Marriage Equality USA - National Media Center

Tax Season Serves as a Reminder How the "Defense of Marriage Act" Harms Same-Sex Couples and Costs All Taxpayers Billions of Dollars

2009-04-13T14:30:00.008-04:00

NATIONAL JOINT PRESS RELEASE - MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, AND JOIN THE IMPACT

Washington D.C.: As millions of Americans file their income taxes, a coalition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy groups call attention to the tax inequities facing same-sex couples as a result of the state and federal laws that refuse to recognize or extend civil marriage protections to same-sex couples.

Marriage Equality USA, Join the Impact and the Human Rights Campaign have collectively organized a series of events at U. S. Post Offices across the nation to highlight the ongoing moral and financial costs of denying marriage equality to same-sex couples—as well as the consequences paid by all Americans as a result of these discriminatory state and federal laws.

"Each tax season, same-sex couples sit at their dining room tables and are forced to live a legal lie by checking 'single' despite their decades together and then arbitrarily dividing up their joint household's income, expenses, and dependents," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director. "Then we write checks to the IRS for social security taxes, knowing that when we die our families will not even have access to any of the family 'safety net' benefits provided in the form of social security survivor benefits, estate tax deferral, and other programs that we help fund through our tax dollars and that only heterosexual couples and their children will enjoy."

"The tax inequities faced by loving, committed lesbian and gay couples make them less able to care for each other and their families," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Even lesbians and gays in states that do legally recognize their unions are penalized by the federal government simply for building a family with the person they love. This is an injustice that can and must end."

"Whether couples are married, civil unioned or have no state protections under state law, all same-sex couples in the United States are treated as 'single' under federal law. The U.S. Census has declared that they will not recognize married same-sex couples as "married" in the 2010 Census. We cannot allow our community to be erased," said Amy Balliett, co-founder of Join the Impact. "Tax season is yet another time where same-sex couples are reminded that despite abiding by the requirements of American citizenship by paying our taxes, we are still are treated as second class citizens."

A study produced by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) debunks the myth that granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry would cost the government money. In fact, it would save taxpayer dollars. Same-sex couples aren't the only ones paying for marriage discrimination, all taxpayers fund this discrimination which amounts to as much as $1 billion nationwide. To read the CBO study, visit http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=5559&type=0.

NOTE TO EDITORS:
Founded in 1998, Marriage Equality USA is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation . For more information go to www.marriageequality.org

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. For more information go to www.hrc.org

Join the Impact is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to empower grassroots direct action across the nation. For more information go to www.jointheimpact.com

Marriage Equality USA Celebrates 'Freedom and Unity' - Vermont Legislature Overrides Veto and Approves Same-Sex Marriage

2009-04-07T09:44:00.002-04:00

Oakland, California - "Today, Vermont legislators lived up to their state motto – freedom and unity – and their override of the Governor's veto ensures that thousands of same-sex couples living in Vermont will have the freedom to marry the person they love," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director. "We know in our hearts, it is only a matter of time for America to turn its back on this history of discrimination against same-sex couples. To witness within a week the Iowa Supreme Court's unanimous decision, followed by Vermont's legislative stand, both in support of marriage equality gives us hope that we may be able to live our happily ever afters sooner than we think."

"We hope the California Supreme Court recognizes how its leadership in last May's marriage decision contributed to these changes in the heartland and across the country," said Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director. "The Court must continue to illustrate this leadership by overturning Prop 8 and ensure that equal protection and fundamental rights mean something…that they just can't be plucked away in a willy-nilly fashion from minority groups by the majority."

Marriage Equality USA Celebrates Iowa Supreme Court’s Favorable Decision

2009-04-03T09:35:00.002-04:00

Des Moines, IA - "Today is another historic day for Iowans in our long history of equality and fairness for individual liberties. The Iowa Court has declared that the promise of 'liberty and justice for all' includes marriage equality for Iowans like myself and Marla who have been together for twenty-five years." said Phyllis Stevens, Chapter Leader of Marriage Equality USA-Central Iowa, who married her wife, Marla Stevens, in Canada in 2003, and whose marriage will now be legally recognized under today’s court ruling.

The Iowa State Supreme Court Opinion concludes, "We are firmly convinced that the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective. The legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification. There is no material fact, genuinely in dispute, that can affect this determination."

Equal protection under the Iowa Constitution "is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike."

Across the United States, Marriage Equality USA chapters will be hosting local celebrations. "Marriage equality is popping up all over, so we will celebrate with an Iowa staple…. popcorn….which we will hand out in partnership with local movie houses across the state," said Molly McKay Media Director of Marriage Equality USA. "We are so glad to see that the value of fairness and equality for all has resonated today in America’s Heartland. The tradition of extending civil rights to all minorities continues and that is a good thing."

"Iowa joins the growing number of states that recognize that marriage discrimination is both un-American and unconstitutional. Our country is a nation which guarantees the rights of all of its citizens to be treated equally under the law," said Stuart Gaffney Marriage Equality USA Asian Pacific Islander Outreach Director. "Just a generation ago, my parents were legally married in California, because the California Supreme Court overturned the state’s law prohibiting interracial couples from marrying, but faced government discrimination against their marriage when they moved to Missouri and waited until 1967 for the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the bans on interracial marriage. My husband, John, and I married in California last year, and we believe that marriage discrimination against same-sex couples will end soon, too, and that our marriage will be recognized throughout the country."

"While we celebrate history being made in Iowa today, we must remember that federal law continues to deny all same-sex couples access to the 1,138 federal rights, benefits, and protections that come with civil marriage recognition at the federal level. The federal government continues to maintain a second class citizenry in direct violation of the equal protection guarantees contained in the U.S. Constitution." stated Davina Kotulski, Ph.D. Author of Why You Should Give A Damn About Gay Marriage, who spoke last week about marriage equality with students from Iowa State and Drake Universities hosted by Lynn Fallon and her husband, Former State Legislator and marriage equality pioneer Ed Fallon, and the Marriage Equality USA-Central Iowa chapter. "We will not rest until there is equal justice under law for all Gay Americans."

PICTURED: Pictured in this undated handout photo released by Lamda Legal, are Dawn, left, and Jen BarbouRoske and their two daughters in Iowa City, Iowa. The lesbian couple are plaintiffs in a challenge to Iowa's ban on same-sex marriage. The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case on Tuesday in Des Moines. (AP Photo/Lambda Legal)

JUMBOTRON OR BUST

2009-02-28T09:22:00.004-05:00

On the morning of March 5th, the California Supreme Court will hold a hearing to determine whether Proposition 8, which eliminated the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry, should be overturned.

Thousands of students from Southern California are bussing in to see history made - there is practically no public seating in the court or overflow room. Help us ensure that the community can come together and watch our advocates make our case!

Marriage Equality USA is seeking donations so we can provide a jumbotron and speaker system that will allow thousands and thousands of supporters to witness this historic hearing just outside the steps of the California Supreme Court.

We also believe this March 5th event will not only provide a great opportunity for visibility, but significant public education to illustrate why Prop 8 should be overturned.
Help us make this dream a reality. All donations are tax deductible.

Go to www.firstgiving.com/supremecourtjumbotron to help

Same-Sex Couples Engage in National Marriage Counter Actions/Call on California Supreme Court and U.S. Pres. Obama to Ensure Marriage Equality

2009-02-12T02:24:00.002-05:00

Oakland, California: On National Freedom to Marry Day, Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk's Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.

