NOM BLOG

Monthly Archives: August 2013

The National Organization for Marriage Questions Liz Cheney's Claim That She Is Not "Pro-Gay Marriage" - States that Mike Enzi Is the Clear Pro-Marriage Choice for Wyoming Senator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 30, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Matille Thebolt (703-683-5004)


National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C. – Today, Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) issued the following statement in response to Liz Cheney’s remarks concerning gay marriage:

"Liz Cheney now says she is not 'pro gay marriage', but she has long opposed a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as the union of one man and woman. If she truly supported protecting marriage, she would change her position and support both a Wyoming constitutional amendment and federal amendment to protect marriage. Luckily, there is a candidate in this race who has done more than give lip service to traditional marriage: Mike Enzi. He not only supported a marriage amendment, but actually co sponsored it."

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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 Matille Thebolt (x143), [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).

Religious Persecution: Coming to a Town Near You

“Wake up, people. It’s 1939 all over again.” That’s how Christine M. Flowers ends her provocative column in today’s Philadelphia Daily News on the real-world threats to religious freedom.

Flowers focuses primarily on religious persecution outside of the United States, but does note parallels to what we are witnessing—in some ways, for the first time—on the home front:

Those who've challenged the ObamaCare birth-control mandate know that the current administration is not particularly sympathetic to claims of religious freedom. Worse, it has become obvious that anyone who questions the validity of same-sex marriage based upon strongly held religious principles can expect to be called a bigot and, perhaps, find himself slapped with a civil-rights lawsuit, as recently happened to a wedding photographer in New Mexico.

cross-silhouette1a

She points out that, “In the 21st century, the cross is in the crosshairs, and the most brutal attacksare reserved for those who follow Jesus.”

Unfortunately, the column fails to fully connect the dots between the heinous acts of violence committed against Christians in places like the Middle East, and the seeds of Christian persecution being sown in the U.S. through the examples cited above.

Like the proverbial “slow boil of the frog,” religious liberty in the United States is increasingly falling victim to a “soft tyranny,” whose very design is to slowly erode these unalienable rights so as not to draw too much notice until it too late.

If Americans truly prize their freedom and liberty, then the challenge is to act now to prevent a full-blown assault on Christian consciences in the U.S. like those taking place around the world.

You can read the rest of Ms. Flowers column here.

Some things You Just Don't Want to Miss

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

It has been an incredible week for marriage and I want to make sure you've heard all the news.

This week was the launch of our $1 million dollar match campaign. A faithful and generous donor, who believes we can win the marriage battle, has stepped up and promised to match every dollar we raise between now and the end of the year. Up to $1 million dollars!

Donate Today

If you haven't taken the opportunity to have your donation doubled by this incredible donor, please do so right now. Help us defend marriage in the legislatures of Hawaii, Illinois, and New Jersey. Help us prepare for ballot fights in at least three and maybe eight states. Help us defend your religious liberties from coast to coast. Your sacrificial donation today will be doubled dollar for dollar.

After you've made your contribution there is still plenty of work to be done. NOM has several action items that you can take to protect marriage, defend our religious liberties, and urge a return to the rule of law in our land:

First is calling and sending an email to Chairman Camp of the Ways and Means Committee. In investigating the IRS scandal and the felony committed against NOM, the Ways and Means Committee has not conducted an in-depth investigation or questioned under oath anyone from the Human Rights Campaign, nor gotten full answers from anyone at the IRS including the former Acting Director. Please use this link to get Chairman Camp's phone number; then, after you’ve called his office, send him an email demanding he use the subpoena power of his committee to get to the bottom of the scandal.

Next, is the state of Hawaii. In Hawaii, the Governor has presented the legislature with a draft bill to legalize same-sex 'marriage' and he may call a special session of the legislature to force this through. If you're in Hawaii, or know family and friends there, please take action to send the State Representatives and Senators an urgent message urging them to reject the redefinition of marriage.

Moving east from Hawaii, the California Legislature is at it again, this time considering legislation that would strip groups of their tax exemption if their beliefs and practices don't affirm concepts like "gender identity" and gay "marriage" and other ideas that fly in the face of the teachings of virtually every faith tradition. SB 323 was originally aimed at the Boy Scouts, falsely claiming that they engaged in discriminatory practices by supposedly not accepting homosexual members. But the fact is that the bill would punish any type of group with traditional values, and allow only liberal groups that affirm the homosexual agenda to enjoy a tax exemption. If you are in California or have friends and family there, please use this link to send a message to the CA Assembly asking them to reject this discriminatory law.

