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again, please provide a RS (their site says "NOM has not been involved in the Washington state effort to date" [July 30, 2009]
m →‎Board of Directors: No other religious affiation is mentioned in the list, why is this important?
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{{cite web |url= http://www.ctfamily.org/staff.html |title= Family Institute of Connecticut |publisher= www.ctfamily.org |accessdate= 2009-04-14 |last= |first= }} </ref>
{{cite web |url= http://www.ctfamily.org/staff.html |title= Family Institute of Connecticut |publisher= www.ctfamily.org |accessdate= 2009-04-14 |last= |first= }} </ref>
* Luis Tellez (President, Witherspoon Institute)<ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.winst.org/people/board_of_trustees.php |title= The Witherspoon Institute |publisher= www.winst.org |accessdate= 2009-04-14 |last= |first= }} </ref>
* Luis Tellez (President, Witherspoon Institute)<ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.winst.org/people/board_of_trustees.php |title= The Witherspoon Institute |publisher= www.winst.org |accessdate= 2009-04-14 |last= |first= }} </ref>
* [[Matthew S. Holland]] (Faculty member, [[Brigham Young University]]),<ref> {{cite web |url= http://fhssfaculty.byu.edu/msh39/ |title= Faculty - Family, Home & Social Sciences |publisher= fhssfaculty.byu.edu |accessdate= 2009-04-14 |last= |first= }} </ref> replaced in April 2009 by [[Orson Scott Card]], Mormon novelist<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&ct=6938473 |title= NOM Latest News |publisher= National Organization for Marriage |accessdate= 2009-04-25 |last= |first= }} </ref>
* [[Matthew S. Holland]] (Faculty member, [[Brigham Young University]]),<ref> {{cite web |url= http://fhssfaculty.byu.edu/msh39/ |title= Faculty - Family, Home & Social Sciences |publisher= fhssfaculty.byu.edu |accessdate= 2009-04-14 |last= |first= }} </ref> replaced in April 2009 by [[Orson Scott Card]], novelist<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&ct=6938473 |title= NOM Latest News |publisher= National Organization for Marriage |accessdate= 2009-04-25 |last= |first= }} </ref>
* [[Brian S. Brown]], Executive Director (former Executive Director of Family Institute of Connecticut)<ref> http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/c.omL2KeN0LzH/b.3479573/k.E2D0/About_NOM.htm </ref>
* [[Brian S. Brown]], Executive Director (former Executive Director of Family Institute of Connecticut)<ref> http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/c.omL2KeN0LzH/b.3479573/k.E2D0/About_NOM.htm </ref>


Revision as of 02:58, 6 September 2009

National Organization for Marriage
Formation2007
Type501(c)(4) nonprofit
Headquarters20 Nassau St.
Suite 242
Location
President
Maggie Gallagher
Websitewww.nationformarriage.org

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is an American non-profit organization that seeks to prevent the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.[1][2] Its current headquarters is in Princeton, New Jersey, but it will soon be relocated to Washington, D.C.[3][4] The organization was founded in 2007 by current president Maggie Gallagher, along with Princeton faculty member Robert P. George, who serves as chairman of the board.[5][6] Brian S. Brown serves as the executive director.[7]

Board of Directors[6]

Massachusetts Constitutional Amendment

One of the group's first public acts was to campaign in support of a 2007 Massachusetts constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, which failed to pass. Notably, the campaign included a billboard comparing representative Angelo Puppolo to Judas Iscariot and Benedict Arnold after he changed his position to oppose the amendment.[14]

California Proposition 8

The group was active in supporting California Proposition 8 in 2008, which sought to change the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples and eliminated same-sex couples' right to marry.[15]

On March 19, 2009, Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate filed a complaint[16] with the California Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that the National Organization for Marriage was established by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a "pass-through committee" to direct two million dollars in church funds toward the passage of proposition 8. A church spokesman and NOM president Gallagher both denied the allegations.[17]

"Two Million for Marriage" initiative and other ad campaigns

On April 8, 2009, NOM began a "2 Million for Marriage" (2M4M) initiative with the intention of organizing two million activists nationwide.[18] The campaign used an advertisement, "Gathering Storm", in which actors posed against a dramatic storm-cloud background voiced opposition to same-sex marriage.[19] New York Times columnist Frank Rich described the ad as "an Internet camp classic",[19] and it was parodied by Stephen Colbert and the website Funny or Die.[20]

