The United States Supreme Court today issued two historic opinions in cases involving same-sex marriage rights. And while both cases could be considered victories for LGBTQ rights supporters, the impact of both cases will have little impact on gay and lesbian couples in states that have banned such marriages – like Georgia.
Anti-gay groups universally condemned the court's rulings yet still claimed victory because the impact of both cases was not as broad as some anti-gay groups had feared.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said today he and his organization were “disappointed” by today's rulings but said he was relieved that the court did not “redefine marriage for the entire country.”
The Internal Revenue Service came under fire late last week after allegations that it unfairly targeted conservative political groups. Prominent Republicans promised congressional hearings and even President Obama weighed in Monday, calling the actions “outrageous.”
Conservative groups are pissed. They have every reason to be pissed.
When it rains, it pours, apparently, for the IRS and its troubles.
The National Organization for Marriage this week announced plans to sue the IRS over claims that the tax agency stole and released its 2008 tax records, which were then leaked to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay political group.
National Organization for Marriage chief Brian Brown is many things, but “poor” is not one of them. A report released today by Rights Equal Rights details NOM's 2011 501(c)3 tax return and its annual expenses.
Shocker, the return shows Brown hauled in $230,000 from NOM's political operation. Brown also cashed in on more than $240,000 from NOM's “educational fund” and received almost $50,000 in benefits for a grand total of right around $500,000.
Who knew being a bigot could be so profitable?
Rights Equal Rights was founded by LGBT activist and former Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger. Karger and members of his staff attempted to visit NOM's Washington, D.C., offices last week to secure a copy of the 990 form.
The National Organization for Marriage had a shitty year last year. Marriage equality ballot measures passing in Maine, Maryland, and Washington and a defeated Minnesota constitutional amendment capped arguably the “gayest-ever” year for the marriage effort.
For 2013, NOM is once again on the defensive. State legislators in Illinois will push for a marriage equality vote during the current session and President Barack Obama announced his support for such an effort in his home state. Other states, like Rhode Island, Deleware and Hawaii are expected to consider marriage equality this year, as well.
Such action by the Illinois General Assembly, in particular its Republican legislators, has prompted NOM to pledge resources to defeat whoever supports marriage equality legislation.
A new poll released by “the polling company, inc.” has found an “overwhelming majority” of American voters, some 60 percent, who say they believe marriage should be defined as a union between one man and one woman.
The poll, commissioned by the anti-gay marriage group National Organization for Marriage, was conducted on Nov. 6 and surveyed some 800 “Americans who voted in the election” on their attitudes toward marriage equality.
"The outcome of the marriage votes in four very liberal states has caused some to speculate as to whether the American people have changed their views on marriage. This scientific poll shows that the answer to that is, 'no' they have not changed," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "This survey shows that 60 percent of voters believe marriage is one man and one woman, which is consistent with the 57 percent result 'the polling company' found in September."