With a Narrow Loss in ..Maine.., Marriage Equality ....USA.... Redoubles our Efforts to Win the Freedom to Marry by Collecting Stories of ‘Happily Ever Afters’ from Married Couples and their Supporters

Media Contacts:

Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director, policy@marriageequality.org or 510-384-3655

Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director, media@marriageequality.org or 510-332-0872

..San Francisco..:  “Our hearts go out to same-sex couples in ....Maine.... who have had their fundamental right to marry stripped away by a slim majority,” said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA.  “It’s absolutely inhumane to put same-sex couples and their children through these grueling campaigns that only serve to promote hatred, ignorance and bigotry.  LGBT Americans deserve the same security and respect that marriage provides to all other families and we will continue on our journey that has brought us this far and continue to share our truth and the impact of discrimination – it is truly only a matter of time.  We, of the generation that has been tasked with the obligation to end legal discrimination against LGBT Americans must learn that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain…and dance and march and sing and pray is what we will do…and as our most beloved Dr. Martin Luther King has said, we will do so, ‘[u]ntil justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.’”

“We must continue to heed the advice of Harvey Milk and ‘come out’ to everyone we meet as supporters of marriage equality, as LGBT people, as sisters, brothers, parents and friends of gay people,” said Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director.  “Last night, we achieved victories in Washington State and Kalamazoo, seven openly gay candidates won in elections spanning the nation from St. Petersburg, Florida to Salt Lake City, Utah and two are in run-off elections in Houston, Texas and the 58^th District in Georgia. And as people witness same-sex couples happily married in six states, living their lives, mowing their lawn, paying their taxes and as our families become woven into the seamless web of community and citizenship, the injustice of separate of unequal treatment will grow more and more apparent.  To help highlight our common humanity, Marriage Equality USA is launching a stories project, particularly in states where marriage equality is a reality.  We want to encourage same-sex couples, their families, straight allies, and other community members to share their experiences on the impact and importance of extending the freedom to marry to all loving, committed couples.  The stories we collect will be presented through a digital stories project that we will release during February’s Freedom to Marry month.”

To have your story including in this project, please complete the on-line survey at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kGFndFxQS4gCHuCU_2bKgBUg_3d_3d

“The diversity of our experiences is important to share because there are so many people to reach and we must reflect the reality that we are truly everywhere, in every community and demographic.  No one will do this for us, we must be the change we want to see in the world and it begins with sharing our truth.  Your story may be the one that will make a difference for some conflicted but potential marriage equality supporter,” said Brown.  “So spread the word and send in your story today.”

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA ANNOUNCES SAN FRANCISCO'S DAY OF DECISION EVENTS IN RESPONSE TO CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT RULING ON PROPOSITION 8

Media Contacts:       
Molly McKay, Media Director (510) 332-0872,   media@marriageequality.org

Pamela Brown, Policy Director (510) 384-3655, policy@marriageequality.org

"Waiting for the CA Supreme Court decision on Prop 8 has been an absolutely gut wrenching experience," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director.  "As Californians, we are all under tremendous strain worrying about the economy, our jobs, and our families.  On top of that, gay families have been living for months with the fear that the Court will allow a bare majority of voters to strip gay and lesbian families of their Constitutional protections and eliminate our marriages or just as bad, eliminate new couples’ ability to get married in the future as they meet, fall in love and want to marry.  If Prop 8 is upheld, we will have to somehow scrape together the money, time and resources to go back to the ballot box to eliminate the exception to the equal protection clause in the Constitution and have our families’ basic civil rights put up for another vote which means another grueling round of anti-gay attacks from our well-funded opposition."

"For our families, this isn’t about politics, this is personal," said Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director.  "Being told that marriage is not an option for you is an absolutely devastating verdict to receive, after all Romeo and Juliet ended their lives upon hearing such news and they weren’t subject to a popular vote on whether or not they could marry.  Our kids are confused and don’t understand why people would do this to their families.  They are subjected to school yard bullies and taunts that their parents can’t or are not really married.  For years, our families have been living on an extremely emotional roller coaster.  We've been used as a wedge in Presidential elections, we've been given a window of six months to pop the question and plan a wedding, and we've had a mere majority of Californians vote to take away our fundamental rights.  Recognizing the strain our community has been under, win or lose, Marriage Equality USA has helped organize a series of community gatherings across the state for all Californians supportive of the freedom to marry to come together on the Day of Decision."

In San Francisco, we are asking Bay Area residents to unite for equality through a series of events: 

Monday, May 25^th 

·         There will be an interfaith prayer service at Grace Cathedral (1100 California Street) from 7-8:30pm

Tuesday, May 26^th 

·         There will be a service/blessing from 8:30-9:15am at St Francis Lutheran Church (152 Church Street) and then from 9:15-10am a march from the church to the California Supreme Court steps

·         Community members, clergy and same-sex couples will receive the Court decision from 10-10:30am

·         A community gathering will begin at 5pm at the steps of San Francisco City Hall and then a march from 6-7pm to the Martin Luther King memorial at Yerba Buena Gardens (4^th and Mission) where there will be a post-march gathering from 7-8:30pm.

