Tony Perkins

US President Barack Obama's administration threw its weight behind gay marriage on Thursday, urging the Supreme Court to strike down California's ban on same-sex unions.

Advocates and opponents of gay marriage hailed Saturday a decision by the US Supreme Court to take up the sensitive issue, saying a ruling by the justices could help settle one of the thorniest social disputes in modern America.

Advocates and opponents of gay marriage hailed a decision by the US Supreme Court to take up the sensitive issue, saying a ruling by the justices could help settle one of the thorniest social disputes in modern America.

The US Supreme Court has decided to take up the sensitive issue of gay marriage, hearing challenges to a federal law denying benefits to same-sex couples and California's ban on such unions.

Conservatives have condemned the U.S. Military Academy's Cadet Chapel at West Point for hosting its first gay wedding. Social conservatives have condemned the U.S. Military Academy's Cadet Chapel at West Point for hosting its first gay wedding. On Saturday, Brenda Sue Fulton and Penelope Gnesin married in a ceremony conducted by Army Chaplain Col. J. Wesley Smith of Dover Air Force Base. Fulton, a West Point graduate, serves as a presidential appointee to the West Point Board of Visitors. She is also the executive director of Knights Out, an organization of LGBT West Point graduates, and serves on the OutServe-SLDN Board of Directors. The wedding comes more than a year after the military ended ?Don't Ask, Don't Tell,? the policy which for 18 years banned gay and bisexual troops from serving openly. Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness (CMR), a group which opposed repeal of the law, said such ceremonies were a consequence of the new policy. ?Even though Congre

According to one general, retired General David Petraeus' current woes can be linked to gay rights. According to one general, retired General David Petraeus' current woes can be linked to gay rights. Petraeus resigned as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) earlier this month over an extramarital affair he had with his biographer Paula Broadwell. Petraeus reportedly ended the affair that began in late 2011 during the summer after he learned that Broadwell had been harassing longtime family friend Jill Kelley through anonymous emails. Retired Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin, who currently serves as the executive vice president at the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), accused ?the gay and lesbian lobby? of targeting the military as part of a larger effort to lower society's moral standards. The suggestion is that only people with low moral standards would support equal rights for gay men and lesbians. ?What you're seeing is, you're seeing a declining

Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council (FRC), has predicted a revolution over gay marriage. Tony Perkins, the president of the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), has predicted a revolution over gay marriage. While discussing the string of wins for marriage equality on Election Day, Perkins declared that the Supreme Court would be facing a revolt from Christian conservatives if it legalized marriage for gay couples. (Related: Washington joins Maine, Maryland in approving gay marriage.) Marriage equality, like abortion, runs ?counter to natural law,? Perkins told Peter Sprigg on AFA radio. ?I think if the court steps in at this moment and says, 'We're redefining marriage, same-sex marriage will be the law in every land.' I'm telling you what, I think you will crate a firestorm of opposition. I think that could be the straw that broke the camel's back. When you look at a nation that is so divided along these moral and cultural issues, that you could

FRC President Tony Perkins has criticized gay marriage wins in four states. Tony Perkins, the president of the conservative Family Research Council (FRC), has criticized gay marriage wins in four states. History was made Tuesday on three fronts. In Maine, gay marriage was legalized for the first time through a citizen-led referendum. Washington state and Maryland became the first two states to uphold gay marriage laws approved by lawmakers. And Minnesotans were the first to reject a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to a heterosexual union. (Related: Gay rights groups buoyed by election day victories.) Marriage equality foes suffered a fifth loss in Iowa, where a drive to oust Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins failed. Conservatives targeted Wiggins because he joined in the court's unanimous 2009 decision legalizing such unions in Iowa. Appearing on the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Perkins blamed the losses on President Barack Obama, the NAACP, the media, Hollywood a

FRC President Tony Perkins has said that gay marriage only brings 'pain and heartache'. Tony Perkins, president of the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), has said that gay marriage only brings ?pain and heartache.? Perkins makes the assertion in a new video calling on members to vote their ?Biblical values and make a difference.? ?For nearly a generation we've neglected marriage leaving it nearly defenseless for homosexual activists who are now trying to redefine marriage out of existence,? Perkins says in the nearly 4-minute video which is part of the FRC's iVoteValues campaign. ?Same-sex marriage: it contradicts God's will as revealed in the creator's word. Violating God's law only brings pain and heartache. Right is called wrong and evil is called good. It is because we have yielded moral authority to the demands of special interests or the ruling of some aberrant judge. As a result all of society suffers.? Also included in the video are David and Tonia Parker, th

