NOM: Relying on Diversity to Perpetuate Inequality

A friend just emailed me a recently released commecial by the National Organization for Marriage calling for greater opposition to the legalization of same-gender marriage:

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The group, founded in 2007, seeks to combate marriage equality initiatives at the local, state, and national level.  In addition to their anti-same-gender marriage commercial, they are also leading a "BUYcott" to counteract the boycott that LGBT people are leading in California against those businesses that contributed to the pro-Proposition 8 push (the side that successfully outlawed same-sex marriage in the state).  You can see more about the National Organization for Marriage on their website.

Besides the obvious, the organizations plight to strip away the rights of an already marginalized group, I am disgusted by the group's use of diversity rhetoric to garner greater support.  In their commercial, one person even notes that they are a "rainbow coalition" of people from all different racial and ethnic backgrounds.  The irony of the "rainbow coalition" language is that the Rainbow Coalition, led by Jesse Jackson, sought to include LGBT people and advocate for sexual equality, as well as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and class.  NOM is using liberal rhetoric of diversity and inclusion in their fight to marginalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.  Further, they are pulling upon victimhood language, stating ways in which the legalization of same-gender marriage impedes their religious freedom.  How disgusting... to pretend to be a diverse and inclusive group, not only while oppressing LGBT people, but also while continuing to oppress people of color, women, and the poor and homeless. 

Others, like bloggers on Pam's House Blend and HRC, have already beat me to the punch in critiquing this video. 

It is worth noting the lies that the organization relies on to play upon people's fears about the loss of freedom, while in the process advocating for the denial of freedom of gay people.