nom's packet for how to lobby in favor of banning marriage

2014 Marriage Lobby Day

Citizen Information Packet

A PROJECT OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 � Washington, DC 20006 � (888) 894-6304

www.NationForMarriage.org � [email protected]

Dear Marriage Advocate,

Thank you for your willingness to participate in the National Organization for Marriage’s National Marriage Lobby Day on June 19th! Whether you’re participating in your local community, or in our nation’s capital following the 2014 March for Marriage, we need your help at this critical time and are glad to have you on board!

There are two messages we urge everyone to keep in mind when speaking with your elected officials on Lobby Day. First, remember that marriage is an election issue. Tell your Senator and Representative, “If you stand with us on marriage, we will stand with you. If you are attacked politically or personally for standing for Marriage, you can count on us to defend you and defend Marriage. But if you side with those who say we have no right to speak—who liken support for Marriage to hate and bigotry—you cannot represent us, and we will work for your defeat at the polls!”

In this packet, you’ll find lots of information needed to make your participation in the 2014 National Marriage Lobby Day a success. But the most important key to success is YOU. You can be proud that you are using your personal power and rights as a citizen doing something of lasting importance for your families, your communities and our country.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any further assistance by emailing [email protected]. Thank you once again, and many blessings in your endeavors!

Gratefully,

The 2014 Marriage Lobby Day Team

Contents of this packet:

LOBBY DAY OVERVIEW.

SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS

COMING TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

TONE AND APPROACH DURING

YOUR MEETINGS.

“WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY?”

INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC

LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS.

THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US TO DEFEND MARRIAGE AND THE FAITH COMMUNITIES THAT SUSTAIN IT!



Overview of 2014 National Marriage Lobby Day

The 2014 National Marriage Lobby Day is a unique opportunity for citizen marriage advocates nationwide to voice their concerns about marriage to their elected officials. In this key election year, we will notify those serving in public office that marriage is a key issue that decides voters’ minds and may decide entire elections. This packet is intended to help you to participate effectively and successfully in this critically important event.

Schedule & Location Information for D.C. Attendees

On June 19, 2014 the second annual March for Marriage will be held on the Capitol Grounds. Lobby Day attendees are encouraged to participate in this event, and proceed directly to their lobbying activities following the March.

�� MARCH FOR MARRIAGE EVENTS SCHEDULE

1. 10:30 AM – Begin gathering at Area One for the rally program. 2. 11:00 AM – Rally program begins. 3. 1:00 PM – End of rally; March to Supreme Court commences. 4. 2:00 PM – March arrives at Supreme Court and Marchers disperse. 5. 2:30 PM – Participants in Lobby Day report to gathering location� and

are escorted to meetings with their legislators.

� MAP OF KEY LOCATIONS

Notes: � The rally stage will be facing away from the Capitol building, toward the West. The crowd will gather in Area One facing East toward the Capitol. � The rally site will include portable bathroom facilities. � The March will not continue all the way around the Capitol building, but will disperse from in front of the Supreme Court (as marked by the X).

� Lobby Day participants with gather in front of the Library of Congress next to Supreme Court.



A Word about Tone and Approach During Meetings

While you are meeting with your Representative, Senator, or their staffs please maintain a positive tone. It is your right to share your views and beliefs; but avoid any angry, aggressive, or insulting language or remarks.

Remember especially: we are not asking Congress to “ban same sex marriage.” We are asking Congress to use their power to protect marriage—and to protect our rights as citizens of the United States to freedom of speech and freedom of association, which enable us to speak and act on our belief in marriage, in private and in the public square.

Why Are We Here Today?

The Obama administration and some federal judges have begun to treat our simple belief in marriage as the union of one man and one woman as though it were a crime. They have done, and will continue to do, everything in their power to eradicated our beliefs from every corner of the public square in America. No one deserves to be treated this way, and we will not stand for it—not now, not ever. Marriage—and our right to speak and act openly on behalf of marriage in the public square—is an election issue. We are here to send the message to those elected to represent us:

“If you stand with us on marriage, we will stand with you. If you are attacked politically or personally for standing for Marriage, you can count on us to defend you and defend Marriage. If, however, a Representative or Senator chooses to side with those who say we have no right to speak, who liken support for Marriage to hate, that person cannot represent us and we will work for their defeat at the polls.”

The people of this country stand for marriage, and they are watching to see whether our leaders will stand with us or against us on this most essential matter.



Legislation

During your meetings be sure to take some time to review legislation now before Congress that we support. (Note that we provide separate lists for the House of Representatives and the US Senate.)

In the House of Representatives

H.R. 3829: STATE MARRIAGE DEFENSE ACT

Key Points:

• This bill was introduced by Rep. Randy Weber, TX-14.

• The State Marriage Defense Act works within the framework of the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision to carve out protection for the 33 states that have public policy in support of natural marriage.

• This bill requires the federal government to defer to the laws of a person’s state of residency in determining their marital status for federal purposes.

• It prevents the federal government from ignoring the limits of the Windsor decision and keeps agencies from imposing universal same sex marriage recognition on the states.

H.J. RES 51: FEDERAL MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT

Key Points:

• Introduced by Rep. Tim Huelskamp, KS-01

• This bill negates the Supreme Court Windsor decision by re-establishing a federal definition of marriage as only the union of one man and one woman via constitutional amendment.

Requires the federal government to defer to a state’s legal determinations regarding the definition of marriage in that state.

Defines marriage nationally as the union of one man and one woman by an amendment to the United States Constitution.



House Legislation (cont.)

H.R. 3133: MARRIAGE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT

Key Points:

• Introduced by Rep. Raúl Labrador, ID-01.

• This bill prohibits the federal government from taking an adverse action or discriminating in tax treatment or federal programs against a person or organization with a religious belief in natural marriage.

In the United States Senate

S. 2024: STATE MARRIAGE DEFENSE ACT

Key Points:

• This bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, TX and Sen. Mike Lee, UT.

• The State Marriage Defense Act works within the framework of the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision to carve out protection for the 33 states that have public policy in support of natural marriage.

• This bill requires the federal government to defer to the laws of a person’s state of residency in determining their marital status for federal purposes.

• It prevents the federal government from ignoring the limits of the Windsor decision and keeps agencies from imposing universal same sex marriage recognition on the states.

Prevents federal discrimination against organizations or individuals on account of their religious beliefs about marriage.

Requires the federal government to defer to a state’s legal determinations regarding the definition of marriage in that state.



Senate Legislation (cont.)

S. 1808: MARRIAGE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT

Key Points:

• This bill was introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, UT.

• This bill prohibits the federal government from taking an adverse action or discriminating in tax treatment or federal programs against a person or organization with a religious belief in natural marriage.

• This bill ensures that a person’s religious belief in marriage as the union of one man and one woman cannot be used to deny or exclude that person from federal programs or benefits such as a grant, contract, license, certification, accreditation, or employment.

For more resources and information, visit:

www.MarriageMarch.org

Prevents federal discrimination against organizations or individuals on account of their religious beliefs about marriage.

nom's packet for how to lobby in favor of banning marriage

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