Continuing our journey east, New Mexico and Texas continue to be in the news. In New Mexico, county clerks across the state are deciding for themselves to issue same-sex 'marriage' licenses, against the June written opinion of the Attorney General. Thousands of you have already sent emails to Governor Martinez asking her to intervene to restore the rule of law and defend marriage as one man and one woman. If you haven't yet, use this link to send her a message then forward it to any friends and family you have in New Mexico.

Finally in Texas of all places, religious liberties and the freedom to speak and live our faith in the public square is under attack by a proposed San Antonio city ordinance that would bar anyone who has ever allegedly "discriminated" in word or deed from working from the city. This includes organizations that have contracts with the city to provide essential services. Churches and other faith groups are understandably up in arms, knowing that this ordinance would impact them and anyone who has ever voiced support for traditional marriage. Homosexual activists consider the mere act of supporting marriage as the union of one man and one woman to be discrimination per se. The City Council vote is September 5th. Faith groups have begun having rallies and will continue to work to stop this unconstitutional proposal. Please take the time to make your voice heard by sending Governor Perry and the Attorney General of Texas a message urging them to do what they can to stop this proposal.

And don't forget the $1 million match. Please make sure you donate today to have your generous gift doubled in the fight to defend true marriage and our first amendment right of freedom of religion.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

Treasury Department and IRS To Recognize Same-Sex Marriages in States That Don't Allow Same-Sex Marriage

Continuing a pattern of lawlessness across the nation, the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department have also overstepped their authority by granting federal tax treatment to "married" same-sex couples. As our president Brian Brown pointed out yesterday, "The Obama administration is intent on forcing same-sex 'marriage' on an unwilling public. Congress alone has the responsibility of determining federal tax law."

Same-sex couples who get a marriage license in a state that has redefined marriage to include same-sex couples, but who live in a state that does not recognize their marriage, will be treated as a married couple for federal tax purposes, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday.

The ruling does not apply to state taxes. So, a same-sex couple that has been married in a state that has redefined marriage, but lives in a state that has not redefined marriage, would file as married for their federal taxes and as single for their state taxes. -Christian Post

Capitol

Resources to You Help You Defend Marriage

In the sixth installment of its series on lessons we can learn from DOMA, Marriage: Unique for a Reason provides some fantastic videos, links, booklets, and other practical resources to help you better promote and defend marriage.

Marriage- Unique for a Reason...Being “neutral” toward marriage redefinition is no longer an option; being proactive is. Defending and promoting marriage go hand in hand, and while not everyone is called to engage in public policy advocacy work, all of us can intentionally promote and defend the uniqueness of marriage and help people see and articulate alternative responses to the dominant cultural messages on marriage.

Marriage: Unique for a Reason has four themes: sexual difference and complementarity, the gift of children and the need for fathers and mothers, marriage and the common good, and marriage and religious liberty. The order is important. The series starts with sexual difference because that is the most fundamental component – and the one most often overlooked – of marriage’s meaning. Starting with sexual difference helps to get at the roots of the issue and address the often unspoken assumptions. It also provides a solid anthropological grounding for the other three themes.

The video about sexual difference is called “Made for Each Other.” Like all of the videos, it comes with a Viewer’s Guide and a Resource Booklet for priests, deacons, catechists, and leaders.

The second theme is about children and the need for fathers and mothers. This theme includes examining what fruitfulness is and why it’s at the heart of marriage. It considers the often overlooked justice issue in the marriage debate: justice for children, to have the best chance at having a mom and a dad. It also addresses the issues of infertility and single parents (see FAQs #3 and #5). The video for this theme is called “Made for Life.” It also comes with a Viewer’s Guide and Resource Booklet.

...there is one video in Spanish – to be released later in 2013 – that incorporates all four themes in a longer, dramatic style. It’s called “El Matrimonio: Hecho para el amor y la vida” (Marriage: Made for Love and Life). The final version will be subtitled in English, and the accompanying Study Guide will be bilingual, so these resources will be suitable for mixed-language audiences.

Visit Marriage: Unique for a Reason's blog for more FAQs on marriage and resources that will help you protect it.

