Ex-gay movement deeply tied to marriage amendment push

A Republican state legislator and a man who claims to be a "former homosexual" have teamed up to support an anti-gay-marriage amendment to the Minnesota constitution. The group -- called the Pro-Marriage Amendment Forum -- is just one example of the deep ties between backers of the marriage amendment and the "ex-gay" movement. The connections have left some LGBT advocates wondering if it's not ju...

American Independent • Feb 27, 2012

National Organization for Marriage reports raising $280K in Minnesota, lists zero donors

According to the filings, NOM reported giving $250,000 to the group Minnesota for Marriage, of which NOM is a member. NOM also reported that its contributions to Minnesota for Marriage came from "membership dues" to NOM. Under a loophole in Minnesota law, those donations would not have to be disclosed so long as NOM did not directly solicit contributions in the state. Minnesota for Marriage also ...

American Independent • Feb 5, 2012

NOM ramps up spending, support in 2012 presidential race

As of Jan. 9, NOM's 501(c)4 nonprofit corporation has made $131,260.34 worth of independent expenditures in the 2012 presidential race, according to campaign-finance disclosure reports published by the Federal Election Commission. (It should be noted that the FEC designates the National Organization for Marriage as a "person or group, not a committee"; thus it is permitted to make independent expe...

American Independent • Jan 19, 2012

Poll: Half of Iowans support ban on same-sex marriage

According to the poll, 50 percent of Iowans would vote for a ban on same-sex marriage while 43 percent would vote against it. Though voters seem to reject same-sex marriage, 67 percent support equal rights for same-sex couples either through marriage (37 percent) or civil unions (30 percent). Only 29 percent said same-sex couples should have no legal recognition....

American Independent • Oct 17, 2011

Oregon group considers using ballot to legalize same-sex marriage

During the 2004 general election, Oregon was among 11 states that passed ballot measures banning gay marriage -- 57 percent of Beaver State voters approved the ban. But in 2012, Oregonians might be given the opportunity to vote to lift the ban, if the state's largest LGBT-rights group, Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), decides to it has enough support to start a full-fledged ballot-initiative campaign. ...

American Independent • Oct 17, 2011

North Carolina papers pan proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage

As North Carolina legislators gear up to vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, editorial boards at newspapers throughout the state have come out against the vote and the amendment. Some papers cite it as a distraction from job creation, while others have called it an effort enshrine discrimination in the state constitution....

American Independent • Sep 9, 2011

Maggie Gallagher outlines NOM's messaging strategy on same-sex marriage

Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage was recently a guest on the radio program Religion, Politics, and the Culture to talk about her organization's strategy to prevent states from legalizing same-sex marriage and to pass anti-gay marriage amendments in states that don't already have them. In the interview, she said that when marriage amendments are referred to as efforts to ...

American Independent • Jun 13, 2011

Anti-gay groups plan increased spending, activity through 2012

Anti-gay rights groups around the country will see a cash infusion over the next two years through a plan called "Ignite an Enduring Cultural Transformation." And the groups are remaining mum about who is responsible. The campaign, which largely targets states where Republicans won control of legislatures or governorships, has garnered the support of Republican political superstars such as former...

American Independent • May 7, 2011