Brian Brown, president of the National
Organization for Marriage (NOM), on Thursday predicted the state
count on gay marriage isn't about to grow much in the short term.
In an interview with USA
Today, Brown, who helms the nation's most visible
organization opposed to such unions, said efforts in Minnesota,
Illinois, New Jersey and Oregon would fail.
Brown made his remarks just hours
before the Rhode Island House gave its final approval to a marriage
bill and independent Governor Lincoln Chafee signed it into law.
(Related: Rhode
Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signs gay marriage bill.)
Brown appeared hesitant to predict an
outcome in Delaware, where a final vote on a bill is set to take
place next week.
“In Delaware, it's going to be a
tough fight and I think it's going to be a close vote.”
In Illinois “they would have called
the bill if they had the votes,” Brown said of a proposed measure
in the state.
“There's been tremendous opposition
from the African-American community to redefining marriage. The
president, Rahm Emanuel, others are pushing to try and get the votes,
but right now it's not there. And I think again that shows you that
this myth that somehow same-sex marriage is inevitable is just a
myth.”
“We have all of the cultural powers
that be trying to bring forth this new edict that this is now the
norm, this is what good Americans believe. That if you disagree with
this idea, you're discriminating, or this is bigotry.”
“I think we have a very good chance
of winning in Minnesota,” he said, referring to a bill in the state
which awaits action in both legislative chambers.
An expected attempt to override
Republican Governor Chris Christie's veto in New Jersey doesn't stand a chance,
Brown said.
Brown also predicted defeat for an
effort to legalize marriage equality with a referendum in Oregon.
“We'll have another statewide fight
and the people will be able to vote. I think we can win that vote,”
he said.