The National Organization for Marriage Responds To The U.S. Treasury Department / IRS Granting Federal Tax Treatment to "Married" Same Sex Couples

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 29, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)


"The Treasury Department is grossly overstepping its authority. This is a nation of laws. Only Congress has the authority to change the law." — Brian Brown, NOM president —

National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C. — Today, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) denounced the U.S. Treasury Department’s ruling that same-sex couples who "married" in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex 'marriage' will be treated as married couples for federal tax purposes even if they live in state that does not recognize same-sex 'marriage.'

"The Treasury Department is grossly overstepping its authority. This is a nation of laws. Only Congress has the authority to change the law," stated Brian Brown, NOM president.

This action continues a pattern of lawlessness across the nation where administrators and clerks have taken it upon themselves to interpret and re-write laws as they pertain to marriage. Only the legislative branches of the Federal or State governments enact or rewrite the law.

"The Obama administration is intent on forcing same-sex 'marriage' on an unwilling public," Brown said. "Congress alone has the responsibility of determining federal tax law."

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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).

Despite Personal Views, Mayor Remains Committed to Democratic Process

Mayor Larry Keller

We've heard lots of news lately about elected officials sidestepping or ignoring the law completely in order to push same-sex marriage in their states. But to Mayor Larry Kelly, Pennsylvania's marriage law is no different from any other state law. And despite his personal views, he knows his constituents trust him to enforce it.

Philly.com:

...Mayor Larry Keller, citing his duty as an elected official to uphold the law, declined to officiate a same-sex wedding for a couple who had obtained a marriage license in Montgomery County, where such licenses have been issued in defiance of state law since earlier this month.

In a letter to council members last week, Keller said that he did not want to "put New Hope Borough, and myself, at legal risk for breach of my official duties as Mayor" by overseeing the wedding. State law defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Lincoln County Clerk: "I Will Not Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses"

Not all New Mexico county clerks are taking the state's marriage law into their own hands.

With county clerks in Dona Ana County and Santa Fe County issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, clerks in other counties are feeling the heat and that's not how the issue should be handled, in the view of Lincoln County Clerk Rhonda Burrows.

Gov. Martinez"It's unfortunately that county clerks have been put in the position of ruling on an issue that should be decided by a court, by the Legislature or by the vote of the people," she said Tuesday. "But unless and until we have a (state) Supreme Court ruling or a specific case is decided in Lincoln County, we will continue under the current position of not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

"...I will continue to follow the law as we understand it and as applicable to Lincoln County, and I will not issue same-sex marriage licenses." -Ruidoso News

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez stated yesterday that clerks do not have the authority to make, break, or interpret the law. But Martinez doesn't need to wait on the Judiciary. As Governor and a top executive official of New Mexico, she is able to state the policy and hand it down to the people. Send Governor Martinez an urgent message asking her to intervene immediately to stop this lawlessness.

And keep in mind, this is what an elected official SHOULD do when clerks defy the law!

50,000 Signatures for 1M1W Marriage in Scotland!

Scotland for Marriage has gathered more than 50,000 signatures for their petition in support of retaining the current definition of marriage between one man and one woman. According to the group, that's more supporters than the combined paid membership of all the main political parties in Scotland.

The 50,000th signatory is 20-year-old Iain Donoghue, a third-year student from Falkirk.

He said: “I feel that it is entirely unnecessary to change the existing law. Marriage is between one man and one woman to the exclusion of others with a view to the procreation of children.”

He added: “The opinion polls are very clear on the issue and show widespread support for the existing law and suggest that two-thirds of people are in favour of maintaining the status quo.”

A Scotland for Marriage spokesman said the group intends to put pressure on politicians about the plans. -Christian Institute

Scotland for Marriage

Huffington Post Admits We’re Right

Whenever we talk about the effects of redefining marriage -- the normalization and legalization of polygamy, threats to religious liberty, lawsuits against small business owners, etc. -- same-sex marriage advocates counter by insisting these threats aren't real. They claim we're overreacting so that they can falsely assuage the legitimate concerns of Americans who value their first amendment rights. But the truth is, most SSM activists know exactly what's in the cards once marriage is redefined.