On April 30, 2009, NOM and Carrie Prejean launched another ad campaign against gay marriage, called "No Offense". In the ad, they object to being characterized as "outright bigots" because of their stance.[21] After semi-nude photos of Prejean were posted on the Internet, causing some to accuse NOM of hypocrisy,[22] NOM issued a press release stating that Prejean had appeared with NOM as a private citizen and not as a spokesperson.[23]

On May 28, 2009, NOM rolled out an anti-gay marriage ad campaign in New York, stating that "Massachusetts schools teach second graders that boys can marry other boys" as an "ominous score" plays. As the Christian Science Monitor pointed out, the ad contained errors that were potentially embarrassing for a campaign based on education, closing with an on-screen admonition to "SAY NO TO SAME SAME [sic] SEX MARRAIGE [sic]". A second version, correcting the misspelling of "marriage" has been released, but it failed to correct the repetition of "same same".[24]

On June 16, 2009, NOM issued a press release stating that they have formed a political action committee in New York named NOM PAC New York. They announced that the PAC had a target goal of providing $500,000 to fund primary challenges against any Republican state senator who votes for gay marriage. NOM also stated that they "are also looking to aid Democratic candidates who want to buck the establishment on the marriage issue, and to help in general election contests."[25]

Controversy

According to the Human Rights Campaign, "actors make disproven claims about marriage for lesbian and gay couples" in the 2M4M advertising campaign.[26]

The actors in the video mention the following cases:

  1. A California doctor who is forced to choose between her religious faith and her work
  2. A member of a New Jersey church group which is punished by the state for opposing same-sex marriage
  3. A Massachusetts parent who is unable to prevent the state from teaching her children that same-sex marriage is appropriate

The first actor refers to the Benitez case in California.[26] In this decision, the California Supreme Court found that a doctor at a fertility clinic could not violate California anti-discrimination law by refusing to treat a lesbian based on religious belief.[27]

The second actor refers to the Ocean Grove, NJ civil union controversy, in which the Methodist Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association refused to allow a lesbian couple to use its oceanside pavilion for a civil union ceremony. The court ruled that the group could not receive a tax exemption for the pavilion under the state's Green Acres Program, which is intended to encourage availability of property for public use. The group's beachfront property other than the pavilion itself retained the tax exemption.[28]

The third actor refers to the Lexington, MA Parker case, in which parents sued because their children were provided classroom materials that depicted same-sex marriages, including King and King, a picture book about a prince who marries another prince.[29] Judge Mark L. Wolf of Federal District Court found against them, stating in his decision that schools are "entitled to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens",[30] and federal courts did not overturn the decision on appeal.[29]

2M4M

The NOM staff did not realize that in gay parlance "2M4M" is used as personal ad code for two men seeking a third male sexual partner, creating an unintentional gaffe that was mentioned in the media. They also failed to secure the domain name and other net resources that matched their campaign. Christopher Ambler, a consultant in rapid web development who characterizes himself as a "happily married straight guy", purchased the domain "2M4M.org"[31] and branded it as "Two Men For Marriage," running material counter to NOM's 2M4M aims.[32][33][34] This has since spread to other internet networking sites such as Twitter[35] and LiveJournal[36] with various users co-opting the name.

Potential violation of public disclosure requirements

In 2009, Californians Against Hate (CAH) filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) against NOM, indicating that it has refused to make its IRS 990 forms public, as required by law. CAH representatives went to "the Princeton, New Jersey, offices of the National Organization for Marriage twice to get copies of their IRS 990 reports, to no avail," said CAH's president, Fred Karger, who continued, "Then our representative, Ben Katzenberg, sent two certified letters to the NOM office on March 18, 2009, requesting its two 990 forms. Federal law requires NOM to furnish copies of these IRS filings within 30 days after the request has been received. And 40 days later, still no 990s." If NOM does not release these forms, penalties of up to $10,000 may be levied against it.[37][38]

In Iowa, the organization faces accusations from the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund and One Iowa that it has failed to properly disclose its contributors.[39] NOM's efforts in that state included spending $86,060 on the failed state House of Representatives campaign of Stephen Burgmeier.[40]

NOM executive director Brian Bown has stated that the group does not release donor names to prevent donor intimidation by proponents of same-sex marriage.[3]

References

  1. ^ Hesse, Monica (August 28, 2009). "Opposing Gay Unions With Sanity & a Smile: NOM Head Moves His Cause to D.C." The Washington Post. washingtonpost.com. pp. C01. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  2. ^ Crumb, Michael J. (August 27, 2009). "National Organization for Marriage targets Iowa gay marriage law". Associated Press. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Chibbaro Jr., Lou (August 21, 2009). "Anti-gay group to fight marriage efforts in D.C.: National Organization for Marriage relocates to city, seeks to block DOMA repeal". Washington Blade. washblade.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  4. ^ O'Bryan, Will (August 20, 2009). "NOM's New HQ: Group opposing marriage equality makes the move to D.C." Metro Weekly. metroweekly.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  5. ^ "CitizenLink: Friday Five: Maggie Gallagher". www.citizenlink.org. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  6. ^ a b "About NOM - National Organization for Marriage". www.nationformarriage.org. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  7. ^ "Independent Expenditure by an Individual or Organization" (PDF). Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. iowaindependent.com. August 20, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  8. ^ "BibleLiteracy.org: Board of Advisors". www.bibleliteracy.org. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  9. ^ "Family Institute of Connecticut". www.ctfamily.org. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  10. ^ "The Witherspoon Institute". www.winst.org. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  11. ^ "Faculty - Family, Home & Social Sciences". fhssfaculty.byu.edu. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  12. ^ "NOM Latest News". National Organization for Marriage. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  13. ^ http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/c.omL2KeN0LzH/b.3479573/k.E2D0/About_NOM.htm
  14. ^ "Billboard attacks gay marriage vote - MassLive.com". www.masslive.com. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  15. ^ "Campaign Finance: NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE CALIFORNIA - YES ON 8, SPONSORED BY NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE". Secretary of State Debra Bowen. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  16. ^ "GayLinkNews.com - Fair Political Practices Commission Complaint -". www.gaylinknews.com. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  17. ^ "Leaked memos: Gay rights group make new charges over LDS Prop 8 role". Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved 2009-04-14. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ NOM Launches Nationwide "Two Million for Marriage" Initiative!
  19. ^ a b Rich, Frank (April 19, 2009), "The Bigots' Last Hurrah", The New York Times, pp. WK10{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  20. ^ Young, John (April 21, 2009). "'Gathering Storm' spoofs: Which celebrity gay-marriage parody rains more laughs?". Entertainment Weekly. PopWatch blog.
  21. ^ http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&ct=6960015
  22. ^ http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Miss+California+Carrie+Prejean+semi+nude+photo+controversy/1565866/story.html
  23. ^ http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&ct=6962109
  24. ^ http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/05/28/conservative-activists-turn-to-web-for-traction-denounce-gay-marraige/
  25. ^ http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/c.ksJQKZPCJnH/b.4430065/
  26. ^ a b Human Rights Campaign Exposes National Organization for Marriage’s Fake Ad for Fake Problems
  27. ^ "North Coast Women's Care Medical Group v. Superior Court" (PDF). California State Supreme Court. 8/18/2008. Retrieved 2009-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ Capuzzo, Jill P. (9/18), Group Loses Tax Break Over Gay Union Issue, pp. B2 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  29. ^ a b Ian B. Murphy (2008-10-07), "Public school lawsuit runs out of federal appeals", The MetroWest Daily News, retrieved 2009-04-18
  30. ^ "National Briefing New England: Massachusetts : Gay Topics And Schools", New York Times, pp. A13, 2/24 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  31. ^ http://www.2M4M.org
  32. ^ "Anti-Gay Rights Group Calls its Marriage Campaign '2M4M'".
  33. ^ "National Organization For Marriage Or Two Men For Marriage?".
  34. ^ "About 2M4M.org". 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  35. ^ http://twitter.com/2m4m
  36. ^ http://community.livejournal.com/2m4m/
  37. ^ The Advocate magazine: Antigay Group Hiding Mormon Cash?
  38. ^ Queerty.com: Why Won't NOM Release Its Financials?
  39. ^ http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=95982
  40. ^ http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/09/02/NOM-Backed_Candidate_Loses_in_Iowa/
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