In addition to the San Francisco events, there are over 50 other community gatherings occurring nationwide (see below).  For the most up-to-date information, go to .  www.marriageequality.org

"If we are told Prop 8 is upheld, we will come together in a statewide rally in Fresno to immediately organize and move forward to overturn that discriminatory amendment and return California to a place where all loving, committed couples can marry the person they love," said McKay.

Saturday, May 30^th 

There will be a march from Selma to Fresno starting at 8am in Selma, California.  At 1pm, there will be a rally at the Fresno City Hall (2600 Fresno Street).  For more information, go to http://www.meetinthemiddle4equality.com/

"And for Californians who are sick of hearing about gay marriage in the news, we are too," said Brown.  "We don't want to be in your living room, we want to be in our own.  We want to go back to focusing on our lives, not fighting for our freedoms.  But we will do whatever is necessary, for as long as necessary, to ensure all gay couples can once again have the right to marry the person they love and that our children can have the sense of security and protections that only marriage provides."

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

Day of Decision Events

Santa Rosa, California

Gathering on the steps of the Santa Rosa City Hall (100 Santa Rosa Avenue and corner of 1st Street) at 6pm. For more information, contact Chari Davidson at ca-sonoma@marriageequality.org

San Jose, California

6 PM, gather at Plaza de César Chávez  at S. Market St. and Park Ave. At 6:30 PM, we will march to SJ City Hall at 200 E. Santa Clara St. for a rally. For more information, contact Ray or Lisa at ca-santaclara@marriageequality.org

Rancho Cucamonga, California

Gathering at the corner of Day Creek and Foothill Boulevard at 7pm. For more information, contact Dani Wilson at dani4equality@yahoo.com

Davis, California

Gathering at Central Park at the new stage south of the carousel from 6-7:30pm. For more information, contact Dawn Student at dmmstudent@onramp113.org

Bakersfield, California
(3 Locations)

Gathering in three locations at 5pm. Rally location #1 - Mall View & Mt Vernon; Rally location #2 - Outback Steakhouse on Stocdale Hwy; or Rally location #3 at Rosedale and Coffee. For more information, contact Marriage Equality USA Co-Chapter Leaders Whitney Weddell or Juan Cerda at . ca-kern@marriageequality.org

Costa Mesa, California

Gather at the Fairview Community Church, 2525 Fairveiw Road from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Delano, California

Gather at Delano Cecil Park at 5:30pm. For more information, contact Antoinette Brown at LADIELEZ73580@YAHOO.COM

Eureka, California

Gather at Arcata plaza and County Courthouse in Eureka. 6PM. Contact Debbie Coggins, Justin Pabalate & Stan SmithHanes or, email Stan at swspdh@yahoo.comca-humboldt@marriageequality.org

Fresno, California

Gather outside the Fresno City Hall (2600 Fresno Street) at 6pm. PEACE MONITORS & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
(559) 862-4559 For more information, contact Jason Scott at ca-fresno@marriageequality.org

Long Beach, California

Gather at 6pm at Bixby Park Bandshell (103 Cherry Avenue). For more information, contact Long Beach Equality at longbeachequality@hotmail.com

Los Angeles County, California
[flyer]
(2 Locations)

Gathering in two locations at: Rally and March 7:00 PM location #1 in Hollywood at 647 N San Vincente Boulevard (Santa Monica and San Vincente). For more information, contact David Comfort at . Rally location #2 in Santa Monica Courthouse (1725 Main Street). For more information, contact . churchop@yahoo.comdavid.comfort@mindspring.com

Ukiah, California

Gather at 6pm at Alex Thomas Plaza (State Street). For more information, contact . ca-mendocino@marriageequality.org

Modesto, California

Information: Community gathering at 5:30 pm at Graceada Park, 401 Needham St. downtown Modesto. For more information, contact Stephanie at stoltelli@earthlink.net

Monterey, California

Gather at 5pm at Colton Hall at 580 Pacific Street. Event is co-sponsored by the Monterey County Chapter of Marriage Equality and Salinas Valley Equality. For more information, contact crystal_loutzenhiser@csumb.edu

Palo Alto, California

TIME IS EARLY!
Gather at Corner of El Camino Real and Embarcadero (across from Stanford University entrance at Galvez/El Camino). 11AM. Contact .
http://www.raginggrannies.com info@raginggrannies.com

Auburn, California

Gather at 5:30pm at the Placer County Courthouse (101 Maple Street). For more information, contact ca-placer@marriageequality.org.

Orange County, California

Gather at 6pm at the Old Orange County Courthouse (211 W. Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana). For more information, go to Orange County Equality Coalition at http://ocequality.ning.com/

Sacramento, California

Gather at 5:30pm at the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center (1927 L Street, Midtown). For more information, contact Bonnie Osborn at .development@saccenter.org

Salinas, California

Gather at 4:30pm at the Monterey County Courthouse at the corner of W. Alisal Street & Church Street. Event is co-sponsored by Salinas Valley Equality and the Monterey County Chapter of Marriage Equality USA. For more information, go to SalinasValleyEquality.com

San Diego, California

(2 Locations)

Gather at 6pm at the Escondido City Hall (201 North Broadway) in Escondido. For more information, contact Jennifer Schumaker at .