Dan Savage has dared Tony Perkins to sue him over recent criticisms, including that Perkins wishes gay teens dead. Dan Savage has dared Tony Perkins to sue him over recent criticisms, including that Perkins wishes gay teens dead. During an address at Winona State University, Savage, the editor of Seattle alternative The Stranger and a co-founder of the It Gets Better Project, denounced Perkins, saying that ?every dead gay kid is a victory for the Family Research Council.? Perkins ?sits on a pile of dead kids every day when he goes to work ? and he calls himself a Christian? and ?tells the parents of queer kids to do what Tony Perkins damn well knows drives those kids to suicide ? doubles their already quadruple risk of suicide.? Perkins, the president of the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), hit back during an appearance on Mike Huckabee's radio show. ?As my teenagers would say, he has some issues,? Perkins said. ?He is a man with some real deep-seated issues ... an

Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins has responded to gay activist Dan Savage's criticisms. Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins has responded to gay activist Dan Savage's criticisms. During an address at Winona State University, Savage, the editor of Seattle alternative The Stranger and a co-founder of the It Gets Better Project, denounced Perkins, saying that ?every dead gay kid is a victory for the Family Research Council.? Perkins ?sits on a pile of dead kids every day when he goes to work ? and he calls himself a Christian? and ?tells the parents of queer kids to do what Tony Perkins damn well knows drives those kids to suicide ? doubles their already quadruple risk of suicide.? In an appearance on Mike Huckabee's radio show, Perkins suggested that the FRC is considering taking legal action against Savage. ?As my teenagers would say, he has some issues,? Perkins said. ?He is a man with some real deep-seated issues ... and Dan Savage is nowhere near,

Dan Savage slammed Michele Bachmann and Tony Perkins during a speech to college students. ?Gay activist Dan Savage slammed Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins during a speech to college students. In addressing students at Winona State University, Savage, the editor of Seattle alternative The Stranger and a co-founder of the It Gets Better Project,? denounced Perkins, saying that ?every dead gay kid is a victory for the Family Research Council.? Perkins ?sits on a pile of dead kids every day when he goes to work ? and he calls himself a Christian? and ?tells the parents of queer kids to do what Tony Perkins damn well knows drives those kids to suicide ? doubles their already quadruple risk of suicide.? On Bachmann, who lost the GOP presidential nomination to Mitt Romney, Savage said, ?We will always have ignorant dicks like Michele Bachmann and her fag husband.? (The video is embedded on this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)

In his speech Friday at the Values Voter Summit, Paul Ryan told attendees that Mitt Romney will defend marriage. In his speech Friday at the Values Voter Summit, Paul Ryan told attendees that Mitt Romney will defend marriage, a reference to Romney's opposition to gay marriage. ?For most of us, it was settled long ago that our rights come from nature and nature's God, not from government,? Ryan said. ?A disregard for rights ? a growing government and a static economy ? a country where everything is free but us: This is where it is all trending.? ?But my friends, that road has an exit, just ahead, and it is marked 'Tuesday, November 6, 2012.'? ?We can be confident in the rightness of our cause, and also in the integrity and readiness of the man who leads it.? ?He's solid and trustworthy, faithful and honorable. Not only a defender of marriage, he offers an example of marriage at its best.? Ryan was Friday's keynote speaker at the conference hosted by the Christian conservative group Fami

FRC's Tony Perkins opened the group's Values Voter Summit on Wednesday by comparing being gay to drug abuse. Tony Perkins, the president of the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), compared being gay to drug abuse during an opening event of the group's Values Voter Summit. In 2010, FRC was labeled a ?hate group? by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The group said FRC earned the designation because ?it engages in baseless, incendiary name-calling and spreads demonizing lies about the LGBT community.? Speaking at a luncheon at the National Press Club, Perkins condemned the SPLC for its ?bitter characterization.? When asked if he would disown one of his children if he or she turned out to be gay, Perkins said no, but added that he could not approve, either. ?I would not disown my children for anything, but let me say this. ? I believe that as a parent I have a responsibility for the environment in which I raise my children. And I believe as a parent we have the abil

