Marriage equality activists are refusing to let the pro-discrimination voices of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) go unanswered this summer.

According to media reports, the right-wing National Organization for Marriage is planning a tour, they call "Summer of Marriage," of portions of the country to oppose same-sex marriage. In response, activists with Freedom to Marry, a national campaign that favors marriage equality, plan to organize "rallies and other events wherever NOM is planning to push discrimination and distort the truth about gay couples and their families."

In a press statement, Freedom To Marry organizers said, "we would like to thank NOM for drawing attention this summer to the love, commitment, and the crucial safety net that marriage brings to families across the country."

NOM was founded in 2007 by right-wing religious and political groups to support virulent anti-gay political campaigns in states like California and Washington. NOM's main goal is to fight growing public sentiment in favor of marriage equality and expanded protections for same-sex couples.

In contrast, Freedom to Marry campaign, beyond countering the homophobic message of NOM, promotes the basic notion that anyone should have the freedom to choose their marriage partner and have access to the social and economic benefits of that institution. Part of the goal of the campaignis to "share our stories and demonstrate how the denial of marriage harms same-sex couples and their families, while helping no one," the campaign statement noted.

In addition, the campaign will "break the silence, spark conversations, and share personal stories about why marriage matters to same-sex couples and their families."

The campaign rejects NOM's claim that allowing marriage for everyone is some sort of attack on "the values of our Nation." Instead, the group will turn the tables: "We will continue to demonstrate that there is nothing more American then embracing the Golden Rule and celebrating love, commitment, and equal protection under the law."

Participate in the Freedom to Marry campaign here.

Photo: Anti-Prop 8 protesters in California. (Photo by Steve Bott, courtesy Flickr, cc by 2.0)