Reminder - Marriage equality also affects the black community

Whenever you have time, please check out this very awesome episode of NoMoreDownLow.TV

It serves as a reminder that, in spite of the spin by those on the right, marriage equality is also an African-American issue.

Churches supporting gay equality and other Monday midday news briefs

Straight Man Who ‘Appeared Gay’ Not Allowed To Give Blood - Well this is a first.

Us: 'Hey, this person said this'; Maggie: 'STOP ATTACKING US!!!!' - Maggie Gallagher of NOM shows herself to be a hypocrite . . . again.

Growing Number Of Churches Consider Allowing Same-Sex Ceremonies - Good to see more churches getting hip to gay equality.

Andrew Sullivan and Cynthia Nixon on what marriage means - Not one for making it about celebrities here, but both posts are excellent.

Michele Bachmann bashes Whoopi Goldberg to raise money

Michele Bachmann recently accused President Obama of having chutzpah (mispronouncing the word which means lack of shame in some circles). However, based on a recent fundraising letter, perhaps she should look in the mirror.

In the email - sent to me by a friend from Pam's House Blend - Bachmann actually had the nerve to attack recent comments made by The View's Whoopi Goldberg as a way to pump her base for money:

Concerned Fellow Conservative,

Looks like the Democrats have sounded their alarms in Hollywood. Donate

The Hollywood elite have been on the attack this week, falsely berating our campaign for President and our supporters.

On Tuesday, while on The View, Whoopi Goldberg spewed senseless accusations aimed at our campaign. Her comments were not only incorrect, but wrongly attacked my stance on single parents. As the daughter of a single parent, I learned firsthand the difficulties of growing up with one parent. However, it was from my strong and independent mother I learned when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

In order to show Whoopi, we won’t stand for her attacks, I have set a goal to raise $40,000 in the next 24 hours. Please follow this link right away to chip in $25, $50 or even $100 to help me reach my goal of $40,000 by tomorrow.

I am proud of my record and I refuse to allow liberals like Whoopi Goldberg to bully our campaign. This is yet another example of how the liberal Democrat establishment has put a target on my campaign for defeat. They'll say and do anything. The comments from Whoopi Goldberg have hit a new low and I must have the resources to defend myself and fight back.

Liberals across the country believe if they defeat our campaign, the Tea Party movement will be eliminated. I need your support to defend myself and our shared constitutional values right away.

I won't back down and today, I need to know you stand with me. To accomplish my goal of $40,000 in 24 hours, I'm relying on friends and supporters like you to step up to the plate to help me today. Please follow this secure link to make your donation of $25, $35, $50 or more.

I'm reaching out to you for help because the liberal media credits me with being an undaunted conservative who routinely leads the opposition to President Obama. That's why the radical supporters of President Obama's agenda are so committed to defeating me.

The Hollywood liberals believe if they attack my campaign, they have a shot at defeating me and dismantling the Tea Party movement. Your immediate donation will send a strong message to Hollywood, that we are not going anywhere. That's why any amount you can donate to my campaign today - up to the $2,500 legal limit - is appreciated.

I look forward to your immediate response and I thank you once more for your friendship and support.

Sincerely,

Michele Bachmann

P.S. As the big name liberals continue to come out of the woodwork to attack our campaign, I need your support. I ask that you make a generous donation of any amount you can afford to help me fight back against the millions of dollars liberals are flooding into Obama’s bank account. Can I count on your donation of $25, $50, $100 or even $250 today? Your support - no matter the size - makes a big difference. Please follow this link to make a donation today. Thank you

If that's not good enough for you, then you go to the page where you will be treated to not only the same plea but a photo of President Obama kissing Goldberg on the cheek.

Bachmann is referring to Goldberg calling into question her signing the Marriage Vow, a pledge put together by the Family Leader, an Iowa conservative group. Bachmann came under fire for signing this pledge, mostly because of an inaccurate passage which said African-American families benefited from slavery because supposedly more black children were born from two-parent households during that time.

Goldberg specifically went after the pledge for that point, calling for folks to stop bashing single-parent households and to also stop giving opinions on subjects they know nothing about.

Of course Bachmann claimed that she did not endorse the part about slavery. However, she also admitted that she never read the pledge.

