Who Are the 44,500 Who Say They'll Go to Jail to Fight Marriage Equality?

A group organized by antigay pastor Rick Scarborough vows to defy any ruling by the Supreme Court that recognizes same-sex marriage, even if it means they have to go to jail to defend so-called "traditional marriage."

And in a surprise twist, an email plea for donations invokes Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.

Scarborough, founder of Vision America, announced the effort in a column on WND, a conservative website:

"The Supreme Court can no more redefine marriage than it can redefine gravity. Neither is in the Court's legitimate jurisdiction."

The group claims to have more than 44,500 signatures, which are being collected on DefendMarriage.org. According to Scarborough, those who signed the document "will accept any fine and jail time to protect their religious freedom and the freedom of others."

The list includes two presidential candidates, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. Tom DeLay, the former majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives once called "the meanest man in Congress," also signed on, as have reality TV stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and evangelist Franklin Graham.

As The Advocate reported, the group also placed a full-page advertisement in The Washington Post and USA Today last week, declaring, "We will not honor any decision by the Supreme Court which will force us to violate a clear biblical understanding of marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman."