound interest in children, both to encourage couples to have children so that society can be propagated, and to ensure that those children have the best opportunity to be raised by a mother and a father. So-called same-sex 'marriage' severs the interests of children from our marriage laws, and says that marriage exists to provide emotional satisfaction to adults. That is a very bad step for America's first state to take."

NOM said that while the legislation purports to protect people of faith from lawsuits for refusing to recognize same-sex unions as marriages, the bill fails to include meaningful religious liberty protections.

"This bill redefines marriage for everyone in Delaware," Brown said. "Every marriage will now be genderless. That means that anyone who cannot accept this radical and flawed change to marriage is going to be subjected to punishment. HB 75 contains no meaningful protections for people who have deeply held beliefs that marriage is and can only be the union of one man and one woman. We can expect religious groups and nonprofits along with small businesses and individuals to face consequences. These have included government fines, lawsuits, denials of contracts and government services, and stripping nonprofits of their tax exemption, among other consequences. Religious charities have been forced to abandon their service mission because they can no longer maintain fidelity to their beliefs while accepting genderless marriage. State Senators need to realize that these are the consequences they are imposing on its citizens, especially people of faith, if they vote to redefine marriage. We urge them to preserve marriage and reject redefining this most important institution."

###

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).

URGENT! Same-Sex Marriage Vote in Dover TOMORROW!

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

The gay marriage bill introduced last week in the Delaware legislature is being voted on TOMORROW!

Please take action right away! Click here to contact your legislators TODAY and tell them to respect the historic and common sense understanding of marriage as the union of one man and one woman by voting NO on House Bill 75!

The Delaware state Constitution does NOT offer citizens the right to overrule legislators through a voter initiative or constitutional amendment referendum. With nearly 2-1 Democratic majorities in both houses of the legislature and Governor Markell putting intense political pressure on Democratic members, we need your help right away to stop this bill from passing!

Supporter, with your help, we CAN stop same-sex marriage from coming to Delaware!

Please take a few minutes to make your voice heard today.

Your message will be immediately sent to your state Senator and Representative, urging them to stand up and protect marriage and religious liberty.

As you know, we've heard that same-sex marriage bills were "inevitable" and "sure things" before. And—when the citizens who respect and value marriage stand up—we've been able to stop them!

The incredibly misnamed "Civil Marriage Equality and Religious Freedom Act of 2013" is anything but... under this proposed legislation the only religious "protection" offered is to exempt clergy from being forced to perform same-sex weddings. No individual conscience protections are offered for people who don't recognize same-sex "marriages." No protections for business owners from being sued.

As if we need any more reminders why this is such a crucial issue and a critical moment for our State, news from up north gives us the latest terrible example of what happens where marriage is redefined. Christian News reports:

A recent anti-bullying presentation at a middle school in New York that focused on homosexuality and gender identity has angered parents after their daughters have come home to tell them they were forced to ask another girl for a kiss.

[...]

During the workshop for girls, the 13 and 14-year-olds were told to ask one another for a kiss. They were also taught words such as "pansexual" and "genderqueer."

Parents were not given any advance notice about this instruction, nor afforded the opportunity to opt their kids out of it. This is what's at stake: our right to raise our children with our values!

Everywhere that same-sex "marriage" has been made the law of the land, we have immediately seen Christians and other people of faith put in the crosshairs. Don't let that happen in Delaware!

Please take action right away!

Thank you.

URGENT: One Chance To Stop Same-Sex Marriage In Delaware!

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Delaware is one of same-sex marriage activists' top targets in 2013 — and it's up to us to stop them.

Why?

Like many of the states along the northern Atlantic seaboard, the Delaware Constitution does not give citizens the right to overrule legislators through a voter initiative or constitutional amendment referendum.

Couple that with a sympathetic governor and nearly 2-1 Democratic majorities in both houses of the legislature, and gay marriage activists have already placed Delaware in the crosshairs for 2013.

Governor Markell even went so far as to claim that same-sex marriage is "inevitable" in Delaware.

But he's forgetting one thing . . .

The people of Delaware have a powerful voice.

If we all stand together, legislators will have no choice but to listen. But it's going to take every one of us . . . sending letters, making phone calls, contacting friends and family.

This is a critical fight, and our opponents are already off and running. A bill to redefine marriage in Delaware was introduced just last week and has already been fast-tracked through a House committee hearing and vote.

So much for civil unions being a compromise.

Just two years ago, gay marriage advocates pushed through a civil unions bill, claiming it would be a compromise that respected the definition of marriage and the rights of religious believers, while at the same time guaranteeing protections for same-sex couples.

And once again, civil unions are being exposed as nothing more than a Trojan Horse.

Please click here to send a letter to your state senator and representative today.

Then use the social networking buttons below to forward this email to at least 5 friends or share it through Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook ThisTweet ThisEmail This

The need is urgent and time is short. I'm counting on you to join me in taking action right now.