"This feels like ground hog year in California," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director, "It was this time last year when we looked to the State Supreme Court to declare marriage equality the law of the land and here we are again, veil in hand, asking the State Supreme Court to protect the minority against the tyranny of the majority and stand for fairness for all. Over 18,000 same-sex couples married in California last year. We had hoped to retire this annual action once and for all, but alas.....we lost our fundamental right to marry the person we love by a 2% vote of the majority and until Proposition 8 is repealed, we are back to the marriage counters to once again highlight the discrimination that the county clerk must enforce for now. I’m thankful to be married, but afraid that our lives are once again on the chopping block. When will this end, so we can just all live our happily ever afters and move on with our lives?"

"Whether we are married, domestic partnered, civil unioned or legal strangers under our particular state law, all same-sex couples are denied the 1,138 federal rights of marriage," said Amy Balliett, founder of Join the Impact. "With the support of President Obama and with the growing sea change towards supporting protections for same-sex couples, we are hopeful that we can finally turn our attention to overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996, and work together to uphold the American tradition of fairness and equality by ending marriage discrimination once and for all."

"Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA chapters have engaged in these annual marriage counter actions to render visible the discrimination that is enforced every day. It is an affront to our basic dignity as fellow human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show that we live in every community and want to honor and protect our families like everyone else," said McKay. "Marriage discrimination is wrong and harms real-life families. All Americans deserve equal treatment under the law. The time has come."

For a list of marriage counter actions happening across the country on Freedom to Marry Week go to www.marriageequality.org and/or www.jointheimpact.com.

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Founded in 2000, Marriage Equality USA is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation . For more information go to www.marriageequality.org.

Founded in 2008, Join the Impact is a national direct action community whose mission is to secure equality for the LGBT community. For more information go to www.jointheimpact.com.

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Partial List of Marriage Counter Events at County Clerks Offices by State
(including Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, New York, and Utah)

ARIZONA

Phoenix
Noon - 1pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office, 601 W. Jackson, Phoenix, AZ
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Chapter leader John Allard at phoenix@marriageequality.org or 602-920-8010

Tucson
Noon - 1pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office, Church St. side of 110 W. Congress, Tucson, AZ
Please direct all questions and press inquiries Chapter leader
John Allard at tucson@marriageequality.org or 602-920-8010

CALIFORNIA

Alameda County
10:30 am – 1 pm
NOTE: the local office is closed 2/12; event will take place on Saturday, 02/14/09
County Clerk’s Office, 1106 Madison St, Oakland, CA 94607
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to local contact person
Rally from 10:30 am until 1:00 pm - Counter Action from 11:00 until 12:30
Karen Fernandez : ca-alameda@marriageequality.org or 510-495-4756.

Contra Costa County
3:30 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 555 Escobar, Martinez, CA 94553
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to local contact person
Leslie Stewart at ca-contracosta@marriageequality.org or (925) 765-6064

Fresno County
12pm Noon; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 2221 Kern Street, Fresno, CA 93722
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to ca-fresno@marriageequality.org or contact chapter leader Jason Scott at 559-862-4559

Humboldt County
11:30am - 1 pm; Friday, 02/13/09
County Clerk’s Office, 825 5th Street, Room 108, Eureka, CA 95501
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to MEUSA leader Stanley Smith-Hanes at
ca-humboldt@marriageequality.org or 707-362-9430

Kern County
12:00 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to chapter leader/Bakersfield GLBTQ leader Whitney Weddell at ca-bakersfield@marriagequality.org or 661-204-3180.

Kings County
Noon-1:00 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 1400 W Lacey Blvd Hanford, CA 93230
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to chapter leader Hope Attenhofer at
ca-kings@marriageequality.org or (559) 635-8862

Lake County
Noon; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 255 Frobes Street, Lakeport, CA 95453
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to chapter leaders Laura LaMonico
ca-lake@marriageequality.org or (707)367-1557

Los Angeles County (multiple locations)
Friday, 02/13/09

1. Beverly Hills location 10:00 am
Beverly Hills Courthouse, 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Join Robin Tyler and Diane Olson and Rev. Troy Perry and Phillip De Blieck, the Los Angeles lead couples in the upcoming CA Supreme Court Marriage Case, and their attorney, Gloria Allred. Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Robin Tyler at robintyler@aol.com or (818)893-4075 or Gloria Allred at (323)653-6530

2. Lancaster location Noon -1pm
Lancaster Courthouse, 1028 W. Avenue J2, Lancaster, CA
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Chapter Leaders Peter Wolf and Geoff Scowcroft at ca-losangeles@marriageequality.org or (818) 688-2910

3. LAX location Noon-1pm
LAX Courthouse, 11701 S. LaCienega Blvd. 6th Floor, Los Angeles.
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Chapter Leaders Peter Wolf and Geoff Scowcroft at ca-losangeles@marriageequality.org or (818) 688-2910.

4. Downtown LA location- Noon – 1pm
Los Angeles Clerk’s Office, 4716 East Cesar Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Chapter Leaders Peter Wolf and Geoff Scowcroft at ca-losangeles@marriageequality.org or (818) 688-2910.

5. Norwalk location Noon – 1pm
Norwalk Clerk’s Office, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Chapter Leaders Peter Wolf and Geoff Scowcroft at ca-losangeles@marriageequality.org or (818) 688-2910.

Marin County
9:00 am and RALLY AT 4pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
9:00 am Meet at County Clerk’s Office, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 247, San Rafael, CA 94913
Contact Spectrum LGBT Center and Paula Pilecki at pilecki@spectrumLGBTcenter.org or 415-457-1115 ext 209 Also Join us for a Marriage Equality Rally at 4-6pm Meet at Third and Irwin Sts, San Rafael. Contact: Chapter leader Dolores Caruthers at ca-marin@marriageequality.org or 415-497-6469

Merced County
3:30 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 2222 M St, Rm 14 Merced, CA
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Jamie at PFLAG Merced Chapter at pflagmerced@yahoo.com or (209)341-2122

Napa County
TBA

Nevada County
11:45 am; Thursday, 02/12/09
The Rood Center, 950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City, CA 95959
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to chapter leader
Jim Richards and Charlie Landau at ca-nevada@marriageequality.org or (530) 292-3105.

Orange County
12:00 pm
TBA

Placer County
3:30 – 4:30pm
NOTE: the local office is closed 2/12 so this event will take place on Wednesday 2/11
2954 Richardson Drive Auburn, CA 95603
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to chapter leader
Brandon Rossi at ca-placer@marriageequality.org or 530-368-3677

Sacramento County
12:00 pm NOTE: the local office is closed 2/12 so this event will take place on Saturday2/14
County Clerk’s Office, 600 8th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to chapter leader Julie Tindall at ca-sacramento@marriageequality.org.

San Diego County
7:30 - 8:30 am; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office, 1600 Pacific Highway #103, San Diego, CA 92101
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Marriage Equality USA Chapter leader Fernando Lopez at ca-sandiego@marriageequality.org or 619-861-7939

San Francisco County
Noon – 1pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk-Office, Rotunda by the Grand Staircase City Hall, Suite 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Marriage Equality USA Chapter leader Alex Liu ca-sanfrancisco@marriageequality.org or 408-823-6344

San Joaquin County
3:30-4:30 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
Pacific State Bank Building, 6 South El Dorado Street Second Floor, Stockton, CA 95202
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Marriage Equality USA Chapter leader
Martina Virrey at ca-sanjoaquin@marriageequality.org or (209)518-9102

San Luis Obispo County
12:00 pm
NOTE: the local office is closed 2/12 so this event will take place on Friday 2/13
County Clerk’s Office, 1144 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to local contact person: David Kilburn at dkilburn@charter.net or (805)440-6487

San Mateo County
11:00am -1:00 pm
NOTE: the local office is closed 2/12 so this event will take place on Friday 2/13
County Clerk’s Office, 555 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to local contact persons:
Lynda Brocchini and Julie Rose at ca-sanmateo@marriageequality.org 650-359-9566 or 650-703-3648

Santa Clara County
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Note: earlier event at noon was moved back to 6:30 - 7:30
County Clerk's Office, 70 West Hedding Street, East Wing, First floor San Jose CA 95110
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to local contact persons:
Ray Hixson at rayhixson@hotmail.com 650-346-7557 or Rev Mike Ellard (408) 607-5471

Solano County
Noon – 1pm
NOTE: the local office is closed 2/12 so this event will take place on Friday 2/13
County Clerk's Office, 675 Texas Street Suite 1900, Fairfield, CA 94533
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Marriage Equality USA Chapter leader
Teresa Rowe at ca-solano@marriageequality.org or 707-720-8814.

