Brian S. Brown

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Brian Brown

Brown speaking at a rally in
Madison, Wisconsin
Born Whittier, California
Nationality American
Education Whittier College
Oxford University
UCLA
Occupation Activist
Organization National Organization for Marriage
Religion Roman Catholic
Spouse(s) Susan Brown
Children Seven

Brian S. Brown is an American co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), and has served as its President since 2010, having previously served as Executive Director. The National Organization for Marriage is a non-profit political organization established in 2007 to work against legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. NOM’s mission is “protecting marriage and the faith communities that sustain it.”

Activism

In 2001, Brown became the executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, a socially conservative organization.[1] He was NOM's executive director from its founding in 2007 and was additionally named president in 2010, succeeding Maggie Gallagher. On February 10, 2002 Brown presented a testimony in front of the Connecticut House Judiciary Committee on HB 5002 and HB 5001 [2] NOM lead the initiative to pass California’s Proposition 8 resulting in Brown having spent more than 5 years promoting a cause deemed unconstitutional at the US Supreme Court level in Hollingsworth v. Perry.  He argues that legalized same-sex marriage may lead to pedophilia.[3]

NOM Sues The IRS

In October 2013, Brown announced that The National Organization for Marriage filed a lawsuit in federal court [4] against the Internal Revenue Service for illegally releasing confidential tax documents to the Human Rights Campaign.

Starbucks boycott

Brian Brown in 2012 announced that NOM would launch a global "Dump Starbucks” campaign in response to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, citing the company's support for marriage equality.

Lobbying in Russia

In June 2013, Brown traveled to Moscow where he met with Russian officials and gave a presentation to committees of the State Duma on changes to international adoption laws. Five days after his presentation, the Russian legislative body passed a law that banned Russian children from being adopted by same-sex couples.[5][6]

Human rights activist Fred Karger argued that if it was Brown's intention to further discrimination against LGBT people, his actions were in violation of the Logan Act, which prohibits citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.[7] Brown called the allegations absurd and explained that he was invited there by the World Congress of Families.[8]

Opposition

The Human Rights Campaign website maintains a section titled NOM Exposed, critical of Brown and his organization.

Personal life and beliefs

Brown was raised in Whittier, California. As a teenager he became interested in conservative writings, natural law, and issues of religious liberty. At age 25 he converted from Quakerism to Roman Catholicism.[1] He has a bachelor's degree from Whittier College, a master's degree in modern history from Oxford University, and is a C.Phil. at UCLA.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "'I Do'? I Don't! Gay Marriage's Worst Opponent". Newsweek. November 15, 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2012. 
  2. ↑ Brown, Brian S. (February 10, 2002). "Transcript of Brian Brown's Prepared Testimony on HB 5001 and 5002". Family Institute of Connecticut Action. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  3. ↑ Brown, Brian S. (August 18, 2011). "NOM's Marriage Pledge & Bus Tour Make Waves". National Organization for Marriage. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  4. ↑ "National Organization for Marriage Sues IRS for Releasing Confidential Tax Documents to Human Rights Campaign". Christianpost.com. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2013-12-04. 
  5. ↑ Blue, Miranda (October 3, 2013). "Globalizing Homophobia, Part 2: 'Today the Whole World Is Looking At Russia'". Right Wing Watch. 
  6. ↑ Ferguson, David (October 11, 2013). "NOM president may face charges over anti-LGBT address to Russian parliament". Raw Story. 
  7. ↑ Nichols, James (October 9, 2013). "Fred Karger Claims Brian Brown Violated The Logan Act By Campaigning In Russia". Huffington Post. 
  8. ↑ Schreck, Carl (October 9, 2013). "US Gay Marriage Foe Targeted Over Russia Trip". RIA Novosti. 
  9. ↑ "Brian Brown, President". National Organization for Marriage. Retrieved 11 December 2012. 

External links

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