NOM's Brian Brown Debates Freedom to Marry's Mark Solomon On NC's Amendment One: VIDEO
NOM's Brian Brown tooted in anticipation of a win in North Carolina on FOX News over the weekend, claiming that scare tactics about domestic violence and health benefits are being used by the opposition.
Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...
Brian should really look at the company he keeps before he says he's not bigoted
Posted by: Chris | May 7, 2012 6:04:28 PM
From time to time, I have heard North Carolina referred to as a nice place to vacation for New Yorkers and New Englanders, others, a nice place that's "way more liberal and cultured than you'd think."
If Amendment One passes tomorrow, I propose a boycott on vacations to North Carolina.
And even without a formal boycott, if North Carolina passes Amendment One, it sends a message to the world about how UNWELCOMING a place North Carolina has somehow managed to continue to be.
C'mon, North Carolinans, show us what you are really about here in 2012. Show yourself as a bright spot in the south, like the rest of us have been wishfully hoping you have become.
The people of North Carolina KNOW there is an economic effect on barring gay marriage, even tourist dollars aside, right??
Posted by: just_a_guy | May 7, 2012 6:14:14 PM
That screen grab would scare me straight. Both men resemble monsters, when only Brown is.
Posted by: Paul R | May 7, 2012 6:15:46 PM
well our family will be boycotting NC, and the outer banks will have seen the last of us,and our Vacation into the 1000's of dollars if this passes
Posted by: disgusted american | May 7, 2012 6:58:39 PM
sadly, yes, its the VOTERS who are to decidei this fate,which means in NC ignorant fundies rule..and intellectuals are put out in the trash...
Posted by: codyj | May 7, 2012 7:09:54 PM
My blood just boils just by looking at Brian Brown's face. Can you imagine being his kid? UGHGHGH I think I genuinely hate him, and I never hate anyone!
Posted by: Lucas | May 7, 2012 7:38:52 PM
The war is not over. The NC battle will be lost to the bigots, but fear not.
Posted by: Sargon Bighorn | May 7, 2012 7:39:49 PM
Finally, a photo of Brian where he looks normal!
And Lucas, considering how many fatherless children there are in the U.S., I'm sure many of them would be grateful for ANY father, even Brian Brown.
I wouldn't take the North Carolina vote as indicative of the future. It is a very socially conservative state. Ohio, Washington state, and Minnesota will be far more important.
Posted by: mary | May 7, 2012 8:16:55 PM
Brian Brown looks normal in that screen grab, Mary?
I think he looks peevish and petulan....oh! I see what you did there.
I didn't think you had it in you, Mary. Bravo!
Posted by: Acronym Jim | May 7, 2012 9:06:03 PM
I don't think you thought out your second comment, though, Mary.
I was a fatherless (and gay) child. It would have been a nightmare to have this bigot as a dad.
My mother, on the other hand, did a wonderful job as a single parent to two children.
Posted by: Acronym Jim | May 7, 2012 9:09:08 PM
People are wasting too much time on North Carolina. It would take a miracle for this Amendment to lose there. Instead, everyone should be putting time and money -- and time and money -- and time and money -- into Maine, Washington State, Minnesota and Maryland where there are realistic chances that same-sex marriage will be upheld. Trying to win the issue now in North Carolina is a bit like a Democratic Presidential candidate trying to carry Utah or Oklahoma in a Presidential election.
Posted by: MiddleoftheRoader | May 7, 2012 9:38:09 PM
Acronym Jim,
I just meant that Brian's photographs usually make him look like Miss Piggy or some kind of chipmunk. Here he does look angry, but at least human (some folks just don't photograph well.)
I'm sorry you grew up without a father. You didn't say whether your Dad died or just abandoned you, but either way you deserved better. I'm sure your Mom is a good person and was a good mother. But you still deserved a father.
And by the way, I believe that every child is a precious gift - even children conceived accidentally (I'm thinking of Maggie Gallagher's son and Sarah Palin's grandson). And this includes every gay child also. And no, I wouldn't abort a gay fetus (just in case you were wondering.)