Sonoma County
4:00 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office, La Plaza W. Building 2300 County Center Drive, Suite B-177, Santa Rosa, California 95403
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to leader Chari Davidson or 707 579-1922.

Stanislaus County
Noon-1:00 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 1021 I Street, Suite 101, Modesto, CA 95354
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to chapter leaders
Beth and Cynthia Holden-Soto at ca-stanislaus@marriageequality.org or (209) 576-5207

Tulare County
Noon-1:00 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 221 S Mooney Blvd, Rm 105 Visalia, CA 93291
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to chapter leader
Jamie Richie at ca-tulare@marriageequality.org or (559) 783 0710

Yolo County
Noon-1:00 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk-Recorder, 625 Court Street, Room 105, Woodland, CA 95695
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to local contact persons:
Ellen Pontac at ep@dcn.org and Shelly Bailes at shelly@dcn.org or 530-753-8283.

FLORIDA

Duval County
3:30 – 4:30 pm; Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk’s Office, 330 East Bay St., Room 101, Jacksonville, FL
Rally will be in front of Duval County Courthouse, 330 E. Bay St
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Marriage Equality USA Chapter leader Yashica Walker at fl-duval@marriageequality.org or 904-386-4080

KENTUCKY

Fayette County
4:00 - 5:00 pm Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office, 162 East Main Street Lexington, KY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Kentucky Equality Federation or Marriage Equality Kentucky (both Marriage Equality USA Member Organizations) Jordan Palmer at jordanp@kyequality.org, and T. Ashley at trevora@kyequality.org, or (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 2

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality Kentucky for additional locations.

Jefferson County
1:00 - 2:00 pm Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office (Main Branch), 527 W. Jefferson Louisville, KY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Kentucky Equality Federation or Marriage Equality Kentucky (both Marriage Equality USA Member Organizations) Jordan Palmer at jordanp@kyequality.org, and T. Ashley at trevora@kyequality.org, or (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 2

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality Kentucky for additional locations.

Laurel County
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office 101 S Main St, # 203 London, KY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Kentucky Equality Federation or Marriage Equality Kentucky (both Marriage Equality USA Member Organizations) Jordan Palmer at jordanp@kyequality.org, and T. Ashley at trevora@kyequality.org, or (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 2

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality Kentucky for additional locations.

Madison County
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office 101 West Main Street - Suite 7 Richmond, KY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Kentucky Equality Federation or Marriage Equality Kentucky (both Marriage Equality USA Member Organizations) Jordan Palmer at jordanp@kyequality.org, and T. Ashley at trevora@kyequality.org, or (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 2

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality Kentucky for additional locations.

NEW YORK

New York County
8:00 am - 10:00 am Thursday, 02/12/09
Manhattan Marriage License Bureau 141 Worth Street - Manhattan, NY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Marriage Equality New York (a Marriage Equality USA Member Organization) at ron@meny.us, or (877) 772-0089

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality New York for additional information.

UTAH

Salt Lake County
Noon on Thursday, 12/12/2009
County Clerk 2001 South State Street, Suite S2200, Salt Lake City, UT
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Utahns for Marriage Equality (a Marriage Equality USA Member Organization), Michael Mueller at m2xdesign@msn.com, or (801) 879-6273

Same-Sex Couples Engage in National Marriage Counter Actions / Call on California Supreme Court and Obama to Ensure Marriage Equality

2009-02-11T10:34:00.001-05:00

# # # # #

Partial List of Marriage Counter Events at County Clerks Offices by State

2009-02-11T10:26:00.002-05:00

# # # # #

Partial List of Marriage Counter Events at County Clerks Offices by State
(including Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, New York, and Utah)

ARIZONA

CALIFORNIA

FLORIDA

KENTUCKY

Fayette County
4:00 - 5:00 pm Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office, 162 East Main Street Lexington, KY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Kentucky Equality Federation or Marriage Equality Kentucky (both Marriage Equality USA Member Organizations) Jordan Palmer at jordanp@kyequality.org, and T. Ashley at trevora@kyequality.org, or (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 2

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality Kentucky for additional locations.

Jefferson County
1:00 - 2:00 pm Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office 527 W. Jefferson Louisville, KY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Kentucky Equality Federation or Marriage Equality Kentucky (both Marriage Equality USA Member Organizations) Jordan Palmer at jordanp@kyequality.org, and T. Ashley at trevora@kyequality.org, or (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 2

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality Kentucky for additional locations.

Laurel County
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office 101 S Main St, # 203 London, KY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Kentucky Equality Federation or Marriage Equality Kentucky (both Marriage Equality USA Member Organizations) Jordan Palmer at jordanp@kyequality.org, and T. Ashley at trevora@kyequality.org, or (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 2

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality Kentucky for additional locations.

Madison County
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Thursday, 02/12/09
County Clerk's Office 101 West Main Street - Suite 7 Richmond, KY
Please direct all questions and press inquiries to Kentucky Equality Federation or Marriage Equality Kentucky (both Marriage Equality USA Member Organizations) Jordan Palmer at jordanp@kyequality.org, and T. Ashley at trevora@kyequality.org, or (877) KEF-5775 - Ext. 2

Click here to visit the event page from Marriage Equality Kentucky for additional locations.

NEW YORK

UTAH

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA FILES AMICUS BRIEF URGING THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN PROP 8

2009-01-16T17:51:00.000-05:00

San Francisco, CA: In briefs filed yesterday with the California Supreme Court, Marriage Equality USA submitted an amicus brief detailing how anti-gay organizations have abused the ballot initiative process to promote their anti-gay platform with out-of-state funds and deceptive ads. “After thorough consideration, our California Legislature twice passed marriage equality bills and our California Supreme Court ended the ban on marriage for same-sex couples, but fear tactics promoted through deceptive 30 second ads were used to strip same-sex couples of their right to marry and to enshrine discrimination in our Constitution,” states Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director. “It can’t be that easy strip fundamental rights away from a minority group, the Court must do the right thing and overturn Prop 8.”

“Preparing this brief was an eye-opening experience,” said Shay Gilmore, attorney for amicus curiae of Marriage Equality USA. “While I had always been generally aware of how gays and lesbians have been mistreated historically, I really had no idea how extensively anti-gay forces had used the initiative and referendum processes against gay men and lesbians since the 1970s.”

Jo Hoenninger, attorney for Marriage Equality USA, continues, "The initiative process was originally intended to fight corruption in government and provide the people with the means to protect themselves. By airing advertising that was flatly false, the proponents of Proposition 8 manipulated the majority and the initiative process in order to deny a basic civil right to a minority. In so doing, they did a disservice to the LGBT community, to the fair-minded Californians who make up the majority, and - even though they do not yet realize it - they did a disservice to themselves."