Gather at 5pm at Balboa Park (6th Ave & Laurel Street) in San Diego. For more information, go to Marriage Equality USA San Diego
http://www.marriageequality.org
Email: OR
San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality
http://www.samealliance.com Email: OR
San Diego Equality Campaign
http://www.sdequalitynow.com
Email: sarabrooks@gmail.com
PEACE MONITORS & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
<8X10 FLYER><4up Flyer>
Contact Scott Allen & Wendy Sue, SDVolunteers@DayofDecision.netactivist@zoochia.commeusasd@gmail.comjenrs66@yahoo.com

San Francisco, California

Gather at 5pm at San Francisco City Hall (Polk and McAllister) for rally and then march from 6-6:45pm to Yerba Buena Gardens. For more information, contact . ca-sanfrancisco@marriageequality.org

San Luis Obispo, California

(location update) Gather at 5:30pm at Mitchell Park in San Luis Obispo at Osos and Pismo Streets. For more information, contact David Kilburn 805-440-6487 or ca-sanluisobispo@marriageequality.org

Ventura, California

Gather at 5:30pm at the Ventura County Government Center on the corner of Telephone Road and Victoria Avenue. For more information go to Ventura County Rainbow Alliance at http://www.lgbtventura.org/

Visalia, California

Gather at 6pm at the Tulare County Courthouse (221 S. Mooney Blvd). For more information, contact Brooke Burk at brooke@gayvisalia.com

Denver, Colorado

Gather at teh Wellington Webb Building (intersection of Colfax and 15th). For more information, contact Soulforce Colorado contact Kate Burns at kateburns303@comcast.net or Christopher Hubble at cahubble08@gmail.com

Tampa Bay, Florida

Gather at 6:30pm at the Joe Chillura Courthouse (corners of Morgan, Kennedy, Pierce & Madison). For more information, contact R. Zeke Fread at zeke@dayofdecision.org.

Atlanta, Georgia

Gathering is being planned. For more information, go to http://dayofdecision.wetpaint.com/account/ADAMATL

Chicago, Illinois

Gather at 7pm at Center on Halsted (3656 N Halsted). For more information, contact Andy Thayer at andy@dayofdecision.org

Springfield, Illinois

Gather at 5:30pm at the Illinois Supreme Court Building (202 E Capitol). For more information, contact Renee Rathjen at reneerathjen@gmail.com

Boston, Massachusetts

Gather at 7pm at Copley Plaza. For more information contact Ryan Hanley at justryan68@gmail.com

Albany, New York

Gather at 6:30pm at Albany City Hall (24 Eagle Street). For more information, contact Patrick Harkins at . patrickharkins@gmail.com

Indianapolis, Indiana

until Nightfall
Gather at City County Building - Indianapolis
Corner of Washington and Delaware St.
2PM until nightfall. If you can't make it at 2PM, We will be there ALL DAY. Please join us as soon as you are done with Work or School. We need EVERYONE out in FORCE to make this a success!!!
Contact: Zac Hart
Email: indyimpact@gmail.com

New York, New York

Gathering planned the day of decision. For more information, contact Corey Johnson at ADayofDecisionNYC@gmail.com

Houston, Texas

Gathering planned at 5:30pm on the day of decision. For more information, contact Meghan Baker at meghanabaker@gmail.com

Dallas, Texas

Gather at 7pm at the corner of Oaklawn and Ceder Springs. For more information, contact lgbtliberaction@gmail.com

San Antonio, Texas

Gather at 6pm at Hemisfair Park, followed by a march to the Alamo. For more information, contact Darrell Parsons at parsonsdmsw@hotmail.com, Carlos Soto at rcsoto1618@yahoo.com, or Preston at jointheimpactsanantonio@gmail.com

Charlottesville, North Carolina

Gathering planned at 6pm. For more information, contact grinkitty71@gmail.com

Seattle, Washington

Gather at 5pm at Westlake Corner Park, 400 Pine Street. For more information, contact Joe Mirabella at dayofdecisionseattle@gmail.com

Vancouver, Canada

Gather at 6pm at Morton Park (corner of Davie Street and Denman Street). For more information, contact Roger Chin, Jim VanDeventer, Meg Andronowskaat sailing.the.rainbow@gmail.com (Roger)

Phoenix, Arizona

Gather at 6pm at the southwest corner of Camelback at 7th Avenue for a rally and then march. For more information, contact John Allard at arizona@marriageequality.org.

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.”  ....

.. ..For more information go to www.marriageequality.org.

Click on the month below to download the latest issue of The "M" Word !

July 2008 Issue (PDF)

In July's issue:
Summer of Love
Advisory Board Addition
Marriage Stories Project
"We The People"
Get Involved
Legislative Briefs
Couples Corner
MEUSA Merchandise Online

 May 2008 Issue (PDF)