Prop 8: Let's Not Make the Same Mistake Next Time

Huffington Post

February 26, 2009

Matt Coles of the ACLU's LGBT Project reflects on the lessons of Prop. 8 and discusses the new multi-organization "Tell 3" campaign, geared to increase personal conversations about marriage equality. [Link]

Innkeepers lobby for marriage equality

Bangor News

February 25, 2009

Innkeepers and others who make their livings in Maine’s tourism and wedding industries headed to the Statehouse today to ask legislators to support a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Maine [Link]

Friday Forum: Can Gay Rights Save the Economy?

Queerty

February 27, 2009

Queerty asks readers to weigh in on claims that LGBT equality should take a backseat during the economic crisis, in contrast to the growing number of studies that suggest that marriage equality would boost the economy. [Link]

California marriage fight echoes past

Detroit Free Press

February 27, 2009

Aurelio Rojas examines the legal and political history that will inform next week's oral arguments at the California Supreme Court over the fate of the anti-gay Prop. 8. [Link]

Marriage Bill Returns

Providence Journal

February 27, 2009

The Rhode Island state Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony Thursday night on proposed marriage legislation. State Rep. Arthur Handy introduced an Assembly version of a marriage equality bill Wednesday, co-signed by 30 of 75 House members. [Link]

Domestic Partnership Bill Fails

Las Cruces Sun-News

February 27, 2009

The New Mexico state Senate voted 25-17 Thursday to defeat a proposed bill that would have created domestic partnerships in the state, with 10 Democrats joining all 15 Republicans in opposing the measure. The state House had passed a similar bill previously. [Link]

Milk's Screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black's Moving Acceptance Speech

GLAADBlog
February 22, 2009

GLAAD blogs about Dustin Lance Black's acceptance speech at the Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay of Milk. Black talks about how Harvey Milk's life gave him hope: "It gave me the hope to live my life, it gave me the hope to one day live my life openly as who I am and that maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married." (Link)

R.I. legislators to take up annual marriage equality debate

Providence Journal
February 22, 2009
Rhode Island legislators discuss marriage equality legislation for the thirteenth year in a row as they prepare for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on marriage equality this Thursday. (Link)

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Our mission statement calls for the 'equality of rights of all persons.' Prop. 8 strip same-sex couples of a fundamental freedom, as defined by the California state supreme court. In so doing, it poses a serious threat to all Americans."

-- NAACP CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous in a letter to California legislative leaders

Bill Filed to Ban Gay Couples' Marriages in N.C.

Greensboro News & Record
February 25, 2009
N.C. Sen. Jim Forrester filed legislation this week that would amend the state's constitution to further ban marriage for gay couples. [Link]

Calif. Senate committee sides with Prop. 8 foes

San Francisco Chronicle

February 24, 2009

The Calif. Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve a resolution stating that Prop. 8 is invalid because it was a constitutional revision that required the Legislature's approval to reach the ballot. The resolution now heads to the full Senate for a vote. [Link]

From the other side: "How we passed Prop 8"

hunter of justice

February 23, 2009

"After reading a fascinating article written by the two lead strategists behind Prop 8's victory, I felt like I had stepped through the looking glass. The narrative is about how the underdog won, except, in this flip of "Milk," they were the underdog. And that is what the early polls showed. This analysis of how they won was a lot more illuminating to me than anything I've read from our side reflecting on how we lost. Their basic message in this article is simple: master the fundamentals, define the issues, ignore the noise and make the other side play your game." [Link]

Wanda Sykes helps launch new “I Do” campaign

California Ripple Effect

February 23, 2009

Equality California Institute board member Wanda Sykes recorded a video message asking folks to join the Let California Ring coalition on a new campaign to spark conversations and open hearts and minds. [Link]

NAACP national calls for Prop 8 to be overturned

NAACP press release
February 23, 2009
In letters to legislative leaders, NAACP national board chair Julian Bond and President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous urged passage of House Resolution 5 and Senate Resolution 7 to put the legislature on record calling for invalidation of Prop. 8 as an improper and dangerous alteration of the California Constitution. Read the letters here. [Press Release Link (pdf)]

California Vigils Set for Eve of Supreme Court Prop 8 Hearing

Towleroad

February 24, 2009

A series of candlelight vigils are being planned by Marriage Equality USA on March 4th, the evening before the California Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the challenge to Proposition 8. Said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director: "On the eve of justice, we're calling on Californians to march forth on March 4th in candlelight vigils to be held across the state in support of the Constitution's promise of equality for all. We invite supporters of marriage equality, their friends and families, and especially the 18,000 same-sex couples married last year, to join us in a showing of faith and support that love and justice will prevail." [Link]

NAACP national calls for Prop 8 to be overturned

Pam's House Blend

February 23, 2009

In a letter to legislative leaders, NAACP national board chair Julian Bond and President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous urged passage of House Resolution 5 and Senate Resolution 7 to put the legislature on record calling for invalidation of Prop. 8 as an improper and dangerous alteration of the California Constitution. [Link]

Gay Bloggers' Voices Rise in Chorus of Growing Political Influence

Washington Post

February 24, 2009

The Washington Post examines the growing influence of LGBT blogs and bloggers, focusing on how "the still relatively small gay political presence online is rebooting the gay rights movement in a decentralized, spontaneous, bottom-up way." [Link]

Colo. Senate gives initial OK to benefits for same-sex couples

The Denver Post

February 23, 2009

A bill that would grant the partners of Colo. gay and lesbian state employees health benefits passed its first vote before the full state Senate yesterday. Sen. Jennifer Viega, who sponsored the bill, said, "It would move us toward the 21st century." [Link]

EDITORIAL: Marriage Needs a Vote

The New York Times

February 23, 2009

The New York Times editorial board urges supporters of marriage equality legislation in Rhode Island to "redouble their efforts to propel [the bills] to the floor of both houses, where a favorable vote could help raise the issue in the national consciousness." [Link]

Out of 'Milk,' Perhaps a Little Human Kindness Toward Gay Rights

Washington Post

February 21, 2009

The Washington Post took a closer look at the Harvey Milk biopic Milk's Oscar chances, as well as the film's significance to the LGBT community and American culture after the passage of Prop. 8. [Link]

Financial Impact of Gay Vows Studied

Kennebec Journal
February 23, 2009
A new Williams Institute study found that the Maine economy would see a $60 million boost over three years if that state allows gay couples to marry. [Link]

OP-ED: This Is the Way the Culture Wars End

The New York Times

February 21, 2009

William Saletan urges President Obama to move toward federal recognition of marriage for gay couples: "The cultural imprimatur of marriage makes the gravity of the bond stronger than a civil union or domestic partnership [...] We should promote and favor marriage, regardless of orientation." [Link]

Freedom to Marry Bills Expected to be Introduced in a Record 11 State

A record 11 statewide marriage bills are expected to be introduced in legislatures in the US in 2009. Reflecting the ever-increasing support for and enlarged conversation around the freedom to marry, this represents a 35% increase from just a year ago. While 2009 may not see success everywhere at once, were all those bills passed and signed into law, along with victories in the marriage cases before the state supreme courts in Iowa and California, then almost 40% of Americans would live in jurisdictions with equality in marriage.