“The harm of anti-gay initiatives extends well beyond the ballot box,” said Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director. “With California’s Prop 8 campaign, not only did LGBTI people lose their right to marry, but they were verbally assaulted, had property vandalized, received death threats, and some even lost their jobs because they were gay. Yes on 8 ads disseminated lies and promoted homophobia as illustrated in the hundreds of stories we received through community forums and our on-line survey detailing the harm LGBTI people, their children and straight allies experienced directly resulting from this campaign.”

Earlier this week, Marriage Equality USA released a report entitled “Prop 8 Hurt My Family – Ask Me How” which provides cross-section of these stories. This report, cited in Marriage Equality USA’s amicus brief, is available for download via the web at www.marriageequality.org.

“In reading these stories and getting to know our families, we believe Californians, including those who voted Yes on 8, will conclude that no individual or family should ever have to endure the pain of having their constitutional rights up to a popular vote,” concludes McKay. “To promote that end, Marriage Equality USA is supporting Get To Know Us First, a grassroots organization that has produced five ads sharing real stories of same-sex couples and their children and is seeking funds to place these TV ads in 42 California counties to follow Pastor Rick Warren’s invocation prayer.” To see these ads and donate, go to http://www.gettoknowusfirst.org.

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Direct Shortcut: Click here to download the Marriage Equality USA’s amicus brief.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA RELEASES REPORT: “PROP 8 HURT MY FAMILY, ASK ME HOW” – A COMPILATION OF REAL STORIES FROM THE CAMPAIGN

2009-01-13T02:41:00.000-05:00

"Marriage Equality USA® received hundreds of gut wrenching stories, particularly from children of same-sex couples and LGBTI youth, that describe harm and even threats and violence that resulted from California's Prop 8 campaign," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA® Media Director. "These stories mirror research released this month from the American Psychological Association that anti-gay initiatives create psychological stress 'as a direct result of negative images and messages associated with the ballot campaign and the passage of the amendment.'"

"From our community forums hosted across California and our on-line survey, over 1,200 people shared specific instances of the harms they experienced as a result of these anti-gay initiative campaigns," stated Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director. "In our second report summarizing grassroots input, ‘Prop 8 Hurt My Family – Ask Me How,’ we share a cross-section of these personal stories to illustrate how Prop 8 hurt real people, frightened children of same-sex couples, promoted bullying in schools, caused straight allies to experience homophobia, tore apart families and destroyed neighborhoods.”

A copy of this report can be found on our home page (http://www.marriageequality.org) or directly at http://www.marriageequality.org/uploads/library/REPORT%20TWO_PROP_8_HURT_MY_FAMILY_FINAL_VERSION.pdf
Our report also includes a list of counseling and community resources to provide additional support to those harmed by Prop 8’s campaign.

A sampling of the stories in the report include:

"It is frustrating and exhausting to go through the course of each day feeling like we somehow have to defend our marriage," a perspective from one same-sex couple;
"My six-year old, the day after we lost Prop 8, asked me, with tears running down his face, if we were still a family" a story from a lesbian parent;
"I work in a high school and the students have begun gay bashing openly now. They feel the majority has voted that being gay is not ok, thus they can make fun of them," a California school administrator;
"My gay son and I started rallying on visible corners…. I was told I was going to hell… My son was spit on, called names, told he was a demon and a pedophile. It was hard for me, but all I could see was the pain on my son’s face," one mother’s story;
"My father and brother voted Yes on 8. It was a stab wound to my heart," a story from one gay daughter; and
"The large presence of Yes on 8 lawn signs in my neighborhood…left me with a hostile feeling and I’m not gay. I can’t imagine how unwelcoming that atmosphere must have felt on any gay neighbors," Placer County perspective.

"These stories reveal the real-life impact that these divisive and hateful ballot measures have had on people," said McKay. "We are hopeful that in sharing these stories, fair-minded Americans will reflect on these harms and help us stop any future ballot campaign aimed at stripping people of their fundamental rights. Voting down the basic family protections and dignity of your neighbors, family and friends violates the most basic tenets of the Golden Rule which instructs 'Do unto others as you would have done unto you.’”

Despite all these harms, same-sex couples, their children and other supporters have made it clear that we will continue to fight for the same dignity, respect and security that only marriage provides. The report concludes with stories that describe why the California Supreme Court needs to overturn Prop 8. Our hope in sharing these stories is that Californians, including those who voted Yes on 8, we will, upon careful reflection, come to the conclusion that no individual and no family should ever have to go through these experiences.

This report is the second of three to be issued by Marriage Equality USA summarizing grassroots input. Our third report to be issued later in January will provide Marriage Equality USA's road map for the future on how to best harness the energy of grassroots supporters to engage in outreach and education in support of marriage equality in all 50 states and at the federal level.

All three reports will be posted and available for download on Marriage Equality USA's home page (www.marriageequality.org).

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA RELEASES REPORT SUMMARIZING POST-PROP 8 COMMUNITY FORUMS AND ON-LINE SURVEY RESULTS

2009-01-05T14:14:00.000-05:00

San Francisco, CA - "Our grassroots community is comprised of dedicated, insightful and passionate leaders and individuals who deeply care about marriage equality and our movement," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) Media Director. "Today, we share their viewpoints and voices through our summary of community forum and survey input on California's No on Prop 8 campaign." A copy of this report can be found on our Marriage Equality USA home page (http://www.marriageequality.org) or directly at http://www.marriageequality.org/uploads/library/Report_One_-_Community_Input_on_Prop_8_Campaign.pdf.

"We received input from community forums hosted across California and over 3,100 individuals across the United States and in 13 foreign countries," continued Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director. "This report is the first of three to be issued in the month of January that will share the 'collective wisdom' gathered by summarizing from this grassroots input."

MEUSA's report entitled "We Will Never Go Back – Grassroots Input on California's No on Proposition 8 Campaign" identified many positive outcomes from the official No on 8 campaign, but also cited the following major concerns and future opportunities:

Clergy leaders, identified as the most effective messengers for marriage equality, were underutilized in the No on 8 campaign,
People of color are part of our LGBTI family and we must promote their leadership and inclusion to inform and direct outreach to these communities,
The official No on 8 campaign ads lacked heart and inexcusably excluded same-sex couples and their families,
The official No on 8 field plan lacked visibility and ignored potential volunteers,
The official No on 8 campaign abandoned our LGBTI community and supporters in the Central Valley, and
Empowering our grassroots community will help advance our national marriage equality movement.

Under each item of concern or future opportunity, we have also identified a Call to Action that allows us a way to move ahead in addressing these issues. For example, under the section related to the role of clergy, we have asked clergy leaders to take the opportunity of President-Elect Obama's selection of Pastor Rick Warren as the invocation speaker to share with their local congregations and/or communities, reasons why they believe marriage equality is important and begin the slow process of healing and outreach to continue the dialogue with persuadable people of faith. MEUSA ends the report with our New Year's resolutions that highlight how we plan to move ahead as an organization, using the feedback we have received from the community we work to represent.

Marriage Equality USA will issue our second report next Monday, January 12th that will share stories of discrimination and harm that resulted from California's Prop 8 campaign and mirror similar experiences of our LGBTI community and straight allies who have faced similar ballot initiative campaigns. Finally, our third report to be issued later in January will provide MEUSA's plan for the future on how to win support for marriage equality in all 50 states.

Again, all three reports will be posted and available for download on MEUSA's home page (www.marriageequality.org).

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA ANNOUNCES NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS TRACKING POST-PROP 8 COMMUNITY FORUMS AND ON-LINE SURVEY RESULTS

2008-12-29T21:41:00.000-05:00

San Francisco, CA: “To win marriage equality, we must empower and enlist the grassroots in each community,” said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) Media Director. “In the devastating aftermath of the passage of California’s Proposition 8 campaign, MEUSA hosted community forums across the state to invite participants to constructively examine the campaign and provide input on where we go from here. MEUSA also created an on-line survey which collected responses from an additional 3,000 people across the nation to check the pulse of where things stand within our national marriage equality movement following the November 15th Stonewall 2.0 revolution.”