HuffPo:

UKThe ink is not yet dry on David Cameron's gay marriage Bill and already two stories in the news this week show that the Bill's critics have been proved right. A wealthy gay couple say they "have launched" legal action to force gay weddings on the Church of England; and the BBC is cheerleading for polyamory (mutiple-partner relationships).

...During the passage of the gay marriage Bill, I was one of those saying that the Church would face litigation. I was accused of scaremongering and of whipping up hysteria. It'll never happen, they said with a straight face. Perhaps they meant it. Perhaps they honestly couldn't see the danger. Perhaps, but I doubt it. The thing is, many people could see the risk, including the Church itself (initially) and leading human rights lawyers.

Take Immediate Action To Stop Discrimination Against Pro-Family Groups

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

The California Legislature is at it again, this time considering legislation that would strip groups of their tax exemption if their beliefs and practices don't affirm concepts like "gender identity" and gay "marriage" and other ideas that fly in the face of the teachings of virtually every faith tradition. SB 323 was originally aimed at the Boy Scouts, falsely claiming that they engaged in discriminatory practices by supposedly not accepting homosexual members.

But the fact is that the bill would punish any type of group with traditional values, and allow only liberal groups that affirm the homosexual agenda to enjoy a tax exemption.

SB 323 is an example of what happens when marriage is redefined, as tragically happened when the US Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of the Proposition 8 case. Seven million Californians had their victory for marriage stolen by a single, rogue federal judge in San Francisco — someone who himself was engaged in a long term homosexual relationship just like those who were challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8. Because the state officials responsible for defending Prop 8 refused to do so, and because a bare majority of the Supreme Court said the proponents of the initiative couldn't defend it, the decision of this lone judge was allowed to stand, redefining marriage over the express determination of the people themselves.

It's no wonder that the main group that opposed Proposition 8, the mis-named Equality California, is the same group that is sponsoring SB 323. They, with their allies, want to silence faith groups and those who stand in the public square for a traditional view of sexual morality. In fact, they'd like to punish us by stripping faith groups of their tax exemption.

Think about how outrageous this legislation really is. Groups that have historically fed the hungry, housed the homeless, cared for orphans, educated the young, and tended the sick are all being targeted by homosexual advocates who demand conformance to their narrow agenda. No matter the incredible service that church groups and those who hold a traditional set of values and beliefs have performed for society and youth, they are to be punished if some state official determines that they "discriminate" by not going along with the gay lobby's agenda.

It is imperative that we all fight back now by contacting our state Assembly representative and urging him or her to oppose SB 323. It's unfair, un-American, one-sided and frankly outrageous. Contact your representative here.

We have a real chance of stopping this legislation, but we need you to act immediately. Please act this very minute to contact your Assembly representative.

Now that homosexual marriage advocates have gotten the courts to do their dirty work and impose same-sex 'marriage,' they now are focusing their efforts on silencing all those who oppose them. And make no mistake, that's exactly what SB 323 is intended to do.

Already in other states, we've seen lawsuits by government officials and gay advocates against florists, photographers, inn keepers, bakers, churches and others, all because they don't want to personally participate in same-sex ceremonies. We expect similar actions in California. But no state has yet gone as far as the bullies behind SB 323 in California who want to put their opponents out of business, and allow only groups that embrace a homosexual-friendly agenda to enjoy a tax exemption.

We can't let them get away with this. And with your help, they won't get away with it. Please contact your state Assembly representative immediately and demand that he or she oppose SB 323.

Thank you for your attention to this critically important issue.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

Will They Hear You?

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Governor Abercrombie has announced his intention to call a special session of the legislature in the event that there appear to be enough votes to redefine marriage in Hawaii to make it genderless.

We're urgently asking you to act right now to let your elected officials know that you oppose any such measure, and that they should vote to preserve and defend marriage in Hawaii as it has been legally defined: as the union of one man and one woman.

In a letter to the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu on August 22, Bishop Larry Silva wrote that "several legislators who are not in favor of same-sex marriage have told [him] that the loudest voices on the issue are those who favor it, while those who say they are opposed are relatively silent" [emphasis added].

This is how marriage has been redefined elsewhere around the country: the powerful lobbying forces and the noise-making power of an elite minority drown out the voices of the countless majority of Americans who believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.

We can't let that happen in Hawaii. Don't let the noisy few foist this radical agenda on the pro-family majority. Let them hear from you today!