Marriage Redefinition Clears House Committee in Delaware

With the committee vote passing, the bill will soon make its way to the House floor.

From Delaware.Newszap:

House Bill 75, legislation for marriage equality, sailed through the House Administration Committee by a 4-1 vote Wednesday after two hours of impassioned discussion.

The bill, effective July 1, would convert all civil unions to marriages within one year. Same-sex civil unions would no longer be performed after that day.

[...]

Nicole Theis, president of Delaware Family Policy Council, said she and her constituents knew two years ago as they debated civil unions, same-sex marriage would be the agenda and could go further.

It is unclear when the bill will be presented to the full body for a vote, but Delaware citizens should not hesitate to contact their legislators today!

Marriage Battles Are Heating Up Around the Country in 2013!

Keep checking our Advocacy Center to see what you can do to protect marriage in 2013

Immediate Action Needed to Block SSM in Delaware!

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Same-sex marriage advocates in Delaware are very publicly planning a push for a new law to redefine marriage when the Legislature reconvenes for its new session in just over a week. Governor Markell claims that the passage of same-sex marriage in The First State is "inevitable."

But you and I both know that that's a lie!

The inevitability of SSM isn't a fact—it's an argument same-sex marriage advocates use over and over in an attempt to get the American people to give up the fight for what we know is true about marriage:

Marriage is a good for both individuals and society.

Marriage unites men and women, and protects children.

This is the truth. And we need the law to uphold that truth, not undermine it.

Please click here to send a message to your state lawmakers today. Let them know the people of Delaware are watching, and will hold them accountable for their vote on the marriage issue when election time rolls around.

Send your Lawmakers a Message!

The consequences of these politicians' votes will impact Delawareans from all walks of life, but people of faith will bear the brunt of it.

Activists know the American people—even those who support same-sex marriage—don't want to force religious groups to go against their beliefs. And yet, everywhere same-sex marriage becomes law, it is religious believers who become the law's first targets.

Across the country, Catholic Charities is being forced to abandon adoption and foster care services as a result of same-sex marriage being enacted in various states.

Reception halls, inns, and bed-and-breakfasts face lawsuits for declining to host same-sex wedding ceremonies or receptions.

And schools across the country are facing increasing pressures to teach elementary students about "Prince & Prince," or "Heather's Two Mommies."

Send your lawmakers a message: Don't Mess with Marriage!

Please use this link to email your state senator and representative today, urging them to reject same-sex marriage in the upcoming legislative session.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Success or failure may well hinge on the outpouring of opposition to this bill that politicians receive over the next couple of weeks. After you take action, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY FORWARD this email to all your friends and family in Delaware, or use the social networking buttons below to post to Facebook or Twitter.

Facebook ThisTweet ThisEmail This

Thank you.

Bloomberg: SSM Backers Remain Focused on States Where People Can't Have a Say

More evidence that despite what happened in these past elections, gay marriage backers still don't trust their ability to win state elections:

Gay-marriage advocates, coming off their first ballot-box victories, are targeting New Jersey and five other U.S. states where the road to legalization is simpler because voters can’t overturn laws through referendums.

In Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island, lawmakers plan to consider or revisit the issue next year, and all except Minnesota already allow civil unions. Even though they prevailed in votes in four states Nov. 6 after a decade of defeats, backers say they prefer to make homosexual weddings legal through legislatures or courts. -- Bloomberg BusinessWeek

University of North Carolina: Government-Approved Theology on Gay Issues

Columnist Mike Adams at Town Hall comments:

The campus left [at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington] keeps handing me more material to write about in my weekly column. The endless supply of column-worthy madness is fueled by the endless degree of hypocrisy in the name of campus diversity. That isn’t surprising because our campus has not just one but five diversity offices. And it really makes you wonder what these people sit around and do all day while the government is going bankrupt by over-spending your money.

In the case of our LGBTQIA Office, the answer is simple: they investigate and then endorse churches based on their stance on homosexuality. And they print lists of approved gay-friendly churches using official university letter-head. Then they circulate their approved church list on state-owned computers to other state employees who then recommend the approved churches to their students.

Delaware Lets Boyfriends and Girlfriends Sue for Rights to Your Child

So a lesbian mom adopts a child in Kazakhstan. Her girlfriend says she intended to file for a joint adoption in Delaware but no papers were filed before they broke up. Delaware's high court rules the adopted mom's the mom, end of story. The Delaware legislature passes a law to give girlfriends and boyfriends potential "defacto parenthood" status.

This particular case is a same-sex couple, but it could easily have been an opposite sex couple:. The lesbian mom who adopted a child and doesn't want to subdivide her parental rights with her ex-girlfriend puts it this way:

"Parental rights have been dismantled," Smith said. "It will take a few years for people to realize what it means, but parents don't have the right to care and custody of their children any more. Another individual now has the right to sue you for rights to your children. It's downright scary."

Wait until abusive boyfriends discover this threat to hold over their girlfriend's heads.