Already 14 states have at least some kind of protections for gay couples: 2 states have ended the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage; 3 honor out-of-state marriages; 4 have civil unions or broad domestic partnership; and 5 have created some lesser legal status on the road to marriage equality.

• See where your state stands on ending marriage discrimination
• Find a local equality organization to get involved
  

BLOG: Where Did You Get Them?

Huffington Post

February 19, 2009

"So back to the responsibility of being a gay father. It turns out the key is the same as it would be if I were a straight father. It's about patience. Showing patience in every way to everyone. I'm different, but not really." [Link]

Wisconsin Governor Proposes Same-Sex Partnerships

La Crosse Tribune

February 20, 2009

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed a plan to allow the state's gay couples to form domestic partnerships and receive many of the legal protections that straight couples enjoy. Opponents say the proposal conflicts with the state's anti-gay marriage amendment and plan to sue if it passes. [Link]

Legislators target marriage ban

The San Diego Union-Tribune

February 18, 2009

After hearing conflicting and often emotional testimony about who deserves the last say on the marriage question, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 in favor of a resolution stating citizens lacked the authority to put the gay marriage ban directly to voters. [Link]

Calling The Christianist Bluff

The Daily Dish

February 19, 2009

Andrew Sullivan says that despite the defeat of all the bills in the Common Ground Initiative, Equality Utah disproved with the legislative packet the Mormon church's claims that its support of Prop. 8 was only related to marriage: "It's not about protecting marriage; it's about treating gay citizens and their relationships with contempt." [Link]

Poll: Majority of NJ voters support marriage equality

Newsday

February 19, 2009

A Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll released Wednesday found that 48 percent of registered N.J. voters support full marriage equality for gay couples. [Link]

All Gay-Rights Bills Fall Short, But Neither Side Is Giving Up

The Salt Lake Tribune

February 19, 2009

The Utah legislature rejected the last remaining bill in Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative Wednesday. State democratic lawmakers say they will bring back the bills -- with some variations -- next year. [Link]

Marriage Hearings in Rhode Island Set for February 26

EDGE Boston

February 18, 2009

The fight for marriage equality in the Ocean State will be front and center on Thursday,February 26, as the Senate Judiciary Committee hears testimony pertaining to two bills -- one prohibiting same-sex couples from getting married and the other granting equal access to marriage for same-gender couples. [Link]

Australia to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages in Some Transgender Cases

towleroad

February 17, 2009

Towleroad reports that "Male-Female married couples in Australia in which a transgender individual makes a physical gender transition so that the couple becomes a same-sex couple will no longer have their marriages annulled by the Australian government later this year." [Link]

Domestic Partnership Bill Heading to New Mexico Senate

El Paso Times

February 17, 2009

The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee broke a deadlock Monday over proposed domestic partnership legislation with a 6-5 vote to send the bill to the Senate without recommending its approval or rejection. [Link]

Calif. Lawmakers Back Prop. 8 Challenge

San Jose Mercury News

February 17, 2009

As Calif. marriage equality advocates lobbied for legislative support at the state Capitol yesterday, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 in favor of a resolution stating that citizens lacked the authority to put Prop. 8 directly to voters. [Link]

Freedom to marry week: why we speak out

Minister Bob's Blog

February 17, 2009

If we truly love one another, we need to live that love out loud, by being there for each other. We can’t be silent in affirming each other’s worth and dignity, while so many in the world denigrate so many of us as second-class citizens. We need to stand on the side of love. [Link]

Gay Pride on Valentine’s Day in Beijing

The Wall Street Journal

February 16, 2009

The Wall Street Journal's blog on Chinese current events reports on and shows photos of a Valentine's Day protest in Beijing in support of LGBT equality. [Link]

Marriage-equality opponents rally in Augusta, Maine

Associated Press

February 16, 2009

The anti-gay Family Research Council says that nearly 1,000 people showed up to protest proposed legislation to bring marriage equality to Maine at a Sunday night rally at the Augusta Civic Center. [Link]

Gay Rights 'Lobbyists' to Descend on Capitol

San Francisco Chronicle

February 15, 2009

Thousands of LGBT equality advocates rallied in Sacramento on Tuesday for a lobby day aimed at winning lawmakers' support of a resolution challenging the validity of Prop. 8. [Link]

Suze Orman’s Valentine’s Wish: Marriage Equality

The Suze Orman Show

February 14, 2009

Suze Orman calls it a “travesty” that Prop 8 in CA and Prop 2 in FL passed, says everyone deserves the same economic benefits and the right to be loved, and closes with her valentine’s wish for marriage equality.

Soap Features Daytime TV's First Lesbian Wedding

CNN

February 16, 2009

ABC's All My Children featured daytime TV's first wedding of a lesbian couple when the characters Bianca and Reese exchanged vows. GLAAD's Neil Giuliano: "It's reality. So when we see a lesbian couple getting married on daytime drama, it simply reflects what's happening in the real world." [Link]

Straight Couples in France Are Choosing Civil Unions Meant for Gays

Washington Post

February 14, 2009

The number of straight couples uniting under France's Civil Solidarity Pact, which allows gay or straight couples to unite in a social and legal status "halfway between living together and marriage," has grown from 42 percent of the total number of people entering such agreements in 1999 to 92 percent last year. [Link]

State House approves civil unions in Hawaii

Honolulu Star-Bullentin

February 13, 2009

A measure that would make civil unions for gay couples almost legally equivalent to marriages of straight couples was approved by the Hawaii state House and now goes to the Senate for consideration. [Link]

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"We claim for ourselves every single right that belongs to a freeborn American, political, civil, and social; and until we get these rights we will never cease to protest and assail the ears of America. The battle we wage is not for ourselves alone but for all true Americans."