Bachmann's fundraising letter, however, pushes the controversy to a new point and gives a very good clue about her ability to raise money.

The answer is quite simple.

Bachmann is a hateful monster in a skirt who will manipulate the ignorance of people to further her own political ambitions.

Or to put it another way, Bachmann is a demagogue. A demagogue is defined as a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

This is Bachmann to a tee. She doesn't challenge people to think or find solutions to their problems. She gives them excuses to either hate, fear, or egotistically put themselves above others.

And when caught in a contradiction or lie, she doesn't apologize. She parries. She points the finger of blame at others. "The liberals are out to get me," she tells her followers, "because they hate YOU."

In Bachmann-land, Goldberg attacked her not because she was dumb enough - or rather uncaring enough -  to sign some ignorant pledge which actually praised slavery, but Goldberg is a part of the "conspiracy by liberals to harm America."

And people are either criticizing or laughing at her campaign not because of her basic disregard for facts, but because it's a part of the "conspiracy by liberals to harm America."

While folks laugh at Bachmann's supposed cluelessness, she is doing some laughing herself as she goes to the bank and on the talk shows. Or as her name is mentioned in the media countless times, thereby giving her some type of leadership status.

To me, that simple fact makes Bachmann nothing to laugh about but something to cry about simply because she is a perfect example of how this folks in this country never seem to learn the hard lessons which come from enabling past demagogues.

And how easily some of us will anoint as a leader any manipulative monster who utters the phrase "my faith" or the words "Jesus" and "God" as practically every fifth word of their speech.

Marcus Bachmann lies again - 'Barbarian' tape not doctored

In response to the controversy regarding his clinic's use of "ex-gay" therapy, presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's husband, Marcus, gave an interview with the Star-Tribune in which he tried to shoot down the allegations.

However, if Bachmann was using the interview in order to quell the controversy, he was very unsuccessful. The interview raises more questions, specifically about a claim he made regarding gays.

The claim, that gays are like barbarians, has gotten the most play in the media. In the Star-Tribune interview, Bachmann claimed that the tape of him making the claim was doctored:

 . . . an audiotape circulating on the Internet depicts Bachmann as calling gays barbarians in a 2010 interview he gave to the "Point of View" Christian radio talk show.

"We have to understand: Barbarians need to be educated,'' Bachmann's voice is heard saying on the tape. "They need to be disciplined. Just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean that we are supposed to go down that road.''

Bachmann said that someone must have doctored the recording of the interview, in which he addressed child discipline as well as homosexuality and sex education.

 . . . "I was talking in reference to children. Nothing, nothing to do with homosexuality. That's not my mindset. That's not my belief system. That's not the way I would talk," Bachmann said.

In response to Bachmann's claim, the news program Hardball played the entire clip. And what does it show?

The simple fact that Bachmann was being deceptive. He was talking about children who come out to their parents.

Therefore, he was in fact talking about gays:



For those keeping score, that's two lies which can be attributed to Bachmann. The first lie was when he initially denied that his clinic engages in "ex-gay therapy."

Related post:

Michele Bachmann bashes Whoopi Goldberg to raise money

Know Your LGBT History - All in the Family: Cousin Liz

This is the second All in the Family episode which has been featured in Know Your LGBT History. The first one had to deal with stereotyping gay men.

This episode deals with Archie and Edith going to a cousin's funeral and wake. During this event, Edith finds out that she may be getting a family heirloom - the cousin's valuable silver tea set.

However, her deceased cousin's roommate reveals to Edith why she wants the tea set. Apparently she and and Edith's cousin were partners and that tea set is a memento of their relationship.

Edith has no problem giving up the tea set. But Archie does and he threatens to sue, thereby endangering the woman's teaching job. Edith, however, steps in with the sensitivity which made her character so loved and takes care of the situation.

Not only one of the best episodes of All in the Family, but one of the best portrayals of our community from K. Callan as Liz's partner.

Past Know Your LGBT History Posts:

Marcus Bachmann lied and other Friday midday news briefs

And the Warhag has returned!

Marcus Bachmann Speaks Out, Confirms He Would Perform Ex-Gay Therapy Upon Patient’s Request - So apparently he did lie.

‘Moralists’ Defend Bachmann Family’s Right to Lie - So much for that commandment about bearing false witness.