Posted by: mary | May 7, 2012 10:04:35 PM
@Mary/Maggie -- I'm uncomfortable with your attempts at appearing loving.
Please just admit that you are paid and directed by NOM for your comments here.
Posted by: just_a_guy | May 7, 2012 10:16:35 PM
@ Mary/Maggie:
You say in a prior link (http://www.towleroad.com/2012/05/dan_savage_brian_brown_debate.html#ixzz1uFAESoDR)
"I am afraid that in time significant numbers of (presumably straight) individuals will be attracted to same-sex relationships. This percentage will not be a majority of the population, by any means, but it will be enough to have serious consequences for the rest of us. Men will be attracted to the idea of easier access to sex (since man tend to value sex more than women do) and to sex free of the fear of impregnating one's partner. Also, since men can't make babies with men, marrying a man may come to have more appeal to men who are ambivalent about fatherhood. And, the more men take up same-sex relationships, the fewer men are left for heterosexual women. These straight women will increasingly turn to each other for relationships, marriage, and child-rearing.
Same-sex marriage, although seemingly a radical new invention, is in many ways a lot closer to a "traditional" life than many other things in America that were once considered odd or immoral, but have now become somewhat mainstream and accepted. I'm thinking specifically of lifelong singleness, unwed motehrhood by choice, and serial(heterosexual) cohabitation. Same-sex marriage at least offers someone the comfort of having a lifelong mate, a second parent for his/her child, and someone to share financial expenses with. Those whose families are shocked and object to a same-sex marriage will be told that historically marriage has been more about practical matters such as child-bearing/rearing, getting one's children financially secure, than about romance or even sex itself. Some of these people who are attracted to same-sex spouses won't have changed their sexual orientation as much as simply "settled" for what they can realistically get."
Mary, do you honestly believe that?! On what evidence do you base these sorts of claims? Why are you SOO afraid of the possibility that a few more people who are lgbt anyway (but don't now acknowledge it) might come out of the closet?
I'm all ears.
Read more:
Posted by: just_a_guy | May 7, 2012 11:05:40 PM
Brown is running out of talking points.
Posted by: Dana Chilton | May 7, 2012 11:19:56 PM
Brown said "un-elected judges" can change the law in NC. As a North Carolinian, last time I checked, NC elects its judges. What an idiot.
Posted by: Nate | May 8, 2012 12:17:33 AM
Mary,
Don't pity me. I did not miss out on anything. My mother raised my sister and I to be critical thinking individuals in our world view. We don't make blanket assumptions of individuals based on their familial demographics. We measure the strength and goodness of a person by their actions.
You seem to be striving for understanding. That said, please don't fall into the trope of single parent children missing out because of the lack of one parent. Often, the missing parent could be more detrimental than good.
Posted by: Acronym Jim | May 8, 2012 12:23:34 AM
BTW Mary,
Your bringing up abortion in a blog that focuses on gay issues is, in its face, fallacious. What does abortion have to do with any gay person or couple seeking to have children?
Posted by: Acronym Jim | May 8, 2012 12:41:14 AM
What is really sad about Brian Brown and friends is that all of this money and energy spent keeping LGBT people in second class citizenships could be spent really helping people and families, But sadly fear is a bigger motivator than loving kindness is. What is most tragic of all is that this repression is done in the name of religion. Very unspiritual religion to be sure.
Posted by: Tom in long beach | May 8, 2012 12:56:46 AM
I'm not a religious person, but every night I say my prayers that I wake up tomorrow and read in the New York Times that Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown both died of natural causes last night.
Posted by: Oliver | May 8, 2012 5:23:50 AM
When people know what the amendment does, they are against it.
Which is why Brian and his NOM minions are doing everything they can to keep the electorate in the dark. When will the lies stop?
Posted by: KevinVT | May 8, 2012 12:41:16 PM