-- Manifesto of the Niagara Movement, which led to the founding of the NAACP in 1909

Marriage movement looks to 'Obamify'

San Francisco Chronicle

February 16, 2009

The strategy means ditching scripted phone-bank calls and TV commercials that Marriage Equality say "lacked heart." Instead, gay families - and their friends and sympathetic clergy - would be encouraged to get out of the state's big cities and knock on doors in places where they have little support, such as the Central Valley. It would mean allowing supporters more leeway to tell their own stories. [Link]

The Freedom to Marry

Law Dork
February 14, 2009

As Evan Wolfson* and others write and talk and take action as part of National Freedom to Marry Week, I wanted to take a step back this Valentine’s Day to assess where the movement for marriage equality is today. [Link]

Ex-judge proud of stance on gays

Honolulu Star-Bullentin

February 16, 2009

Retired Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Steven Levinson says he was heartbroken when Hawaii voters negated his 1993 decision in favor of same-sex couples' marriages. [Link]

New Jersey’s Garden State Equality Hosts '24 Hours for Marriage Equality'

On Thursday, February 19, 2009, New Jersey will mark the two-year anniversary of New Jersey's failed civil union law. Over the past two years, studies have shown that civil unions in New Jersey are failing couples, just as we see both civil unions and domestic partnerships not providing full equality in other states such as Vermont, Maine, and Oregon. The failure of these laws reaffirms that marriage is indeed the only way to achieve equality.

Join Garden State Equality for 24 HOURS FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY and work to end the inequality in New Jersey by supporting marriage equality. It all begins at 7:00 pm on Fight Back Night, Wednesday, February 18, 2009, and continues through Thursday night, February 19th. The events are listed here.

• Learn more about why civil unions are not equal to marriage
  

TALKING TO MEDIA: Make Them Cry

Guest Blogger: Megan Kinninger

Sometimes I feel like my brain has been donated to the marriage equality movement. I’m the human archive, a fact-finder, a researcher, a tracker, of all things concerning marriage equality. My archived subjects include the history of the movement, the current landscape, the players, the supporters, the strategies, and so much more.

I’m fully equipped for cocktail party discussions about which states are working toward equality, Thanksgiving debates over why civil unions are NOT equal to marriage, wedding toasts about why marriage is such an important freedom, and of course, calls from reporters.

So when I get phone calls from reporters, they usually ask for background information. Here’s my cheat sheet, the top 7 answers to reporter’s questions:

1. 14 states have at least some kind of protections for gay couples: 2 states uphold the freedom to marry for gay couples, 3 honor out-of-state marriages, 4 have civil unions or broad domestic partnership, and 5 have some protections for gay couples.
2. 2 states have cases pending to end the exclusion of gay couples from marriage.
3. 33% of the American population live in a state with at least some protections for gay couples.
4. 12 states are introducing marriage equality bills in 2009.
5. Six in 10 Americans (63%) say the government should not regulate whether gays and lesbians can marry the people they choose.
6. Since 2005, no legislator who voted for a marriage equality bill or against an anti-gay amendment lost re-election because of their vote.
7. Civil unions or domestic partnerships are NOT equal to marriage and we have the facts to show it here.

But of course the facts about the landscape aren’t enough. It’s exciting to talk about the progress we are making and build momentum for success, but there is clearly so much more to accomplish—only two states actually uphold the freedom to marry for gay couples. So I talk about the need for marriage equality, and the personal stories these numbers represent. How all families deserve the dignity and respect that marriage provides.

These real and personal connections are the news hook for the media, and the best way to talk to friends and family, too. As I always tell my mom, who finds herself debating with friends and family about my need for equality and asks, “How do I really change their mind?” I respond, “Tell them why you want me to be able to get married, how your daughter deserves equality just like everyone else. Make it personal. Make ‘em cry.”

The next time you have a chance to talk to a reporter, or even just a neighbor or a friend, about why marriage equality matters to you, reference my cheat sheet for the facts, and then add your heart, your personal story, and don’t be afraid to make ‘em cry.

*** Megan Kinninger is program manager at Freedom to Marry and native of Watsonville, California.

TALKING TO THE MEDIA: Radio Shows Hosts & Marriage

Guest Blogger: James Hipps

There is a great deal of information and misinformation floating around these days about same-sex marriage. The Internet has been a key medium in the dissemination of facts and opinions on the many facets of this “hot topic”, which include, but are not limited to civil rights, equality, inclusion, religious beliefs, etc. There has also been a great deal of coverage on the television, in the newspapers and on the radio. All of these forms of communication have played an important role in the struggle for and against same-sex marriage. They have attributed to successes and failures, regardless of the side you have taken.

So, what does this mean to you? Chances are, if you’re reading this, its because you believe in equality. Many of us are making contributions towards equality, and many of us aren’t aware of the impact we have. Many feel they would like to become involved, but perhaps are not sure how. Some may feel if they do, it will not make a difference. Please rest assured, all involvement, at any level makes a difference. No matter how minute a single contribution may seem, in the end, it is helping to build a grand effort.

I would like to take this opportunity to address another concern of involvement. There is a population of people who would like to make a difference, but still fear negative impacts may occur if they do. When it is still legal in 33 states to be fired for being lesbian or gay, this unfortunately can be a very real fear. However, one of the best ways to make a difference, without worrying about disclosing your identity is speaking to the media. We all have a voice, and our voices must be heard. Dialogue is going to be key in achieving marriage equality. It is up to us to dispel the lies and misinformation that is being distributed by all forms of the media.

One of the best ways to let your voice be heard without taking the risk of being exposed is writing. Today, practically all radio and TV stations, newspapers, local officials and congressmen alike have websites and email. In many instances, especially with newspaper, television and radio sites, you can submit your opinion without revealing your identity.

Please take the time to write in to theses sites with your opinions and supporting facts. Believe it or not, even the sites that represent those who stand against same-sex marriage will typically print what you have written.

