As marriage equality marches forward, NOM forced to defend its positions

In the wake of the Washington State Legislature’s vote in favor of marriage equality for same-sex couples and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to overturn California’s Prop 8, which rescinded marriage rights for same-sex couples,

representatives of the National Organization for Marriage were put on the defensive in a number of media appearances.

VIDEO: Al Franken cuts ad supporting marriage equality

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota, lent his likeness to a new video series launched by the Human Rights Campaign called “Americans for Marriage Equality.” Franken is the first member of Congress to appear in a video for the campaign, which supports equal rights for same-sex couples, even as legislators in his home state have put a constitutional measure banning marriage equality on the 2012 ballot. The video was released late last week.

Discriminate against same-sex couples? Hell yes, say churches

Should religious organizations that receive public subsidies and take special tax breaks be allowed to discriminate against couples of the same gender? Yes, declare 39 religious leaders in an open letter (PDF) to “all Americans” released last week.

Archbishop orders priests to oppose or stay silent on gay-marriage

“There ought not be open dissension on this issue,” is the message the Catholic hierarchy is telling priests in Minnesota — “this issue” being same-sex marriage.

Bill to end insider trading by members of Congress is picking up steam

A little-noticed bill by Rep. Tim Walz is gaining national attention this week after CBS’ “60 Minutes” aired an exposé on insider trading by members of Congress. Walz, along with Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York, introduced a bill to make the practice illegal in March.

DOMA repeal passes out of committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced by a party-line vote Thursday legislation that would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Bachmann says she would seek federal ban on same-sex marriage

At a speech Monday hosted by the Family Research Council—a conservative Christian organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as a hate group—U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann said she would defeat socialism, described leading Republican candidates for the White House as “frugal socialists” and accused Pres. Barack Obama of working to “usurp” the U.S. Constitution.

Coffman, Lamborn work to ban gay weddings from military facilities

Colorado Republican Reps. Doug Lamborn and Mike Coffman joined Rep. Michele Bachmann and 83 other members of the House as signers of a letter to the U.S. Senate urging that body to pass an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would prohibit gay members of America’s Armed Forces from using military facilities for marriage ceremonies.

The devil causes same-sex attraction, says Catholic ‘expert’

In an editorial in the Boston Pilot, Daniel Avila, a lobbyist and spokesperson for the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage of the U.S. Catholic Conference, wrote that because being gay is not genetic, it must be the work of the devil.

Gardner, Lamborn, Coffman support litigation against Affordable Care Act

Colorado U.S. Reps. Cory Gardner, Doug Lamborn and Mike Coffman lent their names to a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday arguing that the Supreme Court should rule the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional.