FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 7, 2010

CONTACT: Elizabeth Ray, x130 or Mary Beth Hutchins, x105 at 703-683-5004

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE APPLAUDS DC GROUP'S REFERENDUM EFFORT:
"The People Have the Right to Vote on Marriage"

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Stand for Marriage DC filed a referendum to overturn the same-sex marriage bill passed by the District of Columbia’s city council on December 15. The National Organization for Marriage pledged to work closely with local leaders to win for the people of D.C. the right to vote.

“Politicians have no business pretending they stand for civil rights when they are blocking the right of the people to vote on marriage,” said Brian Brown, executive director of NOM who is also on the executive committee of Stand for Marriage D.C.

“We recognize we will have to fight our way through a political establishment heavily supported by pro-same-sex marriage activists, in order to give the citizens of D.C. their core civil right to protect marriage," said Brian Brown, "We relish the fight, because we believe marriage and democracy will win in the end.”

“Kudos to the leaders of the black church who have stood up to an enormous campaign of vituperation to take a stand for marriage,” said Maggie Gallagher, president of NOM. “We stand with our brothers and sisters in defense of two ideas: marriage is the union of husband and wife, and the politicians cannot take away by legislation the people's charter-given right to vote.”

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, Executive Director for the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray, eray@crcpublicrelations.com, (x130) or Mary Beth Hutchins, mhutchins@crcpublicrelations.com, (x105) at 703-683-5004.

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