What is the importance of this? For starters, it tells those opposed there are people who don’t agree with them. It is important for us to speak rationally about these issues and not be afraid to address those with differing views. Respectfully standing up for what you believe, even if it doesn’t change a person mind, will at least reinforce that not all agree. Also, there are those who have not decided which side of the fence they are on with this issue. If one of those people happens to come across a site that is against gay marriage, but read an opposing view that is clear and factual, it just may sway them to become a supporter. You never know who is reading or where they stand. Silence in this situation gains nothing.

In your quest to support, you may run across a situation where responding to someone’s opinion sparks a heated retaliation. If this happens, maintain your composure. If someone you address becomes upset or irate, and you do not, they will not only appear irrational, but loose accreditation. Always maintain the upper hand by staying calm and rational. People are much more likely to listen, and believe you if you do. Again, it is important to keep in mind that it may not be the opinion of the person you’re addressing whose mind you’re going to change.

Regardless of how you do it, now is the time to speak. There is a great deal of attention being paid to this issue and your voice is important, so please let it be heard. Contact the media and voice your thoughts. They are needed now more than ever.

A simple message to give all in opposition of equality: Whether you know it or not, someone you love is gay. Whether you know them or not, someone gay is fighting for rights from which we will all benefit.



***James Hipps is editor for GayAgenda.com

TALKING TO MEDIA: Freedom of Speech, the Press, and to Marry

Guest Blogger: Andrea Shorter

“The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
-- Finley Peter Dunne aka Mr. Dooley

And Marriage For All (AM4A) is a public education campaign that works to reach out to and educate African American communities in Northern California on the importance of the freedom to marry for same sex couples. A collaborative project of two civil and human rights organizations, And Castro for All and the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, AM4A also works with allies like GLAAD to help couples, parents and family members of same sex couples, clergy, friends, neighbors, and co-workers share their stories through press and media in pursuit of marriage equality.

The portrayal of LGBT people in mainstream media has often been complicated. Most often least of all comforting to an often afflicted group.

While media portraits and press accounts of same gender loving people and their relationships have thankfully evolved in recent times, telling our stories in a way that more accurately reflects the truer diversity, complexities and aspirations of our day to day lives, communities and families can seem daunting and challenging for some. Telling our stories helps to push past stereotypes, sensationalized portraits or misperceptions about what it means to be engaged in loving, committed same sex relationships.

The marriage between the freedom of speech, the press, and marriage equality can prove a most engaging affair for anyone interested in being heard.

Sharing our stories is essential to any liberation movement. As we celebrate African American history month, we are especially reminded of this fundamental truth. Without exception, this also applies to the pursuit of civil marriage and marriage equality.

With the scope of press and media outlets rapidly expanding beyond newsprint, publications, television, and radio and into numerous internet media including independent blogs, posting boards such as You Tube, and numerous social networks such as Facebook allows for greater and creative opportunities to directly write, video, or even rap (yes, rap) to a potentially large audience about the right to marry. Clearly, this accessibility is quickly revolutionizing the ways in which we relate to and interact with media:

we are no longer mostly passive consumers but can be empowered creators of media.

After all, in today’s media rich environment – for better or worse -- anyone can produce and generate ones own media and mobilize critical mass from the click of a button or flick of a finger across the acrylic touch sensitive screen of their favorite wireless PDA. Our individual and collective abilities to impact and frame the debate on marriage equality is remarkable.


Telling Your Story

Whether you are in a loving, committed relationship, seeking a loving, committed relationship, the parent, sister, brother, auntie, uncle, neighbor, co-worker, or friend of an LGBT person or same sex couple, telling your story is one of the most supportive and empowering acts towards achieving equality for all.

In addition to hosting forums, panel discussions at churches, providing communications and media trainings to couples, supportive family, and organizers, we also sponsored creative ways in which to engage people in the dialogue and to tell their stories such as hosting blogging parties and creating a web community.

And, not to worry: you don’t have to write a paper back novel or sociology thesis to tell your story. Short, sweet and simple stories or statements of just a few words, one or two sentences, or one paragraph can have a great impact. In fact, those are often the most memorable and powerful.

Some of my favorite blog entries to AM4A and other outlets – all of which could easily be simple letters to the editor:

Everyone should have the same opportunity to marry whomever he or she wants. This is America!
-Kyle

Everyone should get to decide whom they love. The Government’s job is to treat people equally.
- Dania

I support marriage equality for all because I love my niece and her partner, and they deserve all the same rights as anybody else. They work hard, they pay their taxes, they vote. They love each other. We love them.

Setting the Record Straight (as it were)

As a campaign primarily dedicated to advancing the dialogue about marriage equality among African Americans, AM4A became particularly engaged in the commentary about the role of media in the aftermath of the recent passage of a statewide initiative to take away the civil rights of same sex couples to marry in California.

The early but widely reported accounts of African Americans having allegedly voted – 70% -- in favor of denying same sex couples the right to marry caused a national stir and a statewide firestorm that became an overnight focal point of curiosity, confusion, and blame for the loss of the constitutional right to marry. Months before a single Californian cast a vote, speculation about the impact of the Black vote on LGBT right to marry during the heaviest Black voter turnout in history for the first Black President of the United States was beginning to shape the narrative that eventually played out following a spectacular, historical election night.

In what became the makings of a perfect media storm, AM4A was approached by media regarding the African American voters response to the freedom to marry. As people of color who are also LGBT, we found ourselves in a critical space for challenging press reports in a rare historical moment.

We sought to stay on point that many African Americans value marriage equality as a civil right. Additionally, we worked to reframe the debate by pointing out what the media were failing to report:

- The African American community is not a monolithic experience. Many African Americans across the state and nation were very disappointed, frustrated, and angered at the outcome of the vote to take away same sex couples right to marry and its impact on their family members, friends, and fellow citizens.

- Numerous Black clergy, elected officials, and allied organizations such as the CA NAACP stood firmly for the civil rights of same sex marriage couples to marry, and waged to defeat what the then President-elect described as a “divisive and unjust proposition.”

- Homophobia in the African American community is not disproportionately greater than any other racialized community.

- Exit polls are not conclusive, and certainly not gospel truth. We should resist the use of exit polls to create the idea of a wedge or division between African Americans and LGBT people.

- Being Black or LGBT are not wholly antithetical experiences: there are Black LGBT people such as myself who are deeply committed to continuing the fight for civil and human rights in the legacy of champions like Bayard Rustin.

