My Two Moms: How 12 awesome families are celebrating Mothers’ Day this year
Posted on May 09, 2013 at 10:30 am
Mothers' Day is a time to recognize the many varieties of families that come together to make our country so interesting. There is no one formulation for what makes a strong family, and there is no magic blueprint for what makes a good mother: The one thing that strong, dynamic families have in common is love.
Wyoming and nine other states file anti-gay Amicus Brief in Prop 8 Appeal
Posted on Sep 27, 2010 at 01:00 pm
Wyoming and nine other states have filed an anti-gay amicus brief in the Prop 8 appeal case saying the Constitution does not require marriage to include same-sex couples and that states, not federal courts, have final say in whether to honor the freedom to marry.
Court: Louisiana must put two adoptive fathers on document
Posted on Feb 20, 2010 at 06:02 pm
Louisiana must put both fathers' names on the birth certificate of a boy adopted by a same-sex couple, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. A three-judge panel unanimously upheld a district judge's ruling, ordering the state registrar to quickly issue a new certificate for the boy identified as "Infant J," and "J.C. A.-S."
U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey found that the law was so clear that no trial was needed. Louisiana's law requires the state to list adoptive parents' names. Because New York law allows adoption by unmarried couples, Louisiana had to follow that law in writing the new certificate, he wrote.
Voice for Equality Update: Saints Linebacker, Scott Fujita
Posted on Feb 05, 2010 at 08:40 am
The Advocate February 3, 2010
While New Orleans Saints linebacker Scott Fujita, one of Freedom to Marry's Voices for Equality, was gearing up for Super Bowl XLIV, he spoke to The Advocate about standing up for gay rights and against inequality. Commenting on another Voice for Equality from the NFL, Brendan Ayanbadejo, Fujita said:
I thought what Brendan wrote was incredibly insightful, thought-provoking, and completely on point. And many people would call it courageous. But if Brendan's like me, I don't know if he'd consider what we've done all that courageous. We have strong feelings about equal rights, and to me, expressing those feelings isn't courageous, it's the right thing to do. I think there will be a third player who expresses support for gay marriage ... and a fourth player, and a fifth, and so on. [Link]
Racist Judge Inadvertently Makes the Case for Marriage Equality
Posted on Oct 29, 2009 at 08:31 pm
October 29, 2009
The Rev. Madison Shockley, a minister of the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, CA and an Executive Committee member for 'Let California Ring', shares the story of a racist justice of the peace in Louisiana who recently refused to perform an interracial marriage on the grounds that he found it morally objectionable - and in so doing may have helped the marriage equality cause by demonstrating the clear right to decline to perform government-sanctioned weddings. [Link]
LGBT Joint Statement Responds to Denial of Marriage to Interracial Couple in Louisianna
Posted on Oct 19, 2009 at 09:51 am
The following statement was issued today by a coalition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality advocates in response to the refusal by a Louisiana justice of the peace to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple in the southeastern part of the state. Keith Bardwell, a justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, refused to marry Beth Humphrey, who is white, and Terence McKay, who is black, because they are an interracial couple.
The statement may be attributed to the individuals and organizations listed below:
“That anyone would refuse to marry a loving, committed couple on the basis of race is unconscionable. That the person doing so is an official of the state responsible for upholding justice is outrageous and unacceptable.”
“We condemn this ugly act in the strongest possible terms and join the NAACP in denouncing this display of racism. It is wrong for loving couples who want to make a life-long marriage commitment to be denied that right because of someone else’s prejudice.”
Kyle Bailey, Interim Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats
Jarrett Barrios, President, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Toni Broaddus, Executive Director, Equality Federation
Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal
Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director, Family Equality Council
Jody Huckaby, Executive Director, PFLAG National (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality
Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Sharon J. Lettman, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition
Joe Solmonese, President, Human Rights Campaign
Lee Swislow, Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
Evan Wolfson, Executive Director, Freedom to Marry
Video: Jindal Spokeswoman Criticizes the Interfaith Alliance for Supporting Marriage Equality
Posted on Sep 04, 2009 at 12:42 pm
September 3, 2009
Rachel Maddow talks with the Interfaith Alliance's Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy about Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's spokeswoman attacking the organization for its support of the freedom to marry. [Link]
(from 3:35 - 6:28)
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Voice for Equality: Patricia Clarkson
Posted on Jun 16, 2009 at 08:30 am
The Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning actress, Patricia Clarkson, can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed film, "Elegy." She will next be seen in Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" and Woody Allen's "Whatever Works." Past credits include "Good Night, and Good Luck," "They Dying Gaul," "Far from Heaven," "Pieces of April," " The Station Agent," "Miracle," "High Art," "Dogville," "Welcome to Collinwood," "The Pledge," and "The Green Mile." Born and raised in New Orleans, Patricia actively supports the relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Patricia Clarkson: Here’s to the Violets: My Thoughts on Gay Rights
Posted on Jun 15, 2009 at 06:37 pm
June 15, 2009
One of Freedom to Marry's Voices For Equality, Patricia Clarkson, recently delivered the keynote speech at the Human Rights Campaign's Annual New Orleans Dinner. See video below of her speech: "Here's to the Violets: My Thoughts on Gay Rights"
[Link]
Judge: 2 Adoptive Dads Belong on Birth Certificate
Posted on Dec 29, 2008 at 10:27 am
December 27, 2008
A federal court ruled that Louisiana's Office of Vital Records must issue a birth certificate listing both the names of a child's gay adoptive fathers, giving full faith and credit to the N.Y. State court under which the men adopted their son. [Link]