“Through both the community forums and on-line survey, MEUSA received input from thousands and thousands of voices throughout California, as well as from individuals in 45 other states and 15 countries,” said Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director. “Throughout the month of January, MEUSA will release a three part series of the ‘collective wisdom’ gathered by summarizing the main themes and sharing these perspectives and experiences collected. On Monday, January 5th, MEUSA will release the first of three reports that summarizes grassroots input on what we learned from the Prop 8 campaign. As a preview, today, we share MEUSA’s 2009 resolutions based on the themes and wisdom collected from our grassroots input.”

To End Homophobia, We Must Not Practice It. As Harvey Milk once said “they’ll vote for us two to one if they get to know one of us.” The LGBTI community must be visible in our campaign to secure marriage equality because we know our real images and stories are the only way to replace stereotypes. We must share our stories through earned media, door to door canvassing, and other visibility actions.

We Must Focus on our Families. We will never allow LGBTI families to be pushed into the closet. Our families are raising children and serve as our front line ambassadors with other families. Our lives and experiences, including the fear and harm their children face from these anti-gay campaigns, like Prop 8, must be shared to increase understanding and support. We must work with family-focused organizations, both LGBTI and other family-focused groups.

We Must Challenge Institutionalized Privilege within LGBTI Organizations. It’s not just about outreach; it’s about inclusion in our marriage equality movement. We will promote, support, involve and fund leaders and organizations of color and create messages and messengers that reflect all communities as a priority, early and often, not as an afterthought.

We Must Engage in all 50 States and in California, in all 58 Counties. Just as it was wrong to exclude the transgender community from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, it was wrong to exclude the Central Valley from California’s No on Prop 8 campaign. Same-sex couples live everywhere; therefore we must campaign in every community and not ignore less supportive communities where there is so much room to gain and where the marriage equality outreach and education is essential.

We Must Empower Communities of Faith. We believe faith leaders and faith communities, not focus groups or consultants, should determine the messages and the best way to engage other people of faith in this movement. We can’t oversimplify and restrict our faith leaders and other faith based allies to talking points that don’t adequately give space to reflect their diverse beliefs or limit their participating to phone banks that keep these leaders out of the public eye. We need these faith leaders to be visible and vocal in building bridges to other faith communities. They are uniquely situated to respond to some of our most ardent opponents.

We Must Ensure our Straight Allies Have a Larger Voice in our Movement. Our marriage equality movement must not be restricted to the LGBTI community. We must embrace and incorporate our straight allies as leaders in our movement by providing outlets and invitations for them to join us in fulfilling our collective Constitutional promise of equal justice and treatment for all people.

We Must Recognize the Interconnectedness of our Lives and the Broader Social Justice Movement. We cannot just ask for support for LGBTI equality and not step up for other social justice movements. Our goals and our opponents are similar and by participating as good coalition partners, we can support the broader progressive movement for equality and justice.

We Must Commit to a National Grassroots Infrastructure and Strategy. We must have a proactive, sustained marriage equality educational movement and national dialogue to create the environment necessary to be able to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act and promote support for marriage equality nationwide. When these ballot measures arise, each state should not reinvent the wheel or have to start from scratch. We need to create effective modes of communication within the grassroots structure and share good ideas and practices. By capitalizing on technology, we can allow every state or volunteers in supportive communities to effectively participate in building our national vision.

We Must Provide a Place and a Space in this Movement for Everyone. Our community must be invited to do more than check writing and organizing house parties. We must be engaged in organizing and educating our communities, being visible, contributing our voices and sharing our unique talents and resources to assist the movement. We will allow anyone of any educational background and economic class to participate to the extent they are interested and we will provide materials, training and assistance to maximize and plug in all available talents and resources to promote volunteer-grassroots leadership and participation during this watershed civil rights movement for LGBTI equality.

>> This is an official press release from the National Media Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA STATEMENT ON CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL JERRY BROWN’S BRIEF ASKING THAT PROPOSITION 8 BE OVERTURNED

2008-12-20T12:06:00.000-05:00

Proposition 8 proponents are trying to strip the 18,000 couples who married of their marriage licenses. They are like the Grinch attempting to pull every last shred of happiness and hope from same-sex couples. The Court cannot allow the bullies and bigotry to pollute our Constitution that has heretofore stood for equality and justice for all.

"We are incredibly encouraged by the Attorney General's thoughtful and courageous decision to urge the California Supreme Court to stand up for its historic role in protecting minorities against the tyranny of the majority," said Media Director Molly McKay. "The lives of thousands of couples and their children hang in the balance. We are hopeful that the outpouring of support from every major civil rights organization and dozens of cities and legislators will encourage the Justices that the right thing to do is to find that Proposition 8 is a revision to our Constitution and not allow it to stand. We have fundamentally altered the checks and balance of our democracy if a prejudiced minority is entitled to only the fundamental rights that they can persuade the majority to extend to them."

“Proposition 8 proponents are trying to strip the 18,000 couples who married of their marriage licenses,” said Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director. “They are like the Grinch attempting to pull every last shred of happiness and hope from same-sex couples. The Court cannot allow the bullies and bigotry to pollute our Constitution that has heretofore stood for equality and justice for all.”

RELATED: California Attorney General Urges Court To Strike Down Proposition 8 Marriage Equality USA Advisory Board Member Robin Tyler Responds to Challenge to the 18K Married Couples. (more)

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA EXPANDS OUTREACH BY SEEKING MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN ITS ABILITY TO SECURE MARRIAGE EQUALITY

2008-12-10T08:10:00.000-05:00

Louisville, KY -- With the number of chapters it has growing, Marriage Equality USA today announced a new plan to bring statewide, regional, county, and city organizations into the marriage equality movement.

The new plan allows independent organizations committed to Marriage Equality USA's Mission Statement to join as a member organization.

"We wanted a plan to bring existing organizations into the marriage equality movement so they can share resources, ideas, and coordinate efforts with Marriage Equality USA nationally, and with our local chapters," stated Jordan Palmer, Vice President of Development and Organizational Relationships for Marriage Equality USA.

Both member organizations and Marriage Equality USA will benefit by sharing action alerts, organizational successes, set-backs, experiences, information, and knowledge. Joint fundraising activities are also a possibility.

Despite the November election which resulted in three additional state constitutional amendments restricting marriage to be between a man and a woman and another amendment that restricted adoption to married couples, Marriage Equality USA remains committed to marriage equality throughout the United States.

"The unprecedented nationwide rallies in support of marriage equality illustrate this issue is not limited to California but important across the United States," says Jordan Palmer, Vice President of Development and Organizational Relationships for Marriage Equality USA. "We will continue our fight for marriage equality state by state, and thank everyone for their enormous support."

Interested organizations should visit the member organizations section of the Marriage Equality USA website at www.marriageequality.org for additional information.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA REACTS TO NOVEMBER 4TH ELECTION RESULTS

2008-11-05T23:14:00.000-05:00

San Francisco, California: “The election of Senator Barack Obama as President sweeps away the last racial barrier in American politics and provides us, including the LGBT community, so much hope for a better tomorrow. The passage of three constitutional amendments to restrict marriage to be between a man and a woman and another amendment in Arkansas to limit adoptions and foster care of children to only those who are legally married illustrates the discrimination that the LGBT community still faces in our country today. It is a bittersweet moment.”