Even with the recent release of research by David Binder and Associates, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, that finds that Blacks voted between 56-58% for the proposition — comparatively proportionate to other demographics voting in favor of the propositions passage, i.e., Latinos — reports continue to refer to the 70% figure as fact.

Towards the end of telling our stories, AM4A will continue to set the record straight (as it were), help others to tell theirs, and further reach out and educate our diverse communities about the importance of marriage for all.

After all, if we don’t tell our stories, who will?


Andrea Shorter is the Director of And Marriage For All, a San Francisco-based public campaign building coalitions between African American and LGBT communities.

TALKING TO MEDIA: Advice from Mothers to Media

HABLANDOLE A LOST MEDIA DE COMMUNICACION: PFLAG

TALKING TO MEDIA: PFLAG Moms Speak Out

TALKING TO NEIGHBORS: A New Jersey Couple Wants to Marry

Guest Blogger: Richard Ledesma


So here it is Freedom to Marry Week…neighbor.

We are Richard and Jeffrey, two men in a loving committed relationship since September 6, 2002. We have two dogs, a nice apartment in New Jersey, a car with monthly insurance payments. We have electric, gas, cable, and cell phone bills. We shop at our local supermarket and visit the same doctor for the past three years. We recycle, clean our sidewalk, and respect our environment. We maintain diverse full time jobs and pay our taxes. We have suffered the death of both of our mothers and one of our fathers in the past couple of years.

We are just like you and your spouse except for one thing. Richard and Jeffrey cannot marry. We are not entitled to bereavement leave from work if our partner dies. We are not entitled to draw the Social Security of the deceased partner, or to automatically inherit a shared home, assets, or personal items in the absence of a will. We are not covered by laws and policies that permit people to take medical leave to care for a sick spouse or for the kids. We are not considered next of kin for the purposes of hospital visitation and emergency medical decisions. We cannot file joint tax returns and are excluded from tax benefits and claims specific to marriage. In addition, we are denied the right to transfer property to one another and pool the family's resources without adverse tax consequences. Richard and Jeffrey are not entitled, covered, or considered on alot of things that you are…

What we do have are neighbors that only see Richard and Jeffrey, two men in a loving committed relationship.

Richard and Jeffrey are your neighbors but cannot marry. Why, I thought we were just like you.


***Richard Ledesma is the Office Manager at Freedom To Marry. Jeffrey Thomas-Ledesma is a Hyperbaric and Wound Care Technician at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. They live in New Jersey and are originally from Miami, FL and Ft. Payne, AL respectively.

TALKING TO NEIGHBORS: Taking the Conversation Next Door

Guest Blogger: Amy Balliet
(Photo: Jessica and Amy on their wedding day)

The Bible tells us to “Love thy Neighbor as you would love thyself.” This clichéd phrase has been used for better or for worse throughout history, and is used quite often in the movement for LGBTQ equality. Often, when religion is used against me, for example, I reply with “whatever happened to ‘love thy neighbor as you would thyself?’” Generally, when I ask this question, I do not always receive the best reception. Still, it is a question that I can’t help but ponder, and one that had its harshest reality when I was 20 years old and found myself living across the street from a neo-Nazi in Cleveland, Ohio.

As people who are LGBTQ, we have to come out on a daily basis in one way or another. Sometimes, coming out can take so much emotional energy that we put it off. Hell, the other day someone called me a “professional gay,” yet it is still taxing for me to come out at times. What few of us realize is that one of the greatest things that we can do for this movement is exactly what we do every day: Come out. It’s much easier for someone to discriminate against us, when they believe that they do not know one of us. Your cubicle partner, for example, could be someone that you laugh with everyday, go on coffee breaks with, and eat lunch with. This person, in your mind, is perfectly fine with gay people, but you wouldn’t know for certain since you never came out to them. This person could be perfectly fine with you, but think that gay people are scum, since, in their mind, nobody has come along to prove them wrong. In other words, ignorance is bliss, except when it leads to one of the many “isms” or phobias that engender discrimination. Though I had been told this by many people in my life, I was unwilling to believe that coming out would do anything positive for myself or Mr. Swastika across the street.

It wasn’t until the morning that my car wouldn’t start, that things changed. It was an early winter morning and my car was making noises that could only be described as a wombat screwing an owl. It managed to wake the neighborhood up, including the neighbor that I had managed to avoid for 6 months. While cursing at my car, a knock on my side window startled me. I saw the swastika wrapped around his neck and cringed. He was there with a toolbox and a portable heater. He asked me to pop the hood of my car and proceeded to work on it. I stayed in my car with my doors locked. A few minutes of banging and clinging later, and my car was up and running. I drove off without looking up at the guy or thanking him.

When I got home from work that night, he was sitting on my front porch waiting for me. I clenched my keys in my fist and was, let’s just say, less than thrilled to see him. He introduced himself as Nathan, put his hand out for me to shake it, and I just stared at it. This was when possibly the biggest surprise of my entire life came. He said “I know you’re gay. I know you see my tattoos and your scared. I wanted to come and apologize to you for any fear you may have living next to me.” As it turns out, I didn’t have to come out to him, instead, he was coming out to me… as an ex skinhead. He told me that he was an angry kid who needed someone to blame. He had no excuse for his actions, and could only work to spend the rest of his life making up for his ignorance. He was working two full-time jobs to get the money to remove his tattoos and purposely moved into the “gayborhood” (my words not his) so that he could volunteer with LGBTQ youth who were learning how to deal with homophobia.

So what changed him, you ask? Well, if that isn’t your first question I can tell you that it was mine. He changed when his childhood friend, Greg, came out to him; when he realized that his best friend, his neighbor growing up, was gay. Nathan struggled with it at first, but the man that he viewed as his brother, was gay, and Nathan’s “isms” and phobias were blown out of the water.

When people ask me why I think that the conversation of equality will win this movement, I think of Nathan. If someone can go so far as to brand their body with hate, yet wake up one day to find a reason to love, then there is an obscene amount of hope that I have for our movement. The civil rights that we are fighting for will not be won lying down. We need the Gregs of this world to talk to the Nathans. We all need to come out and be visible. Those who oppose us are banking on the fact that we will remain invisible. If we aren’t out there to disprove the stereotypes and scare tactics that they are pushing, then they will win.

Coming out is not simple, but it is a statement that can change minds and build bridges in ways that will draw this movement to a successful end. Nathan’s love of his neighbor changed him. My stereotypes of my neighbor, kept me from speaking with him. When my neighbor, came out to me, my “isms” and phobias were blown out of the water.


