Sacramento Mayor joins Mayors for the Freedom to Marry

Last week, we announced that Mayors for the Freedom to Marry has more than doubled from 80 to 175 in the six weeks since we launched the bipartisan coalition. And thanks to the local efforts of marriage supporters around the country, that number continues to grow!

Following a meeting with local LGBT leaders late last week, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson confirmed that he is the latest Mayor to join Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, joining nearly 2 dozen Mayors from across California who have already signed on.

Mayor Johnson's announcement is the result of sustained grassroots organizing, beginning with Neil Pople's petition on Change.org which inspired hundreds of Sacramento residents to take action and call on Mayor Johnson to do the right thing. In addition to Neil's petition, local LGBT leaders wrote to and met with Mayor Johnson, explaining to him why marriage matters to his gay and lesbian constituents and their families.

We thank Mayor Johnson for his support of the freedom to marry and look forward to working with him to bring an end to marriage discrimination in California and nationwide.

Neil's petition is just one of many Change.org petitions popping up around the country from local constituents calling on their Mayors to join Mayors for the Freedom to Marry- demonstrating the true grassroots momentum behind this campaign. Just two weeks ago, Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman joined after receiving over 1,000 signatures from a Change.org petition. 

Advocates in DallasLas VegasLittle RockOrlando, and Hanford, CA have also launched petitions urging their Mayors to become Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Freedom to Marry is excited to support and promote the efforts of organizers taking action to move marriage forward in their local communities.

Is your Mayor a Mayor for the Freedom to Marry? Take a look at the list of Mayors and if yours isn't there, start a petition now! It's easy to do, and as advocates in Sacramento and Columbus can attest to- it works!