Opposition

The movement for full equality for all American families is succeeding in the face of an immense, well funded, aggressive opposition campaign that is not just opposed to marriage equality, but is also anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-civil-rights, anti-women's equality, and anti-separation of church and state.

The anti-gay right-wing groups pursuing their own political and ideological agenda explicitly oppose marriage equality, and civil unions and domestic partnership rights of any kind. They even work to deny lesbian and gay employees health insurance coverage for their life partners and kids, and are campaigning state by state to cement sweeping anti-gay discrimination not just into the law, but into the federal and state constitutions.  Such groups are:

   1. Focus on the Family,
   2. Concerned Women of America,
   3. Family Research Council,
   4. the American Family Association,
   5. Liberty Counsel,
   6. National Organization for Marriage, and others

Following victories for marriage equality in Iowa and Vermont, the so-called ‘National Organization for Marriage’ (NOM) launched attack ads across the country against gay couples’ freedom to marry entitled ‘Gathering Storm’.  The Human Rights Campaign responded, uncovering the lies and scare tactics NOM uses in their ads, and Evan Wolfson addressed these fear-mongering ads on CNN and Huffington Post.  Also, numerous video spoofs of the ad were created, bringing to light the fear tactics used in the ad.

 

Blog Posts Related to Opposition

Marriage equality, revisited: Two years after Proposition 8, California sees changing opinions

If a vote similar to Proposition 8 upholding a ban on the freedom to marry were held tomorrow, a majority of Californians say they would cast ballots in favor of allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, according to a survey released last week.

Entangling marriage into a political jujitsu

Steve Chapman: "The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) specializes in a form of political jujitsu, leveraging its foes' weight against them."

6 same-sex couples in Hawaii sue following civil unions veto

Six same-sex couples in Hawaii are filing a lawsuit Thursday asking for the same rights as married couples, three weeks after Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a civil unions measure for same-sex couples.

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Resources Related to Opposition

Human Rights Campaign Exposes National Organization for Marriage’s Fake Ad for Fake Problems

Factual rebuttal of "The Gathering Storm"

Mormongate

Blog entry outlining the role of the Mormon church in continuing discrimination in marriage.

How the Opposition Passed Prop 8

California's Proposition 8's lead strategists outline their strategy

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