Exclusive Interview: Video: Evan Wolfson of Freedom To Marry

The Bilerico Project
February 10, 2010
Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry, sits down with Bil Browning of The Bilerico Project at Creating Change 2010 to talk about marriage equality and why he believes it's the key to full equality. [Link]

Equality California to Host Canvasses across state for Freedom to Marry Week

Equality California
February 9, 2010
Equality California will host canvasses across the state in celebration of Freedom to Marry Week (February 8-14). As part of the weekend outreach efforts, same-sex couples will be joining EQCA volunteers and staff to discuss the freedom to marry with local community members. Enclosed is a list of the statewide canvasses. [Link]

Saturday, February 13

• Fresno: 1055 N. Van Ness Ave., Ste. C
  11 p.m. - 3 p.m.
  
• Los Angeles: Holy Faith Episcopal Church, 260 N. Locust St., Inglewood
  10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  
• Riverside: 1410 3rd St., Suite #7
  12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  
• San Francisco: 2370 Market St. 2nd Floor
  12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  Bloggers are encouraged to come to this canvass. Visit www.eqca.org/bloggercanvass for more information.
  
• Sacramento: 1722 J Street, second floor, Ste 9
  Second Saturday Art Walk between 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
  
• San Diego: 4506 30th Street
  12 p.m. -5 p.m.

Sunday, February 14

• Orange County: 1601 South Grand Ave, Suite F, Santa Ana
  12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Candidates for RI Governor promise to support Freedom to Marry

The Associated Press
February 9, 2010
Both Democrats running for governor and former Sen. Lincoln Chafee, an independent candidate, will publicly pledge to sign a freedom to marry bill if elected, Marriage Equality Rhode Island said Monday. The pledges come as gay rights activists hope to capitalize on the departure of anti-gay Republican Gov. Don Carcieri, a staunch social conservative who's term limit has run out. [Link]

N.J. Gay Rights Group suspends Political Donations after Denial of Freedom to Marry

nj.com
February 9, 2010
New Jersey’s largest gay rights group is suspending donations to political parties after feeling spurned by Democratic lawmakers who did not pass marriage equality legislation last month. Garden State Equality is also asking its 65,000 members not to contribute to parties. Chairman Steven Goldstein said, "No longer will we let any political party take our money and volunteers with one hand, and slap us in the face with the other when we seek full equality." [Link]

Video: State of the LGBT Movement: Speeches Aren't Change, Change Is More Than Words

The Task Force
February 5, 2010

Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey delivers her State of the Movement address at the 22nd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change on Feb. 5, 2010. [Link]
See two videos below:

Part 1


Part 2

Equality Maryland: Lobby Day Re-Scheduled to Monday, February 22nd

Equality Maryland
February 7, 2010
Due to the record-breaking snowfall, there are concerns about the safety of supporters and possible parking and accessibility challenges. Therefore Equality Maryland lobby day has been rer-scheduled for Monday, February 22nd. All other details remain the same as in our original post. [Link]

Garden State Equality to mark Third Year of New Jersey's failed Civil Union Law with 'Demolish the Divide'

Garden State Equality
February 6, 2010
Join Garden State Equality at rallies, marches and free dinners across New Jersey from Wednesday night, February 17, 2010 through Monday night, February 22, 2010 to mark the three-year anniversary of New Jersey's failed civil union law.

The schedule for DEMOLISH THE DIVIDE! is below.

Remember, to win marriage equality in the court of law, we must continue our campaign in the court of public education.

No tickets, no RSVP required. Just show up and please spread the word by emailing your friends and colleagues and by posting on list servs, blogs and Facebook.

Questions? Press, contact Chair Steven Goldstein at Goldstein@GardenStateEquality.org or cell (917) 449-8918. Members, contact Field Manager Troy Stevenson at Stevenson@GardenStateEquality.org or cell (405) 802-8229.

The schedule for DEMOLISH THE DIVIDE:

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Collingswood. Meet at 7:00 pm for a rally at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike. We'll then do a candlelight march through Collingswood, ending at Cafe Antonio in downtown Collingswood for a free pizza dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Jim Beach, who abstained on the marriage equality bill.

Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Montclair. Meet at 7:00 pm for a rally at Bnai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue, 99 Fullerton Avenue. We'll then do a candlelight march through Montclair, ending at the Lower Lounge in downtown Montclair for a free pizza dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Nia Gill, a sponsor and great champion of the marriage equality bill.

Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Asbury Park. Meet at 7:00 pm in front of Garden State Equality's Asbury Park office, 658 Cookman Avenue. From there we'll do a candlelight march through downtown Asbury Park, past the law office of Senator Sean Kean and then onto the Brickwall restaurant for a free dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Sean Kean, who voted no on the marriage equality bill.

Monday, February 22, 2010 at 6:00 pm, Trenton (note time). Meet at 6:00 pm in front of the Hughes Justice Complex, 25 Market Street, where we'll hold a candlelight vigil on the plaza. From there we'll do a candlelight march through Trenton, ending the evening at Covello’s Pizza in downtown Trenton for a free pizza dinner. Note: This event is in the district of Senator Shirley Turner, who voted no on the marriage equality bill. [Link]

New Jersey's civil union law took effect on February 22, 2007.Through waivers of the waiting period, the first couples got civil unioned on February 19, 2007.

Marriage Equality USA: Events taking place during National Freedom to Marry Month

Marriage Equality USA
February 6, 2010
A listing of official Marriage Equality USA events, or events authorized by Marriage Equality USA Chapters or member organizations, taking place in various California locations. [Link]

The Van Capelle Legacy

Gay City News
February 4, 2010
Under the leadership of Alan Van Capelle, the Empire State Pride Agenda became a powerful force in Albany. He skillfully led the gay lobbying group and showed the same savvy in leaving it. Yet his resignation is a win-win move — for the LGBT community and the new city comptroller. [Link]

Prop 8 Trial draws "friend of the court" briefs

The Associated Press
February 4, 2010
A large number of groups and individuals in support of both the plaintiffs and the defendant-intervenors in the Proposition 8 trial submitted amicus briefs on Wednesday, the deadline that Chief U.S. Judge Vaughn R. Walker had set for filing briefs. [Link]

Michael Crawford to join Freedom to Marry as Director of New Media

Metro Weekly

February 3, 2010
Michael Crawford, co-founder of DC for Marriage and chair of the organization during its fight for marriage equality in the District, announced last week that he would leave Washington for New York City, where he'll serve as director of new media for Freedom to Marry. Freedom to Marry Executive Director, Evan Wolfson said, ''I have worked with Michael on the fight to win marriage in [D.C.], and have really admired the work he's done, particularly in raising the visibility of African-American families and voices in support of marriage.'' [Link]

Gay rights activists gathering in Dallas for national conference this week

The Dallas Morning News

February 3, 2010

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's National Conference on LGBT Equality, Creating Change, begins Wednesday in Dallas, Texas. The conference is estimated to attract over 2,000 LGBT advocates from across the country including the newly-expanded team from Freedom to Marry. [Link]

Straight Spouses of Gay or Lesbian Partners Offer Unique Argument for the Freedom to Marry

By Amity P. Buxton
Founder, Straight Spouse Network
www.straightspouse.org
Author, The Other Side of the Closet: The Coming-Out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families

At the end of the testimony phase of the current federal trial regarding the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, David Boies, a leading lawyer for the plaintiffs, stated that there is “no societal benefit to denying gays and lesbians the right to marry" (New York Times, January 28, 2010). The reverse of that point is also true. Based on the experiences of married, presumably heterosexual spouses where one turns out to be gay, there is a societal benefit to allowing same-sex couples the right to marry. The testimony of the straight spouses in these mixed orientation marriage couples, -- up to two million, according to recent data -- offers a unique argument that legalizing marriages for same-sex couples can actually strengthen the experience of marriage for all.

Let me explain -- from my 23 years of research and observation. "A straight spouse" is the bride or groom who unwittingly marries a gay man or lesbian, who, following societal, family, and faith community expectations, marries an opposite sex partner as the "right thing to do." At the time of the wedding, the gay or lesbian spouses may not be aware of or ignore, deny, or hide their same-sex attraction. Once married, most gradually experience an internal struggle of attraction, identity, and integrity. Some secretly act on the same-sex attraction. Others repress those feelings and project the resulting frustration and anger on their spouses. Many eventually come out or are found out. The disclosure (or the straight spouse's discovery) is devastating. The straight spouse's judgment and trust are betrayed. While some couples work out a way to stay married, the vast majority divorce. Since most of the couples have children, families are torn apart. One by one, these divorces and family breakups undermine the experiences of marriage for many – not just the affected couple.