LGBT Americans deserve the security and respect that marriage provides and we will continue to move forward in fighting for those freedoms and we will see progress and setbacks along the way. In Connecticut, same-sex couples will begin to marry on November 12th and those rights will be protected with the defeat of a constitutional convention on that issue. In New York, Senate leadership has changed and we hope and believe they will take up and pass marriage equality legislation that the New York Governor has said he will sign. We will win the freedom to marry, it will just take longer than is should.

After tens of thousands of same-sex couples got married in California, the majority of those who voted have decided to take that fundamental right away and introduce discrimination into our state Constitution. Californians voted for the better treatment of chickens but denied equal rights and protections for the gay neighbors – that's unfair and wrong. No one ever voted to take away the right of interracial couples to marry and if they did…it would have taken more than 40 years a majority of Americans to say OK. Less than six months after the California Supreme Court eliminated our ban on marriage for same-sex couples, it came to a vote of Californians – that‟s not the way our civil rights should be granted or taken away. These civil rights exist, and Marriage Equality USA will not stop until everyone in the LGBT community receives the same dignity and respect as any other American, until we have marriage.

We will win the freedom to marry – if not today, then tomorrow – and when anyone tells us we can‟t, we will tell them 'yes we can.'"

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA CELEBRATES CONNECTICUT DECISION IN SUPPORT OF THE FREEDOM TO MARRY

2008-10-10T21:57:00.000-04:00

San Francisco, California: “Today, the Connecticut Supreme Court stood up for fairness and equality by ruling their state Constitution cannot tolerate a separate institution of civil unions for same-sex couples who as fellow citizens deserve equal protection, including the freedom to marry,” states Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) Media Director. “Today‟s decision recognizes that the time has come for lesbian and gay couples to be woven into the fabric of Connecticut families and to have the freedom to enter into the civil institution of marriage. These couples are part of Connecticut‟s community and are Americans. We call out to the citizens of Connecticut and across the nation to stand together to support this decision and recognize our society is stronger when we are all treated fairly.”

In Kerrigan and Mock v. Department of Public Health, Justice Richard N. Palmer who wrote for the majority of this 4-3 decision stated “We conclude that, in light of the history of pernicious discrimination faced by gay men and lesbians, and because the institution of marriage carries with it a status and significance that the newly created classification of civil unions does not embody, the segregation of heterosexual and homosexual couples into separate institutions constitutes a cognizable harm.”

“As Americans come to know same-sex couples and our families, they see that we share the same hopes and dreams, including the dream of marrying the person you love,” states Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director. “In California, over 11,000 same-sex couples have married in the last three months. Witnessing these ceremonies makes it abundantly clear that marriage really matters to these couples and their friends and families. Excluding same-sex couples from this fundamental right of marriage is wrong. We must do everything we can to ensure Californians will defeat Proposition 8 that threatens to take that right of marriage away and we must fight to defeat similar amendments in Florida and Arizona. ”

“This decision supports not only the eight plaintiff couples, but the thousands and thousands of same-sex couples that call Connecticut home,” states John Lewis, MEUSA Northern California Regional Director. “Stuart and I have been together over 20 years and were plaintiffs in the California marriage case. We were married in June and that experience made it clear. Marriage is so much more than just a word, it conveys a dignity and respect that domestic partnerships will never provide and that loving, committed same-sex couples deserve.”

“As we've seen in California, Massachusetts, Canada, Spain, and the other countries where same-sex couples can wed, there is no harm in extending same-sex couples the right to marry,” concludes McKay. “As same-sex couples struggle every day with the frustrations and harm caused by being excluded from marriage, and as we see once again our families are being used as political pawns in an upcoming November election, we hope that our fellow citizens reject that prejudice and speak out in support of ending discrimination against gay and lesbian families. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr. 'in the end, we won‟t remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.'"

Coast to Coast Marriage Equality Marches on Sunday, September 14, 2008 in Support of the Freedom to Marry

2008-09-14T05:00:00.000-04:00

San Francisco, CA: On Sunday, September 14, 2008, Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) and Marriage Equality New York (MENY) are partnering together for their fifth annual simultaneous walks across the Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge in support of marriage equality.

“This year has seen incredible progress for marriage equality coast to coast,” said Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director. “Last year at this time, neither California or New York recognized the marriages of same-sex couples. Now, one year later, California is enjoying its fourth month of same-sex couples getting legally married in all 58 counties and New York is recognizing marriages of same-sex couples. We are well on our way to fulfilling this quest for basic fairness for all families and we want to recognize and celebrate how far we have come and ensure that this basic civil right is protected and extended to all Americans.”

In New York City, marchers will gather at 11am (EST) at City Hall Park proceeding across the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn, ending with a picnic and festival in Cadman Plaza and in Albany, marchers will also gather in 11am (EST) at Albany Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve.

In San Francisco, marchers will gather at 9:30am (PST) at the west end of Crissy Field to march across the Golden Gate Bridge and then return to Crissy Field for wedding cake and entertainment. Prior to the march in San Francisco, at 10am (PST), a press conference will be held that shall include San Francisco County Assessor Phil Ting who has been a long time advocate for same-sex couples and now houses the office that has recorded thousands of marriage licenses for same-sex and different-sex couples since marriage equality has been the law of the land in California.

At the press conference, MEUSA will remember Del Martin, a LGBT civil rights hero, who passed away last month and honor her life by redoubling our efforts to ensure that all loving, committed couples like Del and Phyllis Lyons (her wife) have the freedom to marry. The press conference will conclude with a cross-country call to marriage equality marchers in New York City who will be finishing their march across the Brooklyn Bridge and we start our walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.

“This is a terrific event for the whole family and a great way for supporters to find out the latest information about how to ensure we sustain marriage equality in California,” said Brown. “Come use your voice for equality and get your t-shirts, bumper stickers and posters to show your support for marriage equality.”

Additional information on both events can be found on the web at http://www.marriageequality.org.

>> This is an official press release from the National Press Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

Community Celebrates 60th Anniversary of California Supreme Court Decision Perez v Sharp Ending California’s Interracial Marriage Ban

2008-09-12T05:08:00.000-04:00

Oakland, CA: On Friday, September 26, 2008 from 7pm to 9pm at the EastSide Cultural Center at 2277 International Blvd in Oakland, the Final Friday Films of Resistance and Solidarity and several community organizations will co-host a series of short films and a panel discussion on the historic struggle for marriage equality for interracial couples 60 years ago and the parallels to same-sex couples today.

“It was 60 years ago this month, in 1948, that the California Supreme Court became the first state to declare that the right to marry the person you love is a „fundamental right of citizenship‟ and struck down the law banning couples of different races from marrying,” said Stuart Gaffney, Asian Pacific Islander Outreach Director of Marriage Equality USA, “My family would not exist without this historic decision, as my mom is Chinese-American and my father is Irish-American. One generation later , in June of this year, the California Supreme Court has continued its tradition of extending fairness and equality by striking down the law banning couples of the same-sex from marrying. My husband, John, and I are overjoyed to be legally married as we celebrate our 21st year together this month.”

“Thanks to the Perez decision, my parents were able to marry in California,” said Gaffney. “However, when they moved to Missouri and started looking for a home, they learned that their marriage was null and void under Missouri law. My husband John and I are now living that same experience today. The Perez decision, so controversial at the time it was decided, is now just an accepted part of the civil rights movement that is too often forgotten and its linkages to the similar struggles of same-sex couples today are important to recognize.”

Also featured at this event is the Marriage Equality Movement Family Story Quilt, a project of Marriage Equality USA that intersperses photos and stories from Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) families and allies. “The quilt reflects the diversity of our families and communities, as well as the urgency of this marriage equality issue,” said Maya Scott Chung, MEUSA Parents Outreach Director and Story Quilt Curator.

