RI PowerPlayer: Christopher Plante

Monday, March 04, 2013

GoLocalProv News Team

Photo courtesy of Christopher Plante/Rick Snizek. Meet Christopher Plante, the Regional Coordinator for the National Organization for Marriage.

Every Monday, GoLocalProv.com shines the spotlight on one individual who you may not know that is making a large impact on Rhode Island. This week, we sat down with Christopher Plante, the Regional Coordinator for the National Organization for Marriage, one of the largest and most active groups in the middle of the debate on same-sex marriage in the Ocean State.

You are the Regional Coordinator for the National Organization for Marriage. How is your organization impacting the state?

NOM is continuing to develop its grassroots organization across the state. We keep them informed through email and in person about developments in the marriage debate at the State House and on the national level. We also have dynamic social media platforms on Facebook (www.facebook.com/riformarriage) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/nomri). Through all these communication methods, we educate and encourage voters to contact their elected representatives, as well their friends and family, about the importance of protecting and promoting one man/one woman marriage for our children, communities and state.

Much has been made over the past few weeks regarding whether or not Rhode Island voters should decide the issue of same-sex marriage at the polls. Why does your organization believe this should be an issue left to voters?

Rhode Islanders have had the opportunity to vote on whether we should approve casinos, ports, and even changing the name of the State. Marriage is more fundamental to the well-being of our children and our State’s future than any of these issues. Further, polling has shown that 74 percent of Rhode Islanders believe the voters, not the Legislature, should be the ones to decide the definition of marriage, as have voters in 35 other states. The National Organization for Marriage has worked across the country to allow the people to have a free and fair vote on the critical question of marriage.

Same-sex marriage is likely to be decided in the Senate Judiciary Committee within the next couple of months. What is your organization's strategy moving forward on the issue?

We continue to actively lobby the Senate, particularly the Judiciary Committee, urging them to send the issue to the voters. We have been told time and time again that same-sex marriage was inevitable and time and time again that has proven false. Of particular importance to us is working closely with our grassroots supporters, having them call, email, and visit their Senators, because it’s the people who will ultimately hold these elected officials accountable.

Take us through a day in your life.

Usually breakfast with my wife and kids; In the office by 8:00 a.m.; Review and Respond to overnight emails; Review GoLocalProv, the Providence Journal , and Local Blogs -- of course!; Review and update social media platforms; Usually a national level conference call to discuss the status of marriage in other states -- our efforts are part of the national coalition effort to protect marriage; Meetings with various grassroots leaders; Depending on the day, media communications; Preparing for a variety of public speaking events; home hopefully in time for dinner with my family!

Tell us something nobody knows about you.

I am a Jane Austen Fan and my favorite film is Pride and Prejudice , the BBC production from 1996 (the long 6 hour version!)

Quick Hitters

Role Model: The Apostle Paul

Favorite Restaurant: Abyssinia (Ethiopian Restaurant in Providence, RI)

Favorite Part About Winter in Rhode Island: Snow days and being cozy on the couch, drinking hot chocolate with my three children.

Best Book You've Read in the Last Year: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Advice for the Next Christopher Plante: Have a thick skin and a good sense of humor.

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Comments:

Jeremy Hooper

11:15am on Tuesday, March 05, 2013

You should have mentioned the fact that Christopher Plante accuses gay parents of treating their children "like teacup dogs—like an accessory I put in my purse." Or maybe the mention the time that he compared the "tragedy" of gay parents to deceased or divorced parents.

http://www.glaad.org/cap/christopher-plante

Rob Halpin

1:07pm on Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Congratulations GoLocal on profiling one of the leading players in the National Organization for Marriage--a Southern Poverty Law Center registered hate group--and his efforts to dehumanize, degrade and destroy the lives of gay people in RI.

I do hope that you'll treat us to profiles of local KKK leaders and Nazi revivalists. What a treat that will be after reading about what drives Plante to do what he does.

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