If gay men and lesbians were able to marry partners of the same sex to whom they are committed and assume all the legal rights and responsibilities of marriage, with no sexual orientation and partial truth impediments, there would be fewer divorces and family breakups. Stating this outcome is a strong addition to Boies’ point. After the statement, "There is no societal benefit from denying gay and lesbian persons the right to marry,” let's point out the reverse and positive side: "In fact, there is a societal benefit to giving gay men and lesbians the legal right to marry the person they love."

Whether in court or in the public debate about the freedom to marry, the voices of straight spouses who have faced their partners' disclosure, divorce, and a broken family need to be heard to illustrate the negative effects of depriving gay men and lesbians of this right. Their testimony will make it clear that what is at stake is the legal right of all persons, gay and non-gay alike, to marry with the optimum chances of success.

Gay chorus hits hinterlands to open hearts

The San Francisco Chronicle
February 1, 2010
The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus embarked on its Freedom Tour into the heart of Proposition 8 territory over the weekend. In the upcoming months, they'll visit Bakersfield, Fresno and Tracy, all strongholds for Prop. 8, the measure that banned the freedom to marry. They hope their music will help personalize the issue of marriage equality. [Link]

California bill would allow clergy to decline to marry gay couples

San Francisco Chronicle
February 1, 2010
California state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) has introduced a bill that would allow religious leaders to refuse to perform any marriage that conflicts with their religious beliefs, stating that such a decision "shall not affect the tax-exempt status of any entity." Supporters of the freedom to marry want to alleviate concerns of those with religious objections while emphasizing the separation between civil and religious recognition of marriages. [Link]

Freedom to Marry Week Screenings of "Inlaws & Outlaws"

Inlaws&OutlawsFilm.com
January 20, 2010
The True Stories Project has donated several screenings of Inlaws & Outlaws to allied organizations in support of Freedom to Marry Week - from Friday February 5th through Monday February 15th, 2010. For details on hosting your own screening, volunteering and a list of scheduled screenings, click here. [Link] See film trailer below:

Rewind: Evan Wolfson and Rick Jacobs discuss Prop 8, Freedom to Marry

365GAY.com
January 29, 2010
On Thursday, 365gay readers had the opportunity to chat live with Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry and Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign about the Prop 8 trial and what’s next for gay marriage. Both Wolfson and Jacobs stressed that we need to continue to tell our personal stories and come out to family, friends and strangers. If this case winds up before the Supreme Court, we are more likely to win if we have helped turn the tide of public opinion. Learn more and read a transcript of the entire discussion here.

Rhode Island: Rally for Marriage Equality

MERI - Marriage Equality Rhode Island
January 27, 2010

BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY!
Honoring and Protecting ALL Rhode Island Families

What: Rally for Marriage Equality
When: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Where: RI State House, 82 Smith St., Providence
Time: 4pm

Will your next Governor sign marriage equality into law? Raise your voice with the candidates for Governor to call the Rhode Island legislature to action. Bring your family, grab your signs and join state leaders in demanding full equality for ALL Rhode Island families. [Link]

Lambda Legal Freedom to Marry Reception - Chicago

Lambda Legal
9th Annual Freedom to Marry Reception
February 18, 2010 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL
With more than 60 community partner organizations and over 400 attendees, Freedom to Marry is one of the state’s favorite events that celebrates and advocates for the fight for marriage equality. [Link] Get tickets here.

Freedom to Marry Advocates in Maryland Thinking Long-Term

The Baltimore Sun
January 28, 2010
Maryland advocates for the freedom to marry don't anticipate big victories in the State House this year, despite the recent adoption of more permissive laws in DC, New Hampshire and elsewhere. Instead, proponents of marriage equality are thinking long-term, launching a fundraising and lobbying effort to target state legislators who are opposed to the freedom to marry. [Link]