In a full-page ad released this week,
the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) attacks proposed gay
marriage legislation in Rhode Island.
Under the headline “The Big Lie,”
the group wrote: “Once again politicians with a special interest
agenda are pushing House Bill 5015 to impose same-sex 'marriage,'
claiming they'll protect religious liberty even while fundamentally
redefining our most important social institution. But experience
elsewhere shows that's not true – people of faith will pay the
price.”
“Religious groups like Knights of
Columbus have been forced to allow same-sex ceremonies in their
facilities, against their beliefs. Small businesses have been sued.
Individuals have been fired and suspended from their jobs for
supporting true one man/one woman marriage. Pastors and priests have
been punished for publicly pronouncing their faith.”
“When marriage is changed, it's often
taught to young children in school. Second graders forced to read
books about men marrying other men, showing them kissing. Courts
have ruled that parents have no right to even be notified of this
instruction.”
“It's a big lie to claim that
same-sex marriage won't affect everyone,” NOM added.
Ray Sullivan, campaign director for
Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, the group lobbying for passage
of the law, said NOM is “employing the well-worn tactics of those
opposed to equality: fear mongering.”
In
a post titled Fact Check: NOM's Latest Ad Is Filled With Lies,
the group rejects all of NOM's claims, including the notion that such
legislation leads to children being “forced to read books about men
marrying men.”
“Minnesota Public Radio has called
this claim misleading: 'There's no evidence that same-sex marriage is
taught throughout Massachusetts, and the state doesn't require such
curriculum.' The claim was also previously debunked by PolitiFact
Rhode Island, which rated it 'false.'”