A Note from Evan Wolfson
Last week I flew to New Orleans to address the American Psychology Association's annual convention. My speech was entitled, "No Marriage Without Engagement: How Diverse Voices and Non-Gay Allies Help Build Support for Ending Discrimination," and I told them I had three main messages: Thank you for adding your voices and expertise on behalf of our families and freedom to marry. Don't get discouraged at the ups and downs that are inevitable features of the struggle for justice. Redouble your work of giving the reachable middle the information they need about same-sex couples and our kids and why marriage matters, enough times, over time, as they push past their discomfort and think anew.
Like other experts in health and child welfare, the APA has been a strong supporter of marriage equality, summing up decades of scholarship and experience in statements such as, "Prohibiting civil marriage for same-sex couples is discriminatory and unfairly denies such couples, their children and other members of their families the legal, financial and social advantages of civil marriage."
The clear evidence that ending marriage discrimination is good for couples, kids, and communities can be found in a recent authoritative statement by the nation's kids' doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics HERE.
And an example of how such allies are speaking up and making their voices heard can be found in the Amicus Curiae Brief that the American Psychological Association filed before the Washington Supreme Court in Anderson v King County HERE.
All of us need to reach out to opinion-leaders, professionals, and other non-gay allies and ask them to explain clearly why marriage matters — and why America is stronger when all families are supported and valued.
Follow developments in the movement for marriage equality on our website, and in future issues of Freedom to Marry's bi-monthly E-Update.
Engagement in the states
The work to win the freedom to marry continues across the country
The coordinated work of gay and non-gay supporters of equal marriage rights once again struck down an attempted anti-gay measure in the Illinois legislature. Illinois is just the latest example of how our work is engaging communities to block these anti-gay ballot measures before they have a chance to do more harm to our families. These are the unsung victories that are needed even as we move forward affirmatively.
Click HERE to read about Illinois.
Freedom to Marry welcomes a new Voice of Equality
SEIU Executive Vice President Mary Kay Henry has signed on as a Voice of Equality with Freedom to Marry.
Mary Kay Henry is an active champion of health care reform, immigration reform, and gay and lesbian rights, and a founding member of Service Employees International Union's gay and lesbian Lavender Caucus. She and her partner, Paula Macchello, have been together for almost 20 years.
“Imagine what could be different if the labor movement and the LGBT movement worked together in new and creative ways. Imagine that, in your state and community, when you go to the town council or state Legislature to fight an anti-gay measure, you arrive with a lavender army that includes lots of purple — the purple caps and T-shirts of SEIU activists in your community,” she said.
“And imagine that, when you read in the newspaper about the struggle of a group of local janitors or child-care workers to win the right to unite with SEIU for a voice on the job, you and your fellow activists go to their rallies to support them...and they are then able to support their families and work on the job with dignity... Together, we can create change. Real, progressive change that’s good for all working families.”
The Latest News
For the latest news, opinions, and polls, including these articles, check out our website.
Illinois officials vote to keep anti-gay ban off November ballot
Bgay.com
August 14, 2006
The Illinois Board of Election on Friday upheld a decision not to allow a proposed referendum on marriage for gay and lesbian couples on the ballot in Illinois because the conservative group behind the initiative did not collect enough valid signatures.
Clergy urge support for marriage equality
The Patriot News
August 14, 2006
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are facing the same challenge that interracial couples faced before the high court changed American culture, said Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.
Asian and Pacific Islanders in same-sex couples in the US: Data from Census 2000
Williams Institute
August 10, 2006
"Census 2000 data quantify that Asians and Pacific Islanders represent a significant portion of the country’s gay and lesbian families. Many API same-sex couples, particularly those with children, are economically vulnerable, especially as they lack the support and protections that marriage provides to other American families."