We cannot remain "relatively silent" and expect marriage to be preserved against this latest attack. That means it's important to consolidate our voices and speak truth to power together. So, please, after you've taken action today, forward this email to your family and friends, and share it on Facebook and Twitter so that the loudest voice heard in Honolulu is yours!

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

Divorced Man's Top 20 Things To Do Differently in Marriage

A little mid-week marriage inspiration:

After his marriage of 16 years ended, Gerald Rogers wrote on Facebook the 20 things he would do differently if he had his time over again with his now ex-wife.

"Obviously, I'm not a relationship expert," Rogers begins. "But there's something about my divorce being finalised this week that gives me perspective of things I wish I would have done different ... After losing a woman that I loved, and a marriage of almost 16 years, here's the advice I wish I would have had."

Couple on Beach1. Never stop courting. Never stop dating. NEVER EVER take that woman for granted. When you asked her to marry you, you promised to be that man that would OWN HER HEART and to fiercely protect it. This is the most important and sacred treasure you will ever be entrusted with. SHE CHOSE YOU. Never forget that, and NEVER GET LAZY in your love.

2. Always see the best in her. Focus only on what you love. What you focus on will expand. If you focus on what bugs you, all you will see is reasons to be bugged. If you focus on what you love, you can't help but be consumed by love. Focus to the point where you can no longer see anything but love, and you know without a doubt that you are the luckiest man on earth to be have this woman as your wife.

3) Fill her soul every day… learn her love languages and the specific ways that she feels important and validated and CHERISHED. Ask her to create a list of 10 THINGS that make her feel loved and memorize those things and make it a priority everyday to make her feel like a queen.

4) Forgive immediately and focus on the future rather than carrying weight from the past. Don’t let your history hold you hostage. Holding onto past mistakes that either you or she makes, is like a heavy anchor to your marriage and will hold you back. FORGIVENESS IS FREEDOM. Cut the anchor loose and always choose love.

If you are reading this and find wisdom in my pain, share it those those young husbands whose hearts are still full of hope, and with those couples you may know who may have forgotten how to love. One of those men may be like I was, and in these hard earned lessons perhaps something will awaken in him and he will learn to be the man his lady has been waiting for.

The woman that told him 'I do', and trusted her life with him, has been waiting for this man to step up.

If you are reading this and your marriage isn’t what you want it to be, take 100% responsibility for YOUR PART in marriage, regardless of where your spouse is at, and commit to applying these lessons while there is time.

Finish reading Gerald Rogers' list on his Facebook page.

Online Poll: 95% Say Elected Officials Should Enforce Laws as Written

Elected officials are defying state law by making unilateral decisions about marriage. Should this be tolerated?

One News Now conducted a poll this week, asking whether duly elected officials should enforce laws as written or if we should allow them to simply assume the role of the courts. What do you think?

One News Now Poll

Men and Woman: There's a Difference (Shocker!)

Same-sex marriage advocates will tell you "love is love". That there is zero difference between men and women, apart from sexual organs. But the differences between genders are far more than what meets the eye. Scientifically, our brains show major genetic differences as well.

Mothers and fathers play unique roles in the lives of their children because ultimately, they are complementary beings.

There is a growing number of people in our nation today who think that sex (that is, maleness and femaleness) is not an objective biological reality, but rather a social construct.

Human BrainThose who reject the objectivity of sex will often say that although male and female bodies may have some differences between them, our brains are just the same. One man, who is currently raising three “genderless children,” argued, “If you really want to get to know someone, you don’t ask what’s between their legs.”

As it turns out, male and female brains are biologically different.

In 2004 an all-star team of fourteen neuroscientists, from the University of California, the University of Michigan, and Stanford University, published findings showing that male and female brains are genetically different.

The differences between male and female brains affect many aspects of our behavior, including memory, emotion, vision and hearing, how we handle stress… and even the toys we like to play with.

In 2002, Melissa Hines of City University London, and Gerianne M. Alexander of Texas A&M University decided to conduct experiments on vervet monkeys, one of our closest biological cousins. They found that the monkeys showed “sex differences in toy preferences similar to those documented previously in children.” The boy monkeys typically preferred playing with cars and balls, while the female monkeys preferred playing with dolls and pots. (And they didn’t have parents or toy catalogues telling them which they should prefer.) -MattFradd.com