Viewpoint by Tony Begley, United We Stand Contributor

The National Organization for Marriage, an organization few heard of until the State of Iowa legalized same-sex marriage is celebrating ‘victory‘ in Maine.

What they overlooked was the victory for gay rights on the other coast, in the State of Washington – where voters extended homosexual couples all the privileges and responsibilities enjoyed by heterosexual couples. That measure, known as “everything but marriage,” passed with 52 percent of the vote.

The only difference?  It’s called “domestic partnership” rather than marriage.   Domestic partnerships vary from state to state that have them; Washington extended all benefits of “marriage” to gay and lesbian couples, whereas California’s domestic partnership law is rather limited.

Churches who participated in the “people’s veto” outlawing same-sex marriage in Maine only months after it was made legal are still under fire as Maine Marriage Equality continues their campaign to have their tax-exempt status revoked. (previous story)

Threats to the New York Senate

Following up on its successful campaign to defeat Dede Scozzafava (R) in NY-23, The National Organization for Marriage’s (NOM) Executive Director Brian Brown announced plans to build a $500,000 war chest to fund a primary challenge to any Republican senator who votes for gay marriage – regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s vote in the New York Senate.

“There is no Republican Senate district in New York where the majority of people support gay marriage. Maine has made that very clear,” said Brian Brown. “The GOP should learn from Dede Scozzafava’s experience: voting for gay marriage does not pay.”

But whether it is the National Organization for Marriage, the Liberty Counsel, the American Family Association, or the Family Foundation of Kentucky, anyone who denies that “American opinion is shifting” inhabits a fool’s paradise. Opposition to gay marriage is shrinking. In 1996, 65 percent took a negative view. Since then, support has fallen by about one percentage point a year. Basically, one (1) out of every eight (8) Americans has gone from opposing the concept to endorsing it.

Kentucky Organization Lives in a Fool’s Paradise

The Family Foundation of Kentucky is continuing to support the “Kentucky Marriage Movement,” which started in October possibly due to Marriage Equality Kentucky’s attempt to collect signatures for marriage equality with their “Marriage Declaration Campaign,” which is currently only endorsed by one statewide gay rights organization, Kentucky Equality Federation.

In addition, a new online site has been created, http://www.kentuckymarriage.org, opposing same-sex marriage.  The organization is not listed with the Kentucky Department of State as required by Kentucky law.

According to their website:

Over 10,000 couples have experienced new and deeper love through the principles of Honeymoon for Life© Marriage Weekends.

Keep the spark of love alive. Enjoy the marriage of your dreams. Excitement – Sex – Fun – it’s all in Honeymoon for Life©. This positive seminar program has been followed by thousands of couples to create their best relationship ever.

In time, though, it will be apparent that granting same-sex complete marriage equality has none of the horrible consequences imagined by gay-rights opponents (not even a “storm,” see below). At that point, some of them will find themselves asking: “Tell me again why we don’t let them get married?”