Amy Balliett is the co-founder and co-executive director of Join the Impact, a non-profit organization working for full LGBTQ equality. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Amy is currently living in Seattle, WA working as a search engine marketer as her day job, and Join the Impact during every other spare moment.

Gay Couples Protest at Marriage Bureaus Across US

Associated Press

February 13, 2009

As part of the annual Freedom to Marry Week events, gay couples gathered at marriage bureaus around the nation yesterday seeking marriage licenses in the 48 states that will not grant them to same-sex couples. [Link]

TALKING TO NEIGHBORS: A Mormon Calls for Compassion

Guest Blogger: Ross "Rocky" Anderson

I was raised in Logan, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, Utah, as an active member of the LDS Church. I gained so much of great value from all the years in Primary, Mutual, and the priesthood quorums. From that association, as well as the great example of my parents and wonderful teachers along the way, I learned many positive lessons that have formed the foundation of my life.

I learned that we should all love and care for each other--that we are all brothers and sisters and should treat each other accordingly. I learned that perhaps our highest calling is to help those who are in need and to be compassionate and kind toward those who are faced with difficult challenges. I learned, generally, that hatred, prejudice, and meanness toward others should be rejected in favor of love, inclusiveness, and kindness.

Those seemed to be the fundamental moral messages from my church.

However, I learned other, very different, lessons as a young Mormon boy. I learned that discrimination against African Americans, including their exclusion from the priesthood and their exclusion from worshipping in LDS temples, was compelled by God because their skin color was the mark of Cain as a result of their wrongdoing in an earlier life. I even learned that Brigham Young maintained that slavery was an institution ordained by God, that a white person who “mixed his seed” with a “Negro” should be killed, and that African Americans were not to be treated as brute animals, but were to be treated as the servants of servants.

I learned that we were not to question religious or civil authority. I recall once hearing someone say from the lectern in my ward that, according to the Twelfth Article of Faith, we are to unquestioningly follow the directives of leaders, including military commanders, and that if the directives are immoral, those giving them, not those who follow them, will be held responsible on judgment day. Even as a young boy, I recall being appalled at that call for individual moral abrogation. The idea that we are all to fall in line when ordered, even when doing so harms others, is abhorrent, dangerous, and contrary to the most fundamental lessons taught by Jesus and other major religious leaders.

Until 1967, antimiscegenation laws in many states prohibited interracial marriages. An African American and a white, like Barack Obama’s parents, could not marry each other under those laws. Society advanced, and the laws caught up with those advances. In 1978, the president of the LDS Church said he had a revelation from God that the exclusion of blacks from the LDS priesthood was to be lifted.

I learned another thing as a young boy: I was taught that gays and lesbians--they were called “homosexuals” in those days--were inferior people engaged in perverse wrongdoing. It was common for many people to use derogatory terms like “homo,” “queer,” or “faggot.”

Since then, I have learned to liberate myself from those bigotries. I have learned that I can grow--and that, as I do, not only do I treat others better but I also become a better person myself. My life is enriched as I learn about others who are different from me and as I learn to value, not just tolerate, those differences.

I know many gay and lesbian people who have married. In fact, I recently attended a wedding reception for two men, Idaho farmers, who were married in California. They have been together, committed to each other, loving each other, for thirty years. So many of the gay and lesbian couples I have known are loving and committed, and have demonstrated a remarkable stability in their relationships--a stability that has so far eluded me in my relationships. These good people, and those who love them, are hurt every day of their lives when they are treated under the law as second-class citizens and as they face the sort of prejudice, discrimination, and hatred generated by such measures as Utah’s Amendment 3 and California’s Proposition 8.

The LDS Church is repeating a tragic and deplorable history through its vast involvement in the passage of Proposition 8--except that the bigotry and discrimination is now being directed not at African Americans but toward gays and lesbians. It is an outrage--and it is an occasion of great sadness for the LDS Church, for its members who are once again being, and allowing themselves to be, led astray, and for those who are victims of the hurtful judgments of those who think they are somehow superior to their gay brothers and lesbian sisters.

Let us all call for greater love, better understanding, and dignity and respect toward all, regardless of race, regardless of faith or lack of faith, and regardless of sexual orientation. Let us all follow, rather than just talk about, the Golden Rule. Let us move beyond the false and hollow judgments that result in such pain, even to the point of suicide, for many LDS youth. And let us embrace each other as brothers and sisters and rid ourselves of the pernicious distinctions on the basis of sexual orientation that, with tragic consequences, have been drawn in the law and in so many hearts.

Just as racial discrimination is now forbidden in the United States, and just as antimiscegenation laws are now nothing more than a shameful part of our nation’s history, we will celebrate full marriage equality some day. We have come so far in just a few years, particularly because most young people do not carry with them the burden of bigotry as I did, and as did so many of my generation. There will be obstacles, but reason, fairness, and a higher morality will prevail--if we join together in demanding it.

Let us all keep up the proud fight--the fight for fundamental fairness, the fight for compassion, the fight for love.

Rocky Anderson is founder & director of High Road for Human Rights in Salt Lake City, Utah and a member of Freedom to Marry’s Voices of Equality. Rocky is also a former mayor of Salt Lake City.

Voice for Equality: David Paterson

David Paterson was sworn in as the first African-American governor of New York in March 2008, having served as Lieutenant Governor and as a New York State Senator.

He signed an executive order instructing the state of New York to recognize marriages of same-sex couples from other states and hosted a fund-raiser to oppose Proposition 8 in September, 2008. In April 2009, he formally announced plans to intreoduce legislation ending marriage discrimination in New York.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Sergey Brin

Russian-born Brin co-founded Google, Inc., the world's largest internet company. He serves as Google's President of Technology and is one of the world's 35 richest people.

Brin's Google joined Silicon Valley tech giants Apple and Adobe in condemning California's Proposition 8. On behalf of Google, Brin wrote,

"While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8-- we should not eliminate anyone's fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love."

Google's statement is particularly notable since the company rarely takes a position on social or political issues.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs’ company Apple Inc. released a statement in October 2008 opposing Proposition 8 and donating $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Said Apple, “[We] strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation.”

Apple’s statement coincided with similar statements from technology giants Google and Adobe. Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc., a company known for its innovative Macintosh computers, OS X operating system, and the digital music revolution. Jobs is also a co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and serves on the board of directors for the Walt Disney Company.