Tony Perkins has claimed that Starbucks' support for gay marriage has led to billions in losses. Tony Perkins, president of the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), has claimed that Starbucks' support for gay marriage has led to billions in losses. In a radio bulletin, Perkins gave the National Organization for Marriage's (NOM) ?Dump Starbucks? boycott campaign credit for the coffee giant's recent financial woes. ?It didn't take long for Starbucks to lose bucks over marriage,? Perkins says in the bulletin. ?In January, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said endorsing same-sex marriage would be good for business. Boy was he wrong! Siding with radical homosexuals has its price in this country. And in Starbucks' case, the cost is about ten billion dollars. That's how much the coffee giant lost in stock value since the campaign to 'Dump Starbucks' got underway. In the last eight months, the company's missed sales projections and watched stocks dive from $61 to $48, for a loss o

FRC's Tony Perkins believes only a 'very small minority' supports gay marriage. ?Tony Perkins, president of the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), believes only a ?very small minority? supports the legalization of gay marriage. Perkins authored the marriage plank in the 2012 Republican Platform, which was ratified by Republicans meeting in Tampa on Tuesday. The document supports a federal ?constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman? and ?campaigns underway in several other states to? amend their constitutions to define marriage as a heterosexual union. The platform also criticizes President Barack Obama's decision to no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) ? the 1996 law which bars federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples ? in court. In remarks to CNSNews.com, Perkins disagreed with the Democratic Party's draft platform, which supports marriage equality. ?I think this is the yea

Two conservative groups which support gay marriage have criticized the GOP's stance on marriage in a full-page ad. Two conservative groups which support gay marriage have criticized the GOP's stance on marriage in a full-page ad. The ad, set to appear in Wednesday's Tampa Tribune, is sponsored by Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry and gay GOP group Log Cabin Republicans. Last week, Republicans approved language in the 2012 Republican Platform which supports a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as a heterosexual union. Republicans meeting in Tampa this week are expected to ratify the platform. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council (FRC) and the architect of the GOP platform's marriage plank, is quoted in the ad: ?The institution of marriage is the foundation of civil society. Its success as an institution will determine our success as a nation.? ?We agree,? the ad continues. ?That's why Log Cabin Republicans and Young Conservatives for the Free

Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), opposes gay marriage because a square isn't a circle. ?Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), opposes gay marriage because a square isn't a circle. Brown challenged gay activist Dan Savage to a one-hour debate on the subject after Savage gave a speech at a high school journalism conference. In the address, Savage called ?bullshit? on the Bible's anti-gay message and several students walked out. Footage of the debate, which took place on August 15 around Savage's dining room table and was moderated by Mark Oppenheimer of The New York Times, was released on Wednesday. In his opening remarks, Savage argued that the Bible's irreconcilable conflicts on marriage leave it ineligible as a moral authority on the subject in a modern society. ?I think that conservative Christians can learn to tolerate legal civil same-sex marriage the way they have learned to tolerate legal divorce, which viol

FRC's Tony Perkins claims the media has ignored a shooting at the group's headquarters because it doesn't fit a narrative. ?Tony Perkins, president of the Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), claims the media has mostly ignored a shooting at the group's DC headquarters because it does not fit a storyline hostile to conservatives. Twenty-eight-year-old Floyd Lee Corkins of Herndon, Virginia allegedly walked into the group's lobby on Wednesday and shot a security guard in the arm before he was wrestled to the ground. At a press conference on Thursday, Perkins accused the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which in 2010 labeled FRC a ?hate group,? of enabling the shooting. ?Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that have been reckless in labeling organizations hate groups because they disagree with them on public policy,? said Perkins. ?I believe the Southern Poverty Law Center should be held acco

Tony Perkins, the president of the FRC, has accused President Barack Obama of enabling a shooting at the group's headquarters. ?Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council (FRC), on Friday accused President Barack Obama of enabling a shooting at the group's Washington DC headquarters. ?Well, I think as we witnessed this past week at the Family Research Council, clearly linked to that same atmosphere of hostility that's created by the public policies of an administration that's indifferent or hostile to religious freedom and groups like, as I mentioned the Southern Poverty Law Center that recklessly throws around labels giving people like this gunman who came into our building a license to take innocent life,? Perkins said during an interview with former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum on FRC's Washington Watch Weekly radio program. On Thursday, Perkins told reporters that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which in 2010 labeled the FRC a ?hate group,