Gary Glenn For Senate? - Great. Senator Homophobe.

Related post - Linda Harvey and Gary Glenn - the sad meeting of two homophobic people

Audio: To 'discredit' pro-science voices, FRC turns to discredited junk science - The Family Research Council and junk science is like peanut butter and jelly. The two just can't help but to go together.

CA Gov signs pro-gay bill and other Thursday afternoon news briefs

What a drag. My modem is shot so I am here in McDonalds trying to download AOL so i will have access to dial-up until I get to Time Warner. And my patience is low. God help those two black men next to me criticizing the gay community. Anyway, please enjoy these news briefs and I hope to have things fixed by tomorrow morning:

California Governor Signs FAIR Education Act - Religious right head explosion imminent.

Surprise, Surprise: NOM Endorses Ex-Gay Therapy - Apparently NOM is getting really deep into anti-gay territory. Like I'm actually surprised.

Why Does The Right Still Insist Being Gay Is A Choice? - Because they live in a parallel universe of EXTREME stupidity.

Gay, lesbian households increase in Okla. - We only did it to piss off Sally Kern. lol

NEW YORK: Another Town Clerk Quits - Bye, bye, bye.

Michele Bachmann, This Gay Man Thanks You - I couldn't have said it better myself.

Daily Show destroys Bachmanns' ex-gay nonsense and other Thursday midday news briefs

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Field of Dongs
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Comedy Repression Therapy
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

Hilarious! I'm all for this!

And in other news . . .


Rick Perry Ally Bickle Says Marriage Equality Is "Rooted In The Depths Of Hell" - Imagine having Rick Perry in the White House.

Oakland A's suspend minor league prospect for gay slur - Good

Governor Brown To Veto CA's SB 48 Education Bill? - Don't do it, Gov. Brown.

GOP Senators Who Voted For Marriage Equality In New York See Fundraising Spike - Excellent news out of New York.

Bachmann controversy exposes religious right liars

The controversy about Michele Bachmann's husband, Marcus, and his clinic is sad on so many levels.

There is the sadness at the thought of the men and women exposed to the fraudulent idea that somehow their God-given sexual orientation is evil and therefore should be eliminated.

And then there is just how low those on the right will stoop to cover for the Bachmanns.

Witness the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg during an interview espousing the view that the controversy is not a big deal:



And then there is this madness by the National Organization for Marriage giving cover to "professional ex-gay" and known deception artist Greg Quinlan:

That theme - that the Bachmanns are the "victims of a conspiracy" is recurrent throughout religious right talking points about this controversy.

Yet none of these so-called "moral folks" have addressed the question that if Bachmann's clinic is providing such a good service then why did he feel the need to lie about it.

Indeed more than anything I could ever say, the Bachmann controversy underscores how broken the moral compass is for those in the religious right.

I've said it before and I will say it again:

Lies in the name of God are still lies.

Phony victimization ruining American Christianity

According to Religious Right Watch, the Family Research Council is asking for folks to pray for Marcus Bachmann's clinic because supposedly it's "under siege" by the gay community because of its use of the faulty practice of reparative ("ex-gay") therapy"

Christian Counseling under Assault – This week a homosexual activist group reported findings from their undercover “sting” operation at Minnesota Christian counseling clinic owned by Republican Presidential candidate Michelle Bachman and her husband, Marcus. Sympathetic national media seemed shocked that the Christian counseling center offered help for homosexuals to break free from addiction to homosexuality through faith in Jesus Christ. Where will the homosexual assault on religious liberty stop?

Meanwhile, the right-wing website Lifesite News is sounding the alarm simply because NY Gov Andrew Cuomo has told the state's marriage clerks that they must comply with the law and sign their names on same-sex marriage licenses.

In these two stories is a theme which is recurrent throughout many religious right Christian and evangelical circles - the idea that someone's religious beliefs trumps the fact that they are not honest or that they have a job to do.

Both stories are really simple.

Bachmann lied and was caught in his deception. He initially said that his clinic does not engage in ex-gay therapy. And he was proven to be a liar by the undercover video.

But some folks who call themselves Christians aren't questioning the fact that Bachmann lied because they are too busy spinning conspiracy theories as to how the entire controversy is a "plot against Marcus and Michele Bachmann and evangelicals."

