A Note from Evan Wolfson
Once again, America is heading into an Election Day with another round of attacks on gay people on the ballot. This assault on a vulnerable minority, and the cruel attempt to wall us off from marriage and all other measures of protection, large or small, for our families, are both cruel and un-American.
But equally to be condemned is the very idea of cementing discrimination and permanent second-class citizenship into constitutions, intended to be the precious charters of freedom and national unity. America's federal and state constitutions embody the basic American invention of democratic rule combined with checks and balances, an independent judiciary, boundaries on government power, and "certain inalienable rights" for all regardless of popularity. While a shameful disregard for the importance, and fragility, of republican self-government is perhaps unsurprising during an administration seemingly intent not merely on circumventing the American Constitution, but repealing the Magna Charta, it remains, nevertheless dangerous and contemptible.
Frightening, too, is the silence of far too many non-gay people, allies, and even gay people in the face of this radical betrayal of America's fundamentals by fundamentalists and those who use them for crass political purposes.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF EVAN’S NOTE.
Follow developments in the movement for marriage equality on our website, and in future issues of Freedom to Marry's bi-monthly E-Update.
Reports from the Front
Marriage equality matters to bisexual people, too
As someone who has, over the course of my adult life, been deeply in love — at different times — with both men and women, I can attest to the fact that love is love. It is silly to pretend otherwise. All relationships need the same support. All relationships deserve the same respect.
I am one of the tens of thousands of residents of Massachusetts who on May 17, 2004, finally became a full citizen. In this state, I have the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else—no more, no less. I pay the same taxes, and I am eligible for the same benefits and protections.
Equality goes beyond taxes and benefits; it’s also about intangibles. When Peg and I married, we were transformed by the support and love we received from our community. Our neighbors (of all sexual orientations) were there for us. People we know—and some we didn’t know—stopped us on the street to hug us and wish us well. A street artist whom we had never met before handed us one of his paintings, saying “Let this be your first wedding present.” An anonymous woman handed us a bouquet of flowers and congratulated us. There was so much love.
Equality has changed my life. It feels different in ways I could not have imagined.
—Robyn Ochs, Boston MA (bi activist, marriage equality activist, editor of Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World).
Click HERE for Freedom to Marry's Bisexual Community page.
Freedom to Marry joins with partners to help move equality forward
Home is where you grew up, or went to college, or where you started your first job. Home is where you have family and friends — no matter how long you've been away.
Right-wing forces have put anti-LGBT initiatives on the November 7th ballot in eight states. Most seek to enshrine discrimination in a state's constitution by outlawing not only same-sex marriage, but any form of legal protections for our families.
Many people back home don't know about these ugly initiatives or how harmful they are. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people back home need you to write or call the people you know and ask them to vote against discrimination.
You can use Phone Home to find out more about the initiatives in each state, send e-cards to people you know in the targeted states and download talking points and suggested text for letters. Discrimination is wrong and should not be written into any more state constitutions. Spread the word: Hate is not what home is about...
NBJC Magazine's 3rd Issue Celebrates Family
Denise and Treeva Liggett-Creek met through a mutual friend. Denise is an independent financial advisor and Treeva is a media and promotions specialist at a college in Maryland. Together they are raising two young daughters, Dominique, age 11, and Alexandra, age 6. Their decision to have a wedding was not only based on their mutual love and admiration for each other, but also a desire to share their commitment with family and friends. The merging of two lives does not come without community. How do we know what love is if we do not see it?
Says Treeva, "I am a very traditional person with a Catholic upbringing. I believe in marriage. I believe that when two people come together and make a commitment... that is forever. Marriage is that institution."
Excerpted from the latest issue of NYANSAPO, the magazine of the National Black Justice Coalition.
The Latest News
For the latest news, opinions, and polls, including these articles, check out our website.
Studies reinforce support for marriage equality
The Detroit News
September 25, 2006
The Center for American Values in Public Life finds that support for marriage equality jumps from 28 percent to
40 percent if people are guaranteed churches can decide for themselves whether to perform the ceremonies. As usual,
the youngest voters (ages 18-29) are most gay friendly: 44 percent initially favored marriage equality over civil
unions or no legal recognition. That shot up to 60 percent when religious freedom was assured.
Divorcing gay couples create new legal issues
San Francisco Gate
September 25, 2006
Gay and lesbian couples in the United States cannot marry anywhere except MA, but many states that legally recognize same-sex couples now send them to divorce court if they break up. The legal questions are new because there was never such disconnect between states and the federal marriage laws until VT instituted civil unions in 2000, and only 113 of those unions have been dissolved.
OPINION: Anti-gay
marriage amendments ban good science
ZNet
September 21, 2006
Marriage equality proponents shouldn't have to play defense. The burden of proof is on the supporters of
discrimination to explain why their own marriages are faring poorly in producing well-adjusted children.
