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New National Coalition to Unveil Campaign — Teleconference Friday, February 13, 2pm EST

New National Coalition to Unveil Campaign: Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples Matters to People of Color

Media Advisory

Save the date: Teleconference—February 13 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Contact: Samiya Bashir, 212-851-8418 ext. 6; Cell: 917-617-8660

(New York, February 9, 2006) — As polling continues to show increased support for marriage equality for same-sex couples in state after state, five national organizations will announce a new initiative to elevate the representation of communities of color speaking out in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples. This initiative, launched in conjunction with Freedom to Marry Week, February 12-18, 2006, will feature African American, Latino/a and Asian American people, gay and non-gay, showing their direct support for ending discrimination in marriage.

WHO: Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal
H. Alexander Robinson, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition
Andy Shie Kee Wong, Coalition Manager, Asian Equality
Lisbeth Meléndez Rivera, National Convener, National Latino Coalition for Justice
Samiya Bashir, Communications Director, Freedom to Marry

WHAT: Teleconference announcing coalition formation of "Marriage Equality Matters" and campaign plans.

WHEN: February 13, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern

WHERE: Call in number is 888-346-3950 passcode: 136884#

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Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

The National Black Justice Coalition is a civil rights organization of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and our allies dedicated to fostering equality by fighting racism and homophobia. The Coalition advocates for social justice by educating and mobilizing opinion leaders, including elected officials, clergy, and media, with a focus on Black communities.

The National Latina/o Coalition for Justice fights to end discrimination in marriage. The Coalition aims to achieve its goals by promoting comprehensive public education, organizing and media outreach while working with decision-makers and grassroots activists across the country.

Asian Equality recognizes the historic legacy of marriage discrimination in the United States and its profound impact on Asian Pacific American (APA) families. Through community organizing, public education, and media outreach, we seek to empower our APA communities to challenge this legacy and to confront present-day marriage discrimination against same-sex couples. In doing so, we want to affirm the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) members of our communities and acknowledge the enriching presence of their love and lives.

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Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership working to win marriage equality nationwide. Launched in 2003, Freedom to Marry is headed by Evan Wolfson, nationally recognized as a central "architect of the marriage equality movement." Freedom to Marry guides and focuses this social justice movement on a nationwide level, serving as a strategy and support center for national, state, and local partners, a catalyst that drives and shapes the national debate on marriage equality, and an alliance-builder fostering support from non-gay allies.