Mississippi
In 2004, as discriminatory constitutional amendments were pushed in numerous states throughout the nation, Mississippi citizens voted for an anti-marriage constitutional amendment which passed and wrote discrimination into Mississippi's constitution. State advocacy groups are working to both repeal such discrimination and end the exclusion of same-sex couples and their families from marriage.
WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
Equality Mississippi
Equality Mississippi is a statewide, non-partisan, lobbying, education and support network for the gay, lesbian and straight allied communities in Mississippi.
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LEGISLATIVE STATUS IN MISSISSIPPI:
Your Community—Mississippi
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
HRC presents resources, news, and the current marriage and
relationship recognition laws in each state.
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PUBLICATIONS:
Mississippi Census Snapshot
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Mississippi.
Geographic Trends Among Same-Sex Couples in the U.S. Census and the
American Community Survey
Williams Institute
November 2007
Gary Gates at the Williams Institute released groundbreaking research
on the geographic trends among same-sex couples. The report finds the
biggest increases in Southern and Mountain states and states barring
legal acceptance of same-sex couples had larger percentage increases
in same-sex couples from 2000 to 2006.
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NEWS:
MS lawmakers go after gay adoptive parents
A bill in the Mississippi state Senate would bar cohabiting unmarried couples, including gay and lesbian couples, from adopting children.
BLOG: Why it matters every day
Pam's House Blend
May 4, 2007
Just yesterday [my neighbor] came over to visit, "to have conversation," as she put it. She told me that that very first day that I walked by and waved had changed her life..So today she wanted to come to tell me the impact I had on her life. And, with tears streaming down her face, to apologize for her cruelty to me personally in voting for the Mississippi Marriage Amendment. Every day we make a difference. We must remember that.
Why we need to talk about marriage equality
Washington Blade
May 1, 2006
"Question your friend or your father about what they are saying — make them actually think about their words. Don't let go unchallenged a flippant brush-off comment about 'there's no need for gay marriage.' Put up your dukes and fight back."
Federal DOMA bars FEMA from providing hurricane relief to same-sex couples
365Gay.com
September 1, 2005
Same-sex couples suffering from hurricane Katrina's destruction are being denied any relief in the form of family benefits, because the federal so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" and the states's exclusion of gay couples from marriage prevent FEMA from providing it. Additionally, Louisiana has a constitutional amendment discriminating against same-sex couples that also prevents the state from recognizing any legal status for domestic partnerships or civil unions. Mississippi and Alabama also discriminate — through anti-gay measures adopted while government officials neglected work that might have saved lives.
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Williams Institute
December 2007
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Mississippi.
Geographic Trends Among Same-Sex Couples in the U.S. Census and the
American Community Survey
Williams Institute
November 2007
Gary Gates at the Williams Institute released groundbreaking research
on the geographic trends among same-sex couples. The report finds the
biggest increases in Southern and Mountain states and states barring
legal acceptance of same-sex couples had larger percentage increases
in same-sex couples from 2000 to 2006.
Start in The Marriage Basics to get short answers to your big questions about the freedom to marry, and learn more about the protections and responsibilities of marriage, the historical background for this civil rights movement, why separate is not equal, and so much more.