Ben Bernard nominated Steve Jobs, Apple computers in Silicon Valley to be a Voice for Equality. Thanks Ben.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Father Farrow

On October 5, 2008 Father Geoffrey Farrow shocked his congregation and the Catholic Church nationally when he spoke out against Proposition 8 during Sunday Mass. Father Farrow said to his congregation:

"If your son or daughter is gay/lesbian let them know that you love them unconditionally. Let them know that you are not ashamed or embarrassed by them. Guide them as you would your other children to finding true and abiding love. Let them know that marriage is a union of love and life and is possible for them too."

Immediately following his remarks, Father Farrow was suspended by the Archdiocese. That action was not unexpected but he risked it all anyway.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Ellen DeGeneres

DeGeneres came out to the public in 1997, becoming the first openly-gay actor to portray an openly-gay character on prime-time television. Her current daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, has won 15 Emmy Awards since its 2003 launch. She has hosted the Emmy Awards, was named by the network Showtime as "Funniest Person in America," and was included in Time Magazine's "The World's 100 Most Influential People."

In August 2008, DeGeneres wed her longterm female partner Portia de Rossi and made marriage equality a major theme for her talk show during the fall. She also recorded advertisements for the No on 8 Campaign, urging her viewers to oppose Proposition 8. "I feel that we should all be equal," she insisted.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Fabian Nuñez

A San Diego native, Nuñez started his political career as a labor leader. He was elected to represent California's 46th District in the State Assembly from 2002-2008, and he served as Speaker of the State Assembly from 2004-2008. As speaker, Nuñez co-authored the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, which would have guaranteed marriage equality for all Californians.

Nuñez advocated powerfully for marriage equality as an opponent of Proposition 8:

"California used to ban people of different races from getting married under the law. It was wrong then and it's wrong now... Proposition 8 is a lot like that unfair ban on interracial marriage. And even though people may feel differently about marriage, everyone ought to agree that unequal treatment under the law is a bad thing."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Slash

Slash (stage name for Saul Hudson) is the former lead guitarist of the American rock band Guns N' Roses and currently with the band Velvet Revolver. In 2007, Slash received a star on the Rock Hall of Fame in honor of his contributions to the music industry. Following the passage of Proposition 8, he recorded a video along with his wife, Peria, in which he plays the Star-Spangled Banner on electric guitar in the background while she says: "I married my sweetheart. You should be able to marry yours, too."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Penny Brown Reynolds

Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, television judge and ordained Baptist minister, has been nominated to be a Voice for Equality.

Judge Penny hosts the nationally syndicated television program "Family Court." Before leaving for television, Judge Penny served as a Georgia state court judge, a Georgia Assistant Attorney General, and prosecutor. Judge Penny is also an ordained Baptist Minister.

In an interview with BlackVoices.com on January 2, 2009, Judge Penny explained that marriage equality is "not an issue of being right or wrong or whether or not you believe the Bible or if God sanctioned unions between same sex; it's an issue of oppression as I see it, both legally and morally. Whenever you take a right away from someone, you are oppressing them."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver became California's First Lady when her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was elected governor in November 2003. Shriver was a journalist for NBC news until 2004, appearing on the Today Show and serving as a contributor for Dateline NBC.

In an interview with a Los Angeles radio station, Shriver said she was voting against Proposition 8 because "I believe in people's right to choose a partner that they love, and that's a decision that I have come to, and I have felt that way for a long time."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Jerry Sanders

The latest nomination for "Voices for Equality" is Jerry Sanders, the second-term Mayor of San Diego, California.

A former police officer and Chief of Police, Sanders was elected mayor in 2005. Mayor Sanders is active in community service, having left the police force to join the local United Way as CEO and the American Red Cross San Diego Chapter as a member of its Board of Directors.

In a now-famous 2008 speech, the former police chief tearfully explained why he supported marriage equality for same-sex couples and why it is important not to deny justice to people like his daughter, whom he loves and who is gay, and other gay members of his community.

"In the end, I couldn't look any of them in the face and tell them that their relationships, their very lives, were any less meaningful than the marriage I share with my wife, Rana."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein is the current senior Senator from California (elected 1992).

A former member of the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors, she became the first female mayor of San Francisco, succeeding Mayor George Moscone after the 1978 Moscone-Milk assassinations. She was subsequently elected to two consecutive terms.
Feinstein was a leading opponent to California's Proposition 8 in 2008, recording television spots for the No on 8 Campaign: "I oppose it as a matter of equality and fairness," she said. "As a state, I believe we should uphold the ability of our friends, neighbors and co-workers who are gay and lesbian to enter into the contract of marriage."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi is the current and first female Speaker of the US House of Representatives. She was the first woman to lead a major party in US Congress.

On May 15, 2008, Speaker Pelosi issued a statement supporting the California Supreme Court's decision in favor of marriage equality, calling it "a significant milestone for which all Californians can take pride." She condemned "any ballot measure that would write discrimination into the State Constitution."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Alice Huffman

Huffman is the current President of the California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.

She was appointed to Governor Jerry Brown's cabinet, served as the executive director for politics for the California Teacher's Association, and founded A. C. Public Affairs, a public affairs firm specializing in public and grass-roots advocacy.

In 2008, Huffman spoke throughout California in support of the freedom to marry as a civil right. Also under Huffman's leadership the State Conference joined forces with a half-dozen other civil rights organizations to file 30 Friend-of-the-Court briefs to overturn Proposition 8. Huffman said:

"We are not treating all Californians equally if some can marry and others cannot. The law should protect all people equally, and all Californians should have the choice to marry. I am honored to join other civil rights leaders in calling on our state to end its ban on marriage for lesbian and gay couples."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: John Lewis

US Representative from Georgia since 1987, Lewis was a leader of the American Civil Rights movement and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In a 2003 Boston Globe opinion piece, he wrote:

"It is time to say forthrightly that the government's exclusion of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters from civil marriage officially degrades them and their families."

Read more about John Lewis on his Voices of Equality page, including his 1996 speech before the House of Representatives opposing the Defense of Marriage Act.

Jim D. nominated Congressman Lewis as a Voice for Equality.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: "Rocky" Anderson

Anderson was Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, from 2000 to 2008, where he was known for his groundbreaking advocacy for responding to climate change; his awards and honors include the Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the League of United Latin American Citizens' "Profile in Courage" Award.