What's more, these folks actually embrace the fraudulent therapy done by Bachmann's clinic while conveniently omitting the fact that he lied about it.

And to top it all off, they do all of this while talking about "morals" and "values" and "upholding God's truth."

It's a bizarre gymnastic conundrum which should alarm anyone who really do care about morals and values.

The case in NY is even easier to figure out.

As shown by Lifesite News, some folks actually believe that someone working for state government should be absolved from following the rules of their job simply because they are Christian.

The question of where the line should be drawn is a serious one. It should not be taken lightly.

If state workers can use the Biblical verses as an excuse to not sign same-sex marriage licenses, then what's the justification of them not using Biblical verses to deny interracial couples their licenses  (i.e. the Tower of Babel story) or refusing to sign licenses because the woman in the potential marriage may have signed it before the man (in defiance to what some say about the supposed subservient position of a woman in a relationship in accordance to Scripture).

Just when was the Biblical verse "render to Caesar what is Caesar's"  replaced by "I'm a Christian so I deserve more rights than you?"

It's ironic that the same evangelicals and Christians who support all of this mess are constantly complaining about how Christianity has a bad name in this country.

Maybe these "Christians" should stop acting like a bunch of self-righteous, spoiled brats who want their way all of the time.

NY anti-gay activists throwing tantrums and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Don't you just hate people who name-drop? Well too bad because I am going to be one of those people. Witness my online buddy Evan Hurst of Truth Wins Out on Hardball as he expertly eviscerates Marcus and Michele Bachmann for the ex-gay mess both are embroiled in.

And in other news . . .

NYT profiles homophobes who lost, but are still fighting marriage in NY - Disappointing one-sided article by The New York Times. But still the law is the law.

California Board Accepts Credits From NARTH for Licensing Renewal - So apparently being a bogus group trafficking junk science means nothing against your credibility as long as you beat up on the gays.

Audio: Bachmann in '04: 'It’s part of Satan, I think, to say this is gay' - It's never a dull moment with Michele Bachmann.

Illinois Judge Reinstates Catholic Adoption Contracts - For the time being that is.

Religious right circling the wagons around Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann

The controversy over presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's husband (Marcus Bachmann) and his clinic engaging in the dangerous practice of reparative therapy (attempting to convert gay men into heterosexuals) has gained an added dimension.

While Bachmann herself refuses to comment about it, several religious right figures have come out in support of not only her but her husband's practice.

However, rather than address the issue of the dangers of reparative therapy, these folks are whining that Bachmann is the "victim" of a "scorched earth" media campaign out to destroy her:

Marcus Bachmann

 Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel - "Marcus Bachmann is providing a therapeutic service to those who struggle with same-sex attractions and who seek to get their minds around those same-sex attractions," Barber notes. "So this is nothing short of yellow journalism, and we have come to expect this kind of stuff from the left."

Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth - "Incredibly, ABC even went so far as to title its piece “Pray Away the Gay at Bachmann Clinic?” — recycling TWO founder Wayne Besen’s mocking and bigoted attack-slogan for the idea that people can overcome homosexual desires through faith in God."


Cliff Kincaid of Accuracy in Media - "Once a greatly feared investigative reporter, Brian Ross has been reduced to recycling left-wing material from the homosexual lobby. But the pathetic hit job he narrated on Monday’s ABC Nightline show on GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has backfired in a big way. The charge was that the Bachmann family counseling service engages in terrible things by teaching homosexuals how to leave their disease-ridden lifestyle."

The Family Research Council - "The Bachmanns are unapologetic for their views on homosexuality--views that are rooted in the faith that a majority of Americans share. Apart from Washington, D.C. and homosexual interest groups, the majority of the country will view Marcus's work for what it is--a ministry of hope. Pointing men and women who struggle with same-sex attractions to God isn't "a discredited form of therapy," it's the path to sexual healing."

The irony is that none of these statements are helping Bachmann or her husband. The initial undercover investigation - done very excellently by the group Truth Wins Out - took place because Bachmann's husband was denying that his clinic engaged in reparative therapy.

If what Marcus Bachmann is doing is so beneficial, then why would he lie about it?  Apparently members of the religious right are so caught up in fighting the supposed sin of homosexuality that they give the actual sin of lying a free pass.

Perhaps Michele Bachmann advise these folks to keep their mouths shut. If they are trying to help her, they aren't succeeding.

'Interfaith' website lies about SPLC and its hate group designations

An "interfaith" site, Beliefnet, has weighed in on the controversy regarding the Southern Poverty Law Center and its labeling of several religious right groups as anti-gay hate groups.

But the site is very deceptive in terms of what it chooses to highlight . . . and omit.

Rob Kerby, Beliefnet's Senior Editor, said the following in an article:

Why would anybody accuse 13 Christian organizations, including the American Family Association and Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council, of practicing “hate?”

. . . Could the intent be to smear and silence some of the most effective Christian ministries in America? To blacken their names because they have dared to speak out in the political battle over same-sex marriage?

When a smear campaign against the Family Research Council began last year, it was immediately denounced by Speaker of the House John Boehner and 150 other national leaders, including 24 members of Congress.

 . . . That time the smear was led by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which for years has pursued anti-discrimination cases. It received considerable well-deserved publicity for suing the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups.

However, the SPLC in recent years has taken up the same-sex marriage cause and the battle against “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the military.

In late December 2010, the center advised the national press to shun 13 Christian groups because they were hate groups. Among the groups smeared were the American Family Association, the Family Research Council and the Traditional Values Coalition. The smaller groups included Abiding Truth Ministries of Springfield, Massachusetts; the Chalcedon Foundation of Vallecito, California; and the Faithful Word Baptist Church of Tempe, Arizona.

That's the tone of the article - i.e. SPLC is trying to "silence these groups because they are standing up against the supposed "gay agenda."

Kerby's article omitted several important facts about SPLC's designation of these organizations as hate groups.

Homophobe Sally Kern displays her ignorance to Alan Colmes

Sally Kern

A couple of years ago, Oklahoma legislator Sally Kern said that the supposed "gay agenda" was as bad as terrorism and caused a media firestorm.

Unfortunately, very few on our side handled the controversy in a way which I felt was beneficial to the community. First folks made awful personal comments about her, then some of us waited until Ellen DeGeneres had something to say before we weighed on. Lastly, a lot of us focused on whether or not her son was gay.

And Kern stood above it all in false piety while repeating some of the most ridiculous lies about our community, which no one called her on.

The culmination was a huge astroturfed event held by those on the right - especially Peter LaBarbera - calling her a hero for "standing up to the supposed radical gay activists."

As stated before, I was not happy at how many of us acted during that time. The point we should have made was the danger in the fact that a legislator with voting power in state government could be so ignorant.

However, we missed the boat in making that point.

Thank goodness, however, for Kern's ego because it has given us a second chance. She took the liberty to write a book with a ridiculous title (The Stoning of Sally Kern) which revisited the controversy, thus presenting another chance to demonstrate to folks just how clueless she is.

And thanks to Alan Colmes, we now see this cluelessness on full display.

In an interview with him, Kern reveals herself to be not a Christian woman, but a very dim individual whose religious beliefs consistently leads her down a path of noble stupidity - an oxymoron if there ever was one.

Listen to the entire interview if you like or fast forward to 11:00 for some very hilarious stuff about gays and the closet.

It just goes to show how quickly false piety disappears when confronted with logic.

Hall of Fame football player defends marriage equality

Former Dallas Cowboy football player and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin is on the recent cover of the gay magazine Out. In the magazine,  he talks about his late gay brother and defends marriage equality.

As an African-American, Irvin has a special message to his community:

"I don't see how any African-American, with any inkling of history, can say that you don't have the right to live your life how you want to live your life," he said, according to the magazine. "No one should be telling you who you should love, no one should be telling you who you should be spending the rest of your life with. When we start talking about equality, and everybody being treated equally, I don't want to know an African-American who will say everybody doesn't deserve equality."

Kudos to Mr. Irvin. Now I will wait to see if anyone bends over backwards to mention how Irvin's words are "free speech" like some did when David Tyree spoke against marriage equality.

Bachmann tried to protect ex-gay therapists and other Tuesday midday news briefs

If you haven't seen this video, then you should. Excellent job by one of my mentors Wayne Besen and the folks at Truth Wins Out for their excellent work on Michele Bachmann!

