NOM Blames "Hate Group" Label For Family Research Council Shooting

"Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as 'hateful' must end. The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Family Research Council a 'hate group' for its pro-marriage views, and less than a day ago the Human Rights Campaign issued a statement calling FRC a 'hate group'—they even specified that FRC hosts events in Washington, DC, where today's attack took place.

"NOM has always condemned all violence and vilification connected to our ongoing national debate about the meaning and definition of marriage. For too long national gay rights groups have intentionally marginalized and ostracized pro-marriage groups and individuals by labeling them as 'hateful' and 'bigoted' -- such harmful and dangerous labels deserve no place in our civil society and NOM renews its call today for gay rights groups and the Southern Poverty Law Center to withdraw such incendiary rhetoric from a debate that involves millions of good Americans. Violence is never the answer, and on that we all must agree, or risk the consequences." - NOM president Brian Brown.

NOTE 1: NOM has never denounced the Family Research Counsel for taking to national television with a call for gay people to be imprisoned. They have never denounced the American Family Association or any other group for describing LGBT people as inherently mentally ill child molesters. They have never denounced the Liberty Counsel for characterizing LGBT activists as "homofascists." Aside from Westboro Baptist Church, NOM has not denounced ANY other anti-gay group for their detestable lies about LGBT Americans.

NOTE 2: It also bears pointing out that while NOM has always said that they oppose violence against LGBT people, they have never once responded to or denounced incidences of gay bashing, rape, and murder when the perpetrators, if apprehended, defend themselves by saying that they were only putting God's own words into action. Similarly, NOM has never commented on notorious acts of anti-gay activism such as we saw with the Cheerios arsonist.