Anderson has publicly supported marriage equality since as early as his 1996 bid for Congress. In 2005, Mayor Anderson got the ball rolling by extending domestic partnership benefits to all city employees in order to "provide very real benefits to both the adults and children in employees' families."

Ben Bernard nominated Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson to be a Voice for Equality.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Leonard Nimoy

Famous for portraying the character Spock on Star Trek, for which he earned three Emmy nominations, Nimoy has also appeared in dozens of movies and television shows and has his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Nimoy is now an avid photographer.

On October 7, 2008, Nimoy explained his strong opposition to Proposition 8 to the LA Times:

"I believe that gay people have every right to be married and share their lives.... Prop 8 is completely unjust."

Thanks, Jim, for this nomination to "Voices for Equality"!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Carolyn Peterson

Peterson is currently serving her second term as mayor of Ithaca, New York. She's also the first female mayor in NY.
In her first term as mayor, she allowed same-sex couples to apply for marriage licenses in Ithaca and vowed to fight in court if the applications were denied-- and promised to recognize same-sex out-of-state marriages.

She said, "Two individuals wish to commit their lives to each other. They deserve the protections and benefits, as loving partners in our society, as others who currently can do so legally... I firmly believe that same-sex partners should have equal protection as other married couples do."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Justice Richard N. Palmer

Justice Palmer wrote the majority opinion for the Connecticut Supreme Court case (pdf) which granted marriage equality for same-sex couples in Connecticut. He wrote:

"Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same-sex partner of their choice."

Palmer has served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Connecticut since 1993. Previously, he was appointed to the position of US Attorney for Connecticut. He teaches law & ethics at Quinnipiac and Yale.

Nominated by: Ben Bernard.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Jerry Brown

Brown is currently the Attorney General of California, but no newcomer to California politics-- he's also the former Governor of California (1975-1983), former Mayor of Oakland, CA, and former California Secretary of State!

He was recognized by Time Magazine for pioneering post-Watergate politics by opposing the Vietnam War, repealing tax breaks for "big oil," enacting anti-crime measures, and championing environmental affairs.

Brown is a vocal advocate that the Supreme Court of California strike down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional on the grounds that Prop 8 takes away an inalienable right. His office argued this position in March 5, 2009 oral arguments before the Court, a position he reinforced in a popular piece on the blog The Huffington Post on December 19, 2008.

Thanks to Ben for nominating Jerry Brown to be a Voice for Equality!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Deval Patrick

The latest nomination for "Voices for Equality" is Deval Patrick, who was elected Governor of Massachusetts in 2006 after working for the Clinton administration as the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

A strong supporter of marriage equality, Governor Patrick stood against placing an anti-marriage referendum on the Massachusetts ballot: "People come before their government as equals... If the government is going to give marriage licenses to anyone, it has to give them to everyone, regardless of whether the spouse you choose is of the same gender."

In 2008, he also overturned a 1913 anti-miscegenation law, effectively allowing same-sex couples from out of state marry in Massachusetts. Also in 2008, Patrick's daughter publicly came out as lesbian.

Governor Patrick was nominated by Jonathan Herczeg to be a Voice for Equality.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Wanda Sykes

A stand-up comedian and formerly star of her own shows Wanda at Large and Wanda Does It, Sykes currently co-stars in the New Adventures of Old Christine and has appeared in a number of television shows including HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and Will & Grace. Entertainment Weekly named her one of the 25 Funniest People in America in 2004.

Sykes and her wife married in 2008.

In response to the passage of Proposition 8, Sykes, already an outspoken advocate for gay rights, announced that she had married just a week before. Defending marriage equality against proposition 8, she said; "We shouldn't have to be standing out here demanding something we automatically should have as citizens of this country." On October 31, 2008, Sykes explained her opposition to Proposition 8 on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Wanda Sykes was nominated for Voices for Equality by Jon.


**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Mildred Loving

Mildred Loving and her white husband Richard Perry Loving were appellants in the landmark Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia. Her case effectively ended anti-miscegenation laws, or race-based restrictions on marriage.

On June 12, 2007, the anniversary of the case Loving v. Virginia, Mildred Loving recalled, "My generation was bitterly divided over something that should have been so clear and right. The majority believed that what the judge said, that it was God's plan to keep people apart, and that government should discriminate against people in love... The older generation's fears and prejudice have given way, and today's young people realize that if someone loves someone they have a right to marry..."

She continued:

"I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry."

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Ward Connerly

Thanks for our next nomination for Voices for Equality: Ward Connerly.

Businessman and conservative hero, Ward Connerly was a leader in opposing affirmative action policies in the state as the chairman of the 1995 California Civil Rights Initiative (Proposition 209).

Connerly publicly opposed California's Proposition 8 in 2008, and specifically argued that marriage is a civil rights issue. "For anyone to say that this is an issue for people who are gay and that this isn't about civil rights is sadly mistaken. If you really believe in freedom and limited government, to be intellectually consistent and honest you have to oppose efforts of the majority to impose their will on people," he said.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Reverend Cecil Williams

On November 1, 2008, Rev. Cecil Williams led a service at Glide Memorial Church entitled, "People of Faith Say No to Proposition 8." It was an invitation to faith leaders and political supporters to come together to speak out against Proposition 8.

This wasn't anything new for Rev. Williams. Earlier that year, Williams and his wife of 26 years Janice Miritikani, were featured in a public education campaign called Let California Ring where he said, "We celebrate the love and commitment of all the newly married gay and lesbian couples and their families in our congregation."

He led Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco until 2000. As a leader of the church, he increased its membership to 10,000 and inspired church members to fight for equality while opening the church doors to people of all races, genders, and sexual orientations.

Jonathan Herczeg nominated The Reverend Cecil Williams to be a Voice for Equality.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Voice for Equality: Antonio Villaraigosa

Villaraigosa is the mayor of Los Angeles (since 2005) and the city's first Latino mayor in over 100 years. Villaraigosa is also the former speaker of the California State Assembly.

Mayor Villaraigosa officiated at L.A.'s first same-sex marriage in June 2008.
On November 15, 2008, Mayor Villaraigosa addressed thousands of protesters at City Hall to demand equality for all and to protest the passage of Proposition 8.

Margaret nominated Antonio Villaraigosa to be a Voice for Equality.



**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!