>> This is an official press release from the National Press Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

Marriage Equality USA Says U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy is a Strong Man, and a Fighter

2008-05-22T08:07:00.000-04:00

Washington, DC May 22, 2008 -- National marriage-equality organization praises U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and warns printed media and bloggers "don't count him out yet."

Marriage Equality USA was also deeply touched by the appearance of Elizabeth Edwards on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Wednesday.

Marriage Equality USA strongly agrees with the statement of Elizabeth Edwards that "we shouldn't be writing anybody's obituary." Many media outlets and blogger around the country have been speculating about who will replace U.S. Senator Kennedy which Marriage Equality USA considers disrespectful.

"Marriage Equality USA sends our thoughts and prayers to U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and his family. We know Senator Kennedy is a real fighter because he has been one of the gay community's strongest advocates. He has been a leader in our fight for the freedom to marry and his support has been unwavering on this civil rights issue. Senator Kennedy is our hero and friend and our hearts go out to him." - Marriage Equality USA President David Janis-Kitzmiller

During Tax Season, Marriage Equality USA Recognizes How Marriage Discrimination Harms Same-Sex Couples and Costs All Taxpayers

2008-04-15T04:36:00.000-04:00

San Francisco, California: Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) deplores the ongoing moral and financial costs of denying marriage equality to same-sex couples, not only for the LGBT families directly affected, but for all American taxpayers who collectively pay a financial price for that discrimination.

“Each tax season, same-sex couples sit at their dining room tables and are forced to live a legal lie by checking „single‟ despite their decades together and then arbitrarily dividing up their joint household‟s income, expenses, and dependents,” says MEUSA President David Janis-Kitzmiller. “Then we write checks to the IRS for social security taxes, knowing that when we die our families will not even have access to any of the family „safety net‟ benefits provided in the form of social security survivor benefits, estate tax deferral, and other programs that we help fund through our tax dollars and that only heterosexual couples and their children will enjoy.”

“Even in California where domestic partners for the first time are submitting joint state returns, tax preparers and same-sex couples alike were confused on how to apply the tax laws when domestic partnerships aren‟t recognized by the federal government,” explains MEUSA Policy Director Pamela Brown. “Domestic partnerships create confusion that results in tangible costs and frustration to gay and lesbian couples who end up paying more in both taxes and tax preparation fees. This year, California domestic partners had to complete four tax returns – a „dummy” joint federal return so we could complete the joint state return and then two individual federal returns where we have to file as single. The surest way to end the confusion and uncertainty that domestic partnerships create is to allow gay and lesbian couples the freedom to marry and we hope that the State Supreme Court will remedy this situation by recognizing that excluding same-sex couples from the right to marry violates our state Constitution.”

“A common misconception is that granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry would cost the government more money, but in fact it would save taxpayer dollars. Same-sex couples aren‟t the only ones paying for marriage discrimination, all taxpayers fund this discrimination which amounts to as much as $30 million for taxpayers in the state of California and $1 billion nationwide,” states Brown “citing two studies produced by the Congressional Budget Office (http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=5559&sequence=0 and UCLA‟s Williams Institute http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/16_Stan_L_&_Poly_Rev_197.pdf).”

>> This is an official press release from the National Press Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

CALIFORNIANS RALLY ACROSS THE STATE TO ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNOR BE A HERO, DON’T DO A VETO SEQUEL, AND SIGN AB 43

2007-09-18T05:03:00.000-04:00

San Francisco, CA: Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA), Equality California (EQCA) and other allied organizations are hosting rallies in over a dozen cities throughout the state to show the Governor that the will of the people supports equality and to urge him to be a hero, not do a veto sequel but rather sign Assembly Bill (AB) 43 (SF: Leno) – the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act – (sponsored by Equality California.)

“We are gathering together around the state to urge the Governor to look into our faces, to think of our children who have to explain why their families aren‟t good enough to marry to the schoolyard bullies, or to consider the seniors who struggle with explaining to uninformed cremation businesses that as domestic partners they actually do have the right to make such decisions for their deceased partners, at least in California,” said Molly McKay, MEUSA Media Director. “Like hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples, I can‟t wait to marry my life-partner, Davina. We only want for our families what the Governor wants for his own wife and children, the same dignity, security and peace of mind of knowing that their Government will see and treat them as a family. Domestic partnerships are unequal and unfair. We simply seek the freedom to marry and live our own happily ever afters.”

“With a stroke of a pen, the Governor will determine this week what role he will play in this civil rights struggle of our generation. We plan to rally across the state to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to be the courageous hero who does the right thing and ensures true equality for hundreds of thousands of his LGBT Constituents,” said Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director. “He can no longer hide behind the Prop 22 Ballot measure from 2000. The entire landscape around LGBT equality has moved light years forward from that dark time in California‟s history. After the Marriage Equality bill passed the California Legislature in 2005, not one legislator who voted for the bill lost their seat, in fact those who voted for the bill, were elected over those who abstained in the following election. Then in the 2006 elections, even more pro-marriage equality candidates were elected and this year and the California Legislature again passed the Marriage Equality bill with even more votes than before. Opponents of marriage equality claim that „judicial activism‟ is responsible for the extension of civil rights to same-sex couples. With the California Supreme Court set to hear this issue early next year, this may be the last chance for the Governor to fulfill California‟s destiny to become the first state in the nation to secure marriage equality through the Legislature. The time is now and we hope that the Governor leaves a legacy of standing on the side of ensuring all Californians are treated equally under the law.”

Rallies will be held in Bakersfield, Fresno, Humboldt, Lakeport, Los Angeles, Marin, Modesto, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, San Luis Obispo, Santa Rosa, Silicon Valley, Stockton, Ukiah, and Yolo.

Rallies will be held on Tuesday, September 18th across the state.

>> This is an official press release from the National Press Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

Marriage Equality USA Praises the Iowa Court Decision to Support the Opportunity for Same-Sex Couples to Marry

2007-08-30T21:51:00.000-04:00

Media Contacts:
Molly McKay, Media Director, (510)332-0872
Phyllis Stevens, Iowa Chapter Leader, (515) 309-2860

Des Moines, Iowa: "Today is a truly profound day in America's heartland as we celebrate Polk County Iowa District Court 's ruling that loving, committed same-sex couples, many of whom have been together for decades, should indeed have the freedom to marry their beloved ,” said Marriage Equality USA Iowa Chapter Leader, Phyllis Stevens.

In their decision, the Iowa Court ruled “Couples, such as Plaintiffs, who are otherwise qualified to marry one another may not be denied licenses to marry or certificates of marriage or in any other way be prevented from entering into a civil marriage pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 595 by reason of the fact that both persons compromising such a couple are of the same sex.”

“We applaud Lambda Legal's efforts and the courageous plaintiff couples who stepped forward and offered the truth of their lives as loving families to secure the freedom to marry for all same-sex couples in their state,” said Molly McKay, Media Director, Marriage Equality USA. “ We also celebrate the educational outreach efforts of our Marriage Equality USA Iowa Chapter working in coalition with other local advocates to sustain this momentum.”

“The court applied the traditional Midwest value of fairness and inclusion. Iowa is home to thousands of same-sex couples who live in every county of this state. Providing these families equal protection is not only neighborly , but the right thing to do,” said Stevens. “This decision and the courage and perseverance of these families that share their stories on how the exclusion from marriage harms their families will help ensure that no family in the future is treated as second class and will help move this nation forward in the movement for same-sex couples to gain the over 1,000 federal rights and the hundreds of state rights that come with marriage and marriage alone.”