Bachmann Tried To Pass State Law Protecting Ex-Gay Therapists - And the plot thickens, which is a real shame to a degree. I was kinda hoping that Bachmann would get the Republican presidential nomination.

Yes, We Exist. And So Does Our Past - An awesome piece which explains why it is so necessary for lgbtq history to be taught and remembered.

Catholic Charities in Court Over Ill. Adoptions - Forget it guys. If you can't follow state rules, you don't need state monies.

NY Broome County Clerk Resigns Over Same-Sex Marriage, Cites Biblical Law - She did the right thing. If she can't perform her duties, she should resign.

Guess who's coming to Rick Perry's prayer event

Kyle Mantyla of Right Wing Watch put together a nice video of various religious right leaders who are coming to TX Governor Rick Perry's August prayer rally:



I think it's safe to say that a wearing a crucifix would be very apropo when coming anywhere close to this bunch.


Related post: 

Perry's prayer event will put Christianity's worst on display

Shocker! A child meets his first gay couple . . . and nothing happens!

The talk of the National Organization for Marriage, the Family Research Council, and the rest of that bunch about how the subject of marriage equality will " either confuse children or turn them gay" is a bunch of nonsense which is geared to exploiting people's fears.

I could say this all day until I am red in the face, but I think I will let the following video speak for itself. In it, a young boy meets a gay couple for the first time. Just watch what happens:



There are times when children are more intelligent than adults.

Hat tip to the Huffington Post.

Rick Perry, sex with demons, and other Monday midday news briefs

Opponents Of CA LGBT History Bill: Learning About Gay People Will Turn Kindergarteners Gay - That did it for me. When I learned that Alexander the Great was gay, I began doing my Diana Ross impersonations.

The Company That Rick Perry Keeps: Peter Wagner On Sex With Demons - I'm speechless. Really I am.

Focus staffer tweets about 'noise and nonsense; so here, have some calm clarity - Focus on the Family staffer defends her organization. Good luck on that.

Nobody Pays Attention To Preambles Anyway - About that thing about slavery, Michele Bachmann . . .

New York DA: Clerks Who Refuse To Issue Marriage Licenses To Gay Couples Will Be ‘Subject To Criminal Prosecution’ - I'm all for it. Either do your job or quit. You are representing the state, not yourself. And the state says yea marriage equality.

NOM's declaration against violence rings hollow

Here is an interesting item coming from the National Organization for Marriage's blog:

Some creative minds came up with a poster comparing NOM to the KKK. It's outrageous of course. We wouldn't normally bother to notice such stuff, which is par for the course, but even on the gay blogs circulating it a lot of fair minded people are questioning that kind of over the top rhetoric.

So we point out once again, for the fair minded on either side of this debate: When a man came to a NOM rally with a hateful sign, he was immediately told he wasn't welcome. This is why the photo of the hateful sign is not of a sign being held up at a NOM rally but a sign discarded across the street.

Just to make it crystal clear, we then issued a statement denouncing violence, harassment or threats of violence against any one on any side of the marriage debate, including against gay people and gay marriage supporters.

Which we are happy to reiterate again for our gay readers--we know we have many: We stand with you abhorring any threat to the person and property of gay people, or gay marriage supporters. We hope you do the same for marriage supporters.

But we do it because it's the right thing to do not because anyone demands this of us.

There are good people on both sides of this debate, and we need to have a country where even intense moral disagreements can be aired without violence or threats or incivility.

Forgive me for not being impressed.

Better yet, forgive me for saying that NOM is basically full of it.

We are talking about an organization whose very existence is dependent on making people believe that the gay community (and I speak on a colloquial sense) is a hedonistic army out to supposedly redefine marriage to the detriment of heterosexual relationships.

We are talking about an organization which sends out fliers claiming that gays want to "teach children how to be homosexual," such as the one below:

Or commercials claiming the same thing:



 And I haven't even touched the organization's phony claims of religious persecution.

NOM certainly isn't advocating violence, but with the spreading of these lies, the organization is creating a very hostile atmosphere by exploiting people's fears that their livelihood will be taken away from them, their children will be harmed, and they will be persecuted for their religious beliefs.

Seems to me that if NOM doesn't want people to be violent, the organization should stop giving them a reason to gather up the pitchforks and torches.