The National Organization for Marriage has pledged to spend $1.5 million in advertising and lobbying efforts to defeat a marriage equality bill in New York, and pro-LGBT candidates in the 2012 legislative elections.
“It’s become quite clear in recent days in New York that Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo and same-sex marriage advocates are targeting a select number of Democrat state Senators, as well as some Republicans in their desperate attempt to coerce legislators to support their agenda,” said Brian Brown, President of NOM.
“We want to be sure those courageous Democrats and Republicans who cast their vote of conscience in favor of traditional marriage will have a strong supporter if the radical gay activists come after them in their next election,” Brown said.
The NOM has released this less than truthful (surprise) ad as part of its campaign:
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NOM’s ad is a repeat of one the group ran in 2009. PolitiFact has debunked the NOM’s claim that children are being taught about gay marriage in Massachusetts public schools.
The ad uses the present tense verb, giving the impression this is happening now, in many schools.
“But the group’s only evidence is two incidents five years ago. It’s possible that somewhere, in one of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts, other kindergartners have been taught about same-sex marriage. But NOM couldn’t cite any other examples. We find its statement False,” said PolitiFact.
The campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in New York comes with Cuomo’s support, and is being led by a coalition of LGBT advocacy groups, including the Empire State Pride Agenda, Freedom to Marry, Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality New York, and Log Cabin Republicans.
On Tuesday, Cuomo kicked off a statewide tour to pitch his top three legislative priorities for this session: ethics reform, a property tax cap, and marriage equality.