“We are pleased to see so many advances made in support of marriage equality this year, from coast to coast and now expanding to include middle America. Marriage Equailty USA will not rest until marriage equality is the law of the land from sea to shining sea ,” said McKay. “It is our honor and our responsibility to help correct this outstanding injustice.”

Marriage Equality USA & Pride at Work Applaud Union’s Action in Extending Domestic Partner Pension Benefits; Retroactive to Include Marvin Burrows

2007-08-23T04:55:00.000-04:00

San Francisco, CA: Bill Swenor worked the graveyard shift for 38 years as a warehouseman and proud member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). Although Bill Swenor was with Marvin Burrows for 51 years, married him in San Francisco during the “Winter of Love” and registered as California Domestic Partners, when Bill died in March 2005, Marvin was denied further health insurance coverage and Bill’s union pension, as well as Bill’s federal social security survivor benefits because they were a same-sex couple. Marvin was financially forced to move from their home of 35 years.

“Civil right victories are won by the courage of individuals. Marvin Burrows lost the love of his life, and was denied relationship protections which created a devastating financial crisis for him, an all too common reality for our LGBT senior community,” said Molly McKay, MEUSA Media Director. “But Marvin took the uncommon step of bravely sharing his story as the Marriage Equality USA Senior Outreach Director, devoting his life to educating fair-minded Americans about the harms of being excluded from marriage and relationship protections in the hopes that through sharing his story, he would help ensure that no one else would have to go through what he did in the future.”

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), sent a request to Bill’s union, on Marvin’s behalf, to reconsider their denial, but the pension fund’s denial was believed final. Then, two years later, on August 13th, NCLR contacted Marvin to convey a message they had received from Bill’s union pension administrator “During recent negotiations between Industrial Employers and Distributors Association (IEDA) and Warehouse Union Local 6 and 17, the Pension Agreement was changed to provide Domestic Partners the same rights to benefits as a spouse. This change was made retroactive to March 1, 2005 and will now allow Mr. Burrows to receive a benefit on behalf of Mr. Swenor.”

“It took two years for this change to come, but we are so pleased that not only did the union do the right thing and extend pension benefits to domestic partners, but they also reached back to specifically include Marvin, the one who moved them to take this important step,” said McKay. “We applaud this decision, as an interim measure which will extend some of the rights that would have been automatic had Marvin and Bill been allowed to marry. Marvin is still denied federal social security survivor benefits and the dignity of being recognized in all aspects as the widower. Marvin’s story serves as yet another example on how domestic partnerships don’t provide the same security or benefits of marriage.”

“Though many unions provide spousal benefits to same-sex couples, there are still many that do not,” said T Santora, co-President of Pride @ Work. “We are hopeful that this action will influence other unions to follow suit and ensure that their LGBT members and their families are afforded the protections that other members enjoy and ensure that Marvin’s experience becomes a part of history, not a continuing reality for others. By taking this action, the ILWU demonstrated its commitment to the union principle that an injury to one is an injury to all.”

“When I heard the news that Bill’s union had changed their policy and even made it retroactive to include me, I was stunned,” said Marvin. “Maybe it was me sharing my story with so many people, but I think it is also because they thought it was the right thing to do. I hope this shows our community the power of speaking up and that this encourages more gay Americans to come out and tell their stories. Bill was always proud of how his union provided for its members and I know Bill is smiling down at me and that alone gives me a wonderful reflection.”

>> This is an official press release from the National Press Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

Organizations Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Loving Decision that Ended Ban on Interracial Marriage and Recognize Need to End Similar Ban

2007-06-01T04:52:00.000-04:00

Hayward, CA: “Forty years ago, you couldn’t marry someone of a different race, and today you can’t marry someone of the same sex. For interracial couples like my own Mom and Dad, times have truly changed, and I look forward to the day when all Americans can marry the person they love. On this 40th anniversary of the US Supreme Court's Loving v Virginia decision that granted interracial couples the freedom to marry, I have great hope that soon marriage equality will become a reality for me and John, just as it did for my parents," said Stuart Gaffney, Marriage Equality USA’s API Outreach Director. Stuart and his partner of 20 years, John Lewis, are plaintiffs in the California marriage case for same-sex couples, currently before the California Supreme Court.

On June 12th, 1967 the Supreme Court ended the exclusion of interracial couples from marriage with their decision entitled Loving v. Virginia. Before that date, states had the right to physically separate couples, deny recognition of interracial relationships and punish interracial couples with imprisonment of up to ten years.

“While we recognize that our histories are different, our struggle for equality is the same. The Loving decision is a part of the civil rights movement that is too often forgotten and its linkages to the similar struggles of same-sex couples today are important to recognize. So we are very pleased to be gathering with a diverse group of community organizations to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of this landmark decision,” said Patricia Kevena Fili of the Lighthouse Community Center. This celebration will take place at the Lighthouse Community Center, 1217 A Street in Hayward on Sunday, June 10th from 2-5 pm. A press conference to kick of the event will be held at 2pm.

“Marriage equality is often seen as an issue affecting adults, but it is really an issue that impacts children tremendously,” said Aimee Fisher of Our Family Coalition. “It matters to the children being raised by same-sex parents to have legal protection and be accepted in their community. Domestic partnerships don’t provide the same rights, dignity or respect that marriage does.”

The Loving Day celebration is free to the public and family friendly. The day’s events will include screenings of films highlighting the struggles for marriage equality, interactive story telling activities, and a panel discussion. Also featured at this event is the Marriage Equality Movement Family Story Quilt, a project of Marriage Equality USA that intersperses photos and stories from Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) families and allies. “The quilt reflects the diversity of our families and communities, as well as the urgency of this marriage equality issue,” said Maya Scott Chung, MEUSA Parents Outreach Director and Story Quilt Curator. “The Lighthouse is honored to house this important monument and host this important event”, explains Kevena Fili.. “It is a testament to the struggle of courage and a reminder that we have work to do to achieve full equality.”’

>> This is an official press release from the National Press Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.

SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM JOINS WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM TO MARRY WEEK

2007-02-12T04:48:00.000-05:00

San Francisco, CA – On Monday, February 12 from 5:00-7:00 pm, Mayor Gavin Newsom will be hosting a reception to recognize our shared commitment to marriage equality for all Americans as we celebrate the third anniversary for the over 4,000 same-sex couples that married in San Francisco City Hall. As part of that celebration, Marriage Equality USA will present our Marriage Equality Movement Family Story Quilt that was created with a wide range of individuals and organizations, including but not limited to API Equality, API Family Pride, Our Family Coalition, Asian Equality, Collage, Equality California, and PFLAG. The quilt will reflect the diversity of our families and communities, as well as the urgency of this issue.

“We believe that it is touching and appropriate to be able to share our stories, once again, here at San Francisco City Hall on why marriage matters and domestic partnerships are unequal. This location and timing provide an amazing opportunity to educate the public and mobilize our supporters, as this project will highlight the pending marriage equality legislation and State Supreme Court case which will be heard just a block away from this exhibit,” said Molly McKay, MEUSA Media Director.

The story quilt conceived and curated by Maya Scott-Chung, MEUSA Parents Outreach Director, intersperse photos and stories from LGBTI families and allies, including but not limited to Asian Pacific Islander, African American; Bi-National; Differently-abled; Latino/a; Native American; Transgender; LGBTI Youth, Seniors, and Singles; Communities of Faith; and PFLAG. The story quilt will explore the history of marriage equality and previous Freedom to Marry Week actions, the Woo case and current marriage equality legislation, and international marriage equality victories.

The Marriage Equality Movement Family Story Quilt will be on display to the public in the Van Ness lobby at San Francisco City Hall through the remainder of February and after that story quilt will be available for use in other projects and communities.

>> This is an official press release from the National Press Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.