Blog Entries by Megan Kinninger
Call to Action in California – How to Win Marriage Back
Posted on Aug 13, 2009 at 02:22 pm
August 13, 2009By Evan Wolfson
Executive Director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People's Right to Marry
As someone 100% committed to winning the freedom to marry nationwide as soon as possible, I am very excited by Equality California’s report on the work already underway to restore the freedom to marry in California in 2012. To win marriage back, we have a lot to do, using every precious day between now and the election. EQCA’s roadmap to victory in 2012 offers everyone committed to winning marriage back a chance to pull together and tackle the tasks without wasting a moment.
Winning marriage back is not just about getting a measure on the ballot. It’s about enough conversations enough times over enough time to move hearts and minds. It’s about organizing that empowers diverse messengers to speak to the people and win over a slice of voters in their circles and communities. It’s building a campaign that is strategic, smart, and run with the right combination of expertise, efficiency, transparency, and buy-in. It’s raising the money, early and ongoing, to support and sustain these efforts over the needed time before the vote; and persuading people, as we began doing in the Let California Ring public education effort, to think anew about how the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage hurts families and helps no one.
Equality California’s plan to win is not a call to “wait.” It is a call to action, and the work is at hand now. I hope that everyone committed to undoing Prop 8 and restoring the freedom to marry in California as soon as possible will seize this opportunity to sign up, join in, donate, contact friends and families, and be part of the early and sustained affirmative work to win every day between now and the vote in 2012.
And while we’re on the subject of early action and sustained work, I hope everyone goes to http://www.mainefreedomtomarry.com and joins me in making (another) contribution to NO ON 1 / PROTECT MAINE EQUALITY to help avoid another Prop 8-style undoing of the freedom to marry we have won there. Let’s win in Maine in November 2009, and take that momentum into the conversations to move more people and states to our side, including California in 2012.
Commentary: Signs point to a gay-friendly Sotomayor
Posted on Aug 13, 2009 at 10:13 am
The Detroit News
August 12, 2009
Deb Price writes, "To gay Americans, Sonia Sotomayor isn't just any new justice: She will likely hold the balance on a Supreme Court believed to be evenly divided over gay Americans' basic constitutional rights...Progress at the Supreme Court level "is not just about the lawyers and briefs and cases," notes Evan Wolfson, head of Freedom to Marry, who argued Eagle Scout James Dale's case in 2000. "It is about getting more states (to open marriage to gay couples), and changing more hearts and minds to create the climate in which the judges, including Sotomayor, make a decision," Wolfson said." (Link)
August 12, 2009
Deb Price writes, "To gay Americans, Sonia Sotomayor isn't just any new justice: She will likely hold the balance on a Supreme Court believed to be evenly divided over gay Americans' basic constitutional rights...Progress at the Supreme Court level "is not just about the lawyers and briefs and cases," notes Evan Wolfson, head of Freedom to Marry, who argued Eagle Scout James Dale's case in 2000. "It is about getting more states (to open marriage to gay couples), and changing more hearts and minds to create the climate in which the judges, including Sotomayor, make a decision," Wolfson said." (Link)
No on 1/Protect Maine Equality Supporters Open 3rd Campaign Office
Posted on Aug 13, 2009 at 10:08 am
WBZ
August 13, 2009
NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality held an open house Wednesday for its newest office in Lewiston. The other offices are in Portland and Brewer. (Link)
August 13, 2009
NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality held an open house Wednesday for its newest office in Lewiston. The other offices are in Portland and Brewer. (Link)
Maine Moves Into High Gear
Posted on Aug 12, 2009 at 10:16 am
The Advocate
August 11, 2009
In a campaign that promises to go down to the wire, Maine voters will be the first to weigh in on an anti-gay ballot measure, meant to repeal marriage equality, since the vote on Proposition 8. (Link)
August 11, 2009
In a campaign that promises to go down to the wire, Maine voters will be the first to weigh in on an anti-gay ballot measure, meant to repeal marriage equality, since the vote on Proposition 8. (Link)
Gay Rights Leader Doubts Obama’s Anti-Marriage Equality Stance
Posted on Aug 11, 2009 at 01:00 pm
US News & World Report
August 11, 2009
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese has doubts about the president's stated opposition to the freedom to marry. (Link)
August 11, 2009
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese has doubts about the president's stated opposition to the freedom to marry. (Link)
We’re just like you
Posted on Aug 10, 2009 at 05:42 pm
Baltimore Sun
August 7, 2009
It's time for Maryland to recognize marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions. (Link)
August 7, 2009
It's time for Maryland to recognize marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions. (Link)
Professional Associations Back Marriage Equality
Posted on Aug 10, 2009 at 05:08 pm
OnTop Magazine
August 10, 2009
Both the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Bar Association (ABA) have adopted resolutions backing GLBT rights, including the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples. (Link)
August 10, 2009
Both the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Bar Association (ABA) have adopted resolutions backing GLBT rights, including the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples. (Link)
Tim Hortons backs out of anti-gay event
Posted on Aug 10, 2009 at 05:05 pm
CBC News
August 10, 2009
Tim Hortons has reversed its decision to sponsor a Rhode Island rally held by a U.S. group that opposes marriage equality, after encountering fierce criticism for the move. (Link)
August 10, 2009
Tim Hortons has reversed its decision to sponsor a Rhode Island rally held by a U.S. group that opposes marriage equality, after encountering fierce criticism for the move. (Link)
A Moral Crossroads For Conservatives
Posted on Aug 10, 2009 at 11:45 am
National Journal
August 8, 2009
Jonathan Rauch writes about how the genie that marriage equality opponents still hope to stuff back into the bottle is out for good. Rauch shares a personal story of the struggle a same-sex couple faced trying to take care of each other in the hospital and writes, "If cultural conservatism continues to treat same-sex couples as outside the social covenant, the currents of history will flow right around it." (Link)
August 8, 2009
Jonathan Rauch writes about how the genie that marriage equality opponents still hope to stuff back into the bottle is out for good. Rauch shares a personal story of the struggle a same-sex couple faced trying to take care of each other in the hospital and writes, "If cultural conservatism continues to treat same-sex couples as outside the social covenant, the currents of history will flow right around it." (Link)
Prop. 8 foes clash over federal suit
Posted on Aug 10, 2009 at 08:36 am
Los Angeles Times
August 9, 2009
A federal judge in San Francisco will decide the lineup of lawyers later this month for the lawsuit against the anti-gay-marriage initiative. (Link)
August 9, 2009
A federal judge in San Francisco will decide the lineup of lawyers later this month for the lawsuit against the anti-gay-marriage initiative. (Link)