NOM loses final appeal to challenge marriage equality in NY

According to The Advocate, the National Organization for Marriage lost its last effort to stop marriage equality in New York through the courts:

The top court in New York declined to hear a challenge to the state’s marriage equality law Tuesday in a move that appeared to end any immediate legal threats to the measure passed last year. Gannett Albany reports the state's Court of Appeals tossed out the challenge brought by New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a conservative religious group that lobbied against the law’s passage.

Its lawsuit challenged the law on procedural grounds, with claims that the Republican-controlled state Senate had violated the state’s open meetings law by meeting behind closed doors to discuss the legislation with advocates such as New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Last November a state Supreme Court judge in Livingston County ruled the lawsuit could proceed, but the Appellate Division unanimously rejected the challenge earlier this year. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms then appealed to the state’s highest court.

In his opinion last year, Judge Robert Wiggins of state Supreme Court in Livingston County said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who pushed for the passage of the legislation, used “arm-twisting” tactics against the legislative branch.

Governor Cuomo issued a statement Tuesday saying the Court of Appeals denial meant the law would be “secure for generations to come.” “Today, the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, denied leave to appeal the validity of the Marriage Equality Act, which affords same-sex couples in this state the right to marry,” he said. “New York State has served as a beacon for progressive ideals and this statute is a clear reminder of what this state stands for: equality and justice for all. With the Court’s decision, same-sex couples no longer have to worry that their right to marry could be legally challenged in this state. The freedom to marry in this state is secure for generations to come.”

That settles that. Eat it, NOM.

'NOM's 'wedge' strategy against Obama collapsing in NC' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

NC Early Voting Day 4: African American Turnout Doubles White GOP Turnout Sunday - Remember that plan by the National Organization for Marriage using black pastors (that the group paid off) to get black voters to withhold their votes from Obama because his support of marriage equality? Remember the radio ads that the diaper pastor Patrick Wooden made urging black voters to not vote for Obama? Based on what's happening in NC, I think it's not working.  

New Anti-Equality Ads In Maine Rely On Misleading Claims Of Victimization - And speaking of NOM . . . 

Log Cabin Republicans endorse their right to be federally banned - There are no proper words that don't involve profanity for me right now. 

 Crampton: Gay Activists 'Abhor Freedom' and Will Stop at Nothing to Intimidate Christians - I never get these memos. :( 

NOM pushes another phony victim of an alleged gay conspiracy

The National Organization for Marriage is pushing another phony victim of the gay community - Don Mendell:



According to Equality Matters, there are several facts that NOM and Mendell deliberately omitted:

NOM’s video presents a highly misleading version of the events surrounding Mendell’s investigation, which still fails to demonstrate an example of “defamation.”

The complaint against Mendell was filed by several of his colleagues who were concerned that his public involvement in an anti-gay campaign undermined his ability to effectively counsel LGBT students. In addition to starring in the anti-gay TV ad, Mendell had written several anti-gay letters to the editor of Maine’s Bangor Daily News, including one in which he claimed gay activists were trying to “use children’s trusting nature to turn them against the natural law.”

Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation eventually dismissed the complaint against Mendell. According to a recent Mainers United press release:

The complaints against Mr. Mendell were dismissed by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation in the Baldacci administration on First Amendment grounds.

Mr. Mendell’s right to participate publicly in a political campaign were confirmed by a Democratic administration that held a view contrary to the one expressed by Mr. Mendell.

There was no lawsuit filed in relation to this complaint or Mr. Mendell’s activities. [emphasis original]

Equality Matters also adds:

The latest Marriage ADA video adds to NOM’s long list of “defamation” examples that aren’t so. If NOM selected these stories to support the myth that opponents of same-sex marriage are “facing threats to their person, property or livelihood,” it’s no wonder the group has such a terrible track record of actually proving it in court.