The struggle for LGBT equality just took an exciting new turn. On March 26th, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) posted several confidential reports intended for the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) board of directors. According to the HRC website, the documents are part of an investigation into NOM's financial activities by the State of Maine.
The contents of the confidential reports have the LGBT and progressive communities in an uproar. Not only do the documents use old, tired rhetoric to demonize same-sex marriage supporters and pit LGBT rights against religious liberty, but they contain troubling racial strategies as well. Specifically, they lay out plans for using Latino voices to associate ethnic pride with opposition to same-sex marriage. To boot, the also lay out plans for using African-Americans to drive a wedge between same-sex marriage supporters and opponents in the Democratic party.
The December 15th, 2009 edition of NOM's "National Strategy for Winning the Marriage Battle" contains the following:
PAGE 6: "Gay marriage is the tip of the spear, the weapon that will be and is being used to marginalize and repress Christianity and the Church. What does the gay marriage idea mean once government adopts it? It means faith communities that promote traditional families should be treated in law and culture like racists. It means that the authority of parents to transmit moral values to children will be eroded."
PAGE 6: The document accuses same-sex marriage supporters of "harassing and intimidating" NOM donors, which is why shielding the identities of NOM donors is so important.
PAGE 17: Since the push for same-sex marriage is global, so too must be the counter-movement against same-sex marriage, the document argues. NOM claimed that it has been approached by leaders in Mexico, Argentina, and Ireland for assistance in opposing same-sex marriage.
PAGE 19: Teaching the next generation is part of NOM's cultural strategy, especially because academia, media, and the entertainment industry "conspire to present intellectually shallow but emotionally appealing arguments" in favor of same-sex marriage.
PAGE 20: "Will the process of assimilation to the dominant Anglo culture lead Hispanics to abandon traditional family values? We can interrupt this process of assimilation by making support for marriage a key badge of Latino identity."
PAGE 20: NOM aims to work with high-profile Latino leaders and celebrities who are willing to condemn same-sex marriage. "As "ethnic rebels" such spokespeople will also have an appeal across racial lines, especially to young urbans in America."
PAGE 22: The document looks askance at the Democratic party for its members' stance on LGBT issues. "...Democratic power bosses are increasingly inclined to privilege the concerns of gay rights groups over the values of African-Americans."
PAGE 23: NOM plans to promote African-American voices against same-sex marriage in order to create a wedge between same-sex marriage supporters and opponents in the Democratic party. "No politician wants to take up and push an issue that splits the base of the party."
In response to the document release, NOM stressed its diversity credentials. In a March 27th press release, NOM president Brian S. Brown asserted that his organization is proud to bring together racially diverse people to fight for "our most fundamental institution: marriage." Brown insisted that same-sex marriage is not a civil right, despite the protestations of same-sex marriage supporters. (See www[dot]nationformarriage[dot]org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075187&ct=11675511¬oc=1)
This is a bombshell. Many observers suspected that these strategies were at work, but to see them in black and white in NOM documents is startling. NOM can no longer deny its dubious tactics, now being held up for scrutiny in the light of day.
For additional commentary, visit the following links.
SPLC Hatewatch: Calling All Black People: NOM Wants to Use You
Religion Dispatches: Anti-Gay Marriage NOM Documents Reveal Racial Wedge Strategy and More
Think Progress: Top 10 Highlights From NOM’s Race-Wedging, Donor-Hiding, Victim-Playing Confidential Strategies
Box Turtle Bulletin: NOM Doc Dump: Money Spent to Drive A Wedge WITHIN (Not Just Between) LGBT Families
Right Wing Watch: Did NOM Hire Someone to Unsuccessfully Find ‘Victims’ of Gay Parents?
It's fantastic that this has come to light. I am utterly shocked at this material. The villainy that I've come to expect has turned to a cartoonish supervillainy here. Do they sit in wingback chairs while stroking white cats when they come up with this stuff? I wonder...
ReplyDeleteMichelle -- It wouldn't surprise me. When it comes to the Religious Right, truth is stranger than fiction.
DeleteThe fact that they feel they have to stoop to these tactics speaks volumes. Thanks for this, Ahab.
ReplyDeleteDonna -- If their cause were just, they wouldn't stoop to these things. On some level, they might know this.
DeleteLike most RRRWers they're blatant liars who use Black and Latino people as political pawns. Some of us knew that all along. Now we have hard evidence of it.
ReplyDeleteBuffy -- Amen. The anti-abortion movement has been doing the same, so I hope we'll have similar revelations into their strategies.
DeleteI saw this. I have to say, it doesn't surprise me at all.
ReplyDeleteCognitive Dissenter -- It's definitely a big blow to NOM. And that's awesome.
DeleteOnly caveat is I would say this is how many, if not most, political campaigns on hot button issues are strategized. Sure it is sleazy, but then much politics is sleazy.
ReplyDeleteBrian -- Probably more than we realize.
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