GOPRIDE.COM

HRC predicts demise of gay marriage foe NOM

Sat. January 19, 2013

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on Thursday predicted the demise of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the nation's most vociferous opponent of gay marriage.

In a



post
titled National Movement Opposing Same-Sex Marriage Is Done, the nation's largest LGBT rights advocate wrote: "HRC is highlighting a new milestone in the march toward full marriage equality: the fall of the empire opposed to same-sex marriage."

"Widespread losses, sagging poll numbers, and poor investments make it difficult to see how national groups like the so-called National Organization for Marriage remain viable."

NOM burst on the scene in 2007, mounting a successful campaign to repeal marriage equality in California. It the years since, it has thwarted gains in several states, including New Jersey and Minnesota, helped repeal a law in Maine and backed a constitutional amendment in North Carolina.



HRC notes that groups which have traditionally opposed such unions, including Republicans, African-Americans and Latinos, are reversing course.

"Opponents' financing is drying up," HRC added. "They were outspent almost three to one last year, $12 million to $34 million in the campaigns."



Additionally, NOM rarely talks about reversing gains in states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and New York.

"NOM promised, for instance, that it would spend $2 million to defeat the four Republican State Senators in New York who backed the legislature's same-sex marriage bill in 2011. NOM then backpedaled, saying it would spend $250,000 in the primary fights. According to NOM PAC NY's campaign finance reports, it only raised $45,000 and only spent $40,000 in 2012 – nowhere near what it claimed it would spend."

For the complete article (non-reader view with multimedia and original links), Tap here.



Head to the local LGBTQ news, events, directory and people network at ChicagoPride.com