The National Organization for Marriage is determined to kill New Jersey’s gay-marriage bill after Democrats announced yesterday they were championing the measure as a top priority this session.
Though it claims poverty, NOM will spend $500,000 (roughly 10% of its annual budget) to “support legislators who stood to preserve traditional marriage and hold those accountable who impose same-sex marriage” in the Garden State.
NOM’s head attack dog, Brian Brown, acknowledged that their bribery donation is somewhat unnecessary, as Republican Governor Chris Christie will likely veto the bill after it passes through the Democrat-controlled House and Senate. But, Brown wrote on the NOM blog, “even though the Governor has pledged to veto the legislation, we are committed to holding legislators accountable for their own views and will work to assure that he never has to exercise his veto power.”
That’s not to say marriage-equality activists should give up the fight—quite the opposite.
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LGBT legal expert and New York Law School professor Art Leonard told Queerty:
There is symbolic value to having the Legislature pass a bill authorizing same-sex marriage even if the governor vetoes it. The symbolic value is increased if some Republicans vote in support of the bill, but even if it passes on a party-line vote, it is helpful to mainstream the issue in the state. In California, the legislature twice passed same-sex marriage bills that were vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger, but the very fact that the Legislature had twice passed the bill gave the issue an important measure of legitimacy.
Hear that, Jersey? Pass gay marriage in the Legislature and stay too legit to quit.
Chad
So NOM is going to pay money to legislators to vote in favor of their beliefs. So why do we need a democratic/republic process?
HM
Brian Brown looks like a bully, a thug and a tyrannt…….when it comes to ugly stereotypes in Jersey, Snooki didn’t even make the cut.
Mark
how many people could be fed and given a place to lay their head? How many people might be treated for a serious illness with that money? I bet their jeebux is sooooo proud of those who say they follow him.
Cam
Hey, The Mormon Church is business oriented. If NOM fail in this the church might stop funneling money to them.
Robroberts
Let NOM waste their money opposing this. In the end there are more of “us” and we ultimately have more money, so we will win. NOM is fighting a rear-guard action in a war they have already lost. They can stick their bigoted fingers in the leaking dike all they want (sorry for the dike analogy, I couldn’t resist) but they are not going to stop the flood. Sorry NOM, you lose.
Trelin
Sadly, I doubt it’s going to pass in NJ. With Christie making it very clear he’s against it, it really doesn’t stand a chance. I applaud the Democrats at giving it another go, though. It would bring in a TON of revenue from surrounding areas, though.
Kylew
@Mark:Hear hear. Yet another reason to loathe christianity and their filthy hypocricy. If I were te activists, my primary mission if this bill fails, would be to publicise nationally, the immoral and sickening waste of money.
Caliban
The information came out just a few weeks back that NOM is not a group supported by lots of small public donations. 90% if not more of their budget comes from FOUR individuals (or groups) whose identities haven’t been released even though there have been several court rulings saying they must release that information. (I assume they have it tied up in appeals because otherwise they are in contempt of court.) So NOM isn’t promising shit, the people who FUND them are.
That’s why exposing where NOM’s money comes from is so important.
jerryball
NOM has sh-t for brains, and money for “morals.” Watch out people, they’re in it for the money. Maggie Gallagher the loudmouth won’t shut up to allow an opposing stand keeps espousing raising children with a man and a woman, BUT Maggie had a bast-rd out of wedlock and raised him by herself. Sterling characters, this bunch. GD hypocrites selling fake “moral outrage” for $$$$$.
asabi
i dont understand why someone else gives a rats ass who people love. Its nobodys business!! leave us gay folks the fuck alone.. just stupid!! get a life!!