Billboard campaign targets same-sex marriage supporters

A national group that vehemently opposes same-sex marriage has launched a new billboard campaign against a group of senators who voted for the measure this year, part of a promise to spend $2 million to oust them from office.

The National Organization for Marriage put up billboards in the districts of four senators who had previously opposed same-sex marriage before voting in favor this June: Sens. James Alesi, R-Perinton, Monroe County; Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie; Mark Grisanti, R-Buffalo; and Shirley Huntley, a Democrat from Queens.

The group had already put up a billboard in Sen. Roy McDonald’s district.

The billboards, which carry the individual senators’ names and carry the message “You’re Next”, reference the NY-9 congressional race, where same-sex marriage opponent Bob Turner, a Republican, defeated Democrat David Weprin in a heavily Democratic district. (Turner’s campaign, however, intentionally did not make same-sex marriage a campaign issue, his aides have said.)

“Just like David Weprin discovered earlier this month when he faced voters after redefining marriage, Mark Grisanti, Stephen Saland, James Alesi, Roy McDonald and Shirley Huntley will soon discover that the people of New York will not sit idly by while the institution of marriage is redefined without voters having any say in the matter,” said Brian Brown, president of NOM, said in a statement.