Contact: Chris Plante, National Organization for Marriage, 202-457-8060 ext 812

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today vowed to unseat Representatives Anne Zerr, Jim Hansen and Caleb Rowden because of their refusal to support SJR 39 which would allow Missouri voters to protect the right of Christians and people of faith from being punished by government because they object to participating in a same-sex 'wedding.' NOM is the nation's largest and most active organization in support of traditional marriage and the religious liberty rights of marriage supporters.

"This act of betrayal by three cowardly Republicans will not be tolerated," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "These lawmakers have sided with LGBT extremists and voted against the right of Missouri voters to consider needed religious liberty provisions protecting people of faith from being forced to participate in a same-sex 'wedding' despite their deeply held religious objections. As we have done elsewhere, we will do everything in our power to end the political careers of these gutless politicians."

NOM has a history of involvement in legislative elections against Republicans who vote to redefine marriage or fail to protect the right of people to refuse involvement in a gay 'wedding' that violates their religious beliefs. They were instrumental in unseating all four Republican state Senators in New York who voted with Democrats to redefine marriage. In 2014, the group helped defeat two Republican US House candidates in Massachusetts and California, and defeated a Republican US Senate candidate in Oregon who supported same-sex 'marriage.' The group also funded independent expenditure efforts and ran ads supporting two successful US Senate candidates in Arkansas and North Carolina.

"LGBT extremists are intent on harnessing the power of government to target anyone who opposes their desire to redefine marriage," Brown said. "They have successfully gone after florists, bakers, photographers, innkeepers and others seeking to force them to participate in a gay 'wedding' that many people consider to be sinful. People have been sued, fined, fired and punished, their reputations ruined and their livelihood destroyed. SJR 39 would have given Missouri voters an opportunity to prevent this type of discrimination against people of faith, but the three Republican legislators instead made sure that the extremists will be able to continue to harass and punish anyone in Missouri who disagrees with their dangerous and divisive agenda."

Representatives Zerr and Rowden are currently seeking election to the state Senate. Rowden is running in Senate District 19 against Rep. Stephen Webber, while Zerr is in a contested Republican primary on August 2nd to fill the vacant 23rd Senate District. Hansen is running unopposed for reelection to the state House of Representatives.

"Whether it takes us a few months or several years, we will not rest until all three of these turncoat Republicans are out of office," Brown pledged. "The people of Missouri are tired of politicians who betray them, running for office as conservatives but failing to support conservative policies once in office. We're going to make sure that voters in each of these districts know that they were betrayed, and we'll be working to unseat them at the first opportunity."

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, please contact Chris Plante, cplante@nationformarriage.org, (202) 457-8060 x-812.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.