Blog Entries by Adam Polaski
U.S. District Court judge finds DOMA unconstitutional in ‘Pedersen v. OPM’
Posted on Jul 31, 2012 at 01:15 pm
Today, U.S. District Court Judge Vanessa L. Bryant ruled that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act's Section 3, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, is unconstitutional. The decision comes as the U.S. Supreme Court continues to receive many formal requests in a number of different cases to take a stance on whether or not DOMA is constitutional.
New poll shows strong support for the freedom to marry among Democrats
Posted on Jul 31, 2012 at 11:15 am
A new poll from the Pew Research Center demonstrates huge majority support for the freedom to marry. Almost two-thirds of Democrats surveyed in the nationwide poll said they favor legal marriage for same-sex couples, and only 29 percent said they are opposed.
New York City councilman Jimmy Van Bramer marries partner of 13 years
Posted on Jul 30, 2012 at 02:00 pm
This weekend, wedding bells rang for Jimmy Van Bramer and Dan Hendrick, Queens residents who have been together for 13 years. Van Bramer, who has lived in Queens his entire life, has served on the New York City Council since 2009. The couple married on Saturday night in Long Island City.
Draft of Democratic Party platform includes plank supporting the freedom to marry
Posted on Jul 30, 2012 at 11:45 am
Last night, the Democratic Party platform drafting committee approved a number of pro-LGBT stances for the first draft of the party platform, including a plank supporting the freedom to marry. The decision comes after Freedom to Marry testified before the Platform Drafting Committee and after months of our 'Democrats: Say I Do' campaign.
Freedom to Marry and military couple testify to Democratic Party on why marriage matters
Posted on Jul 27, 2012 at 04:30 pm
Today in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Freedom to Marry's National Campaign Director Marc Solomon testified before the Democratic Party Platform Drafting Committee on the importance of marriage for same-sex couples. Tomorrow, Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan of the New Hampshire National Guard, and her wife, Karen, will share their own testimony, explaining the ways in which the so-called Defense of Marriage Act harms them and other same-sex couples.
WATCH: New public education TV ads debut in Washington and Maine
Posted on Jul 27, 2012 at 11:30 am
Tonight, during the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, two new television advertisements will debut in Washington and Maine to make the case for the freedom to marry. The ads feature people speaking out about why marriage matters to them and why the support the freedom to marry for all couples. The debuts come at a critical time - we're just 100 days away from the November 6, 2012 election, when voters in Washington and Maine will be asked to vote on marriage at the ballot.
Staff Spotlight: Thalia Zepatos, Director of Public Engagement
Posted on Jul 27, 2012 at 09:15 am
Freedom to Marry has a dedicated and diverse staff working each day to secure the freedom to marry nationwide, and we want to help you get to know each of us a little bit better. This week, we hear from Thalia Zepatos, Freedom to Marry's Director of Public Engagement. Thalia works in our Portland office, where she contributes to Freedom to Marry campaigns, formulates messaging materials, and develops materials for best engaging our supporters
Respect for Marriage Coalition launches website and grassroots toolkit
Posted on Jul 26, 2012 at 11:45 am
Today, the Respect for Marriage Coalition, a broad coalition of 75 organizations that oppose the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, launched a website featuring critical information about the Respect for Marriage Act, the bill that would overturn DOMA, which prohibits federal recognition of legally married same-sex couples.
Young Conservatives Leadership Committee speaks about the freedom to marry
Posted on Jul 25, 2012 at 05:00 pm
Today, we published a video online featuring more information about Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, our campaign to amplify the voices of young people who identify as conservatives and who support marriage for same-sex couples. The video features several members of the Young Conservatives leadership team.
Eddie and Jeff ‘complete the journey’ with wedding in New York
Posted on Jul 25, 2012 at 02:30 pm
"I remember when I was young and living in southern Indiana, and I knew nothing about gay life or relationships," says Eddie, who married his partner of 24 years, Jeff, in March. "The one thing I had always heard was that gay people are incapable of commitment and incapable of being with one person. If I had made a list of the things I wanted to accomplish in my life, growing old with the person I loved was my No. 1 thing. And I've had that with Jeff."