The president of the anti-LGBT group National Organization for Marriage (NOM) this week used the memory of Dr. Luther King, Jr. to make the assertion that the “true civil rights” movement was his fight against equal rights.

During a rally at the Utah state capitol on Monday, NOM President Brian Brown called on lawmakers to defend Utah’s prohibitions against same sex marriage.

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“Not all of us here may be of the same denomination — there are Orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, people of no religious denomination that understand that marriage is by definition the union of a man and a woman, and it demands a defense,” he told the crowd. “But I will say that it’s pretty likely that those of us here share some respect for our savior Jesus Christ. And that most of us have been told at one time or another that we shouldn’t say something like this at a gathering at the Capitol, or that belief shouldn’t affect what’s in the best interest of our state or our government.”

“Well, I say that is a lie and it is wrong!”

“Throughout history, people of faith have stood up against gross injustices, stood up for true civil rights,” Brown said, adding that the “truth” of the Civil Rights Movement was that King and other leaders had fought because of their faith.

“Dr. King in prison, to have his home fire bombed, to stand for the truth no matter what,” he said. “It was faith, that courage to fight for the truth.”

“We are standing up for the civil rights of all when we stand up for the truth about marriage,” Brown insisted. “Blessed are you when you are persecuted!”

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Watch this video, uploaded by YouTube user Drew Stelter.

(h/t: Right Wing Watch)