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Marriage Equality Now: Beyond Same Sex Marriage or Gay Marriage or Lesbian Marriage

It is not about gay marriage, lesbian marriage, or same sex marriage. It is about the fundamental right to marry the person you love... 

This right is critical for the healthy development of individuals in a society that respects all of its members.  


Marriage Equality Same Sex Marriage Lesbian Marriage or Gay Marriage

MARRIAGE IS NOT ABOUT STRAIGHT VS. GAY

It is about civil versus religious marriage.

The term gay marriage is not adequate as it separates gay and straight marriage. Similarly for the term same sex marriage. In reality there is only one term: marriage. And it should be available to any couple.

Critics state that marriage is "between a man and a woman" and that it is a sacrament. This is certainly the case in some religions, but not in others.

 

 INVITED ARTICLES ON

MARRIAGE EQUALITY, SAME SEX MARRIAGE, AND GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIAGE

 

> Geoff Kors, ED of Equality California, explains why California is the Same Sex Marriage Battleground in 2008.

Professor Tobias Wolff discusses the importance of the California Supreme Court decision and the impact for out of state couples who marry in California.

> Lee Swislow, ED of GLAD, presents a bold strategy to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act and to end the denial of federal rights and benefits to married same sex couples.

> Evan Wolfson, ED of Freedom to Marry, discusses the Work of Marriage Equality Now---about successes of 2007 and how we can continue to win in 2008.

 > Anne Stanback, ED of Loves Makes a Family, says Marriage Equality Now: Will Connecticut be Next?

> Jenn Steinfeld, ED of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, states that Rhode Island can have same sex marriage equality within three years by working with the legislature.

> Dan Furmansky, ED of Equality Maryland, explains why marriage equality for same sex couples can be achieved in Maryland in the next three years.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

MARRIAGE AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION

Each faith should have, and already has, the right to marry whomever it wants and put any requirements it sees fit. 

While many religions believe that marriage must be forever, the US Government allows divorces. 

While many religious do not marry same sex couples, others believe that gay marriage is good.

The US Government, however, is bound by the Constitution not to endorse any one religion versus another.

 

CIVIL UNIONS ARE NOT EQUAL

Civil Unions are not recognized by the federal government and, in everyday life, are not recognized as an equal to marriage.

Civil unions create a separate class of individuals---those who can only access civil unions. In the United States there is a long-term understanding that separate is not equal.

Marriage equality means more than just the 1,000 plus rights and responsibilities associated with it. It is also about not excluding people from the institutions that provide stability to their families and society. Massachusetts has had marriage equality since 2004 and it has proven that the sky has not fallen. Now more people can legally share their love and commitment.

 

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Does your Member of Congress or candidate for Congress say Yes I do? Find out the Members of Congress and candidates who support same sex marriage equality. Also, you can submit information if somebody is not listed.

 

PRIORITIES FOR ACHIEVING MARRIAGE EQUALITY NOW (OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE)

  1. Preserve marriage equality in Massachusetts. VICTORY!
    After an historic vote in the Constitutional Convention in Massachusetts on June 14, 2007, in which over 75% of the legislators in both Houses voted to turn down a ballot for a constitutional amendment forbidding same sex marriage, the equal right to marry in Massachusetts is safe for years to come.

  2. Preserve marriage equality in California. CRITICAL!
    On May 15, 2008 the California Supreme Court ruled that same sex couples had the right to marry in California. In fact, couples from anywhere can legally marry in California (although the marriage may not be recognized if they live outside California). A constitutional amendment is on the ballot in November 2008 to limit marriage to one man and one woman. It is critical to defeat this amendment, not only for the right to marry in California, but because its broad implications throughout the United States for legal equality.

  3. Convert civil unions to marriage in New Jersey, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
    The New Jersey legislature is very likely to approve marriage equality in that state no later than June 2009.
    Connecticut is awaiting a ruling by its Supreme Court.
    New Hampshire's legislature has the power to provide marriage equality in that state.

  4. Pass marriage equality in legislatures in marriage-friendly states like Rhode Island, New York, Washington, and Maryland.
    If we change a NY state senate seat in New York, it is very likely that the legislature will approve marriage equality in that state in 2009. The governor has already ordered the state agencies to recognized same sex marriages performed elsewhere.

  5. Win Right to Marry lawsuits that are advancing in Connecticut, and Iowa.

  6. Obtain Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships where marriage equality is not possible now due to state constitutional amendments forbidding gay and lesbian marriage.

  7. Win federal recognition of state marriages (repeal the Defense of Marriage Act)
    > Subgoal:
    obtain at least two pressing federal benefits as early as possible: (1) social security benefits, and (2) partner immigration
 

TEXT OF THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT

Read its full text for yourself. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a very short legilslation, but very discriminatory. 

 

WHO TO SUPPORT AND FUND FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY NOW
[organizations will be linked to the Donor to Donor letter as soon as a board member submits it]
 
  • GOAL: PRESERVE MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA       #1 PRIORITY
    There is a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November 2008 that would define marriage as only between one man and one woman. Read the analysis by Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California. Give to Equality for All, the coalition that manages the campaign to defeat the California marriage amendment.

  • GOAL: WIN MARRIAGE IN IOWA
    Lambda Legal won in August 2007 the right to marry in a district court in Iowa. The case is now headed for the Iowa Supreme Court. One Iowa, the statewide LGBT organization, needs funds to help support the state's pro-equality legislature to avoid overturning a favorable ruling (ballot initiatives are very difficult in Iowa).

  • GOAL: WIN MARRIAGE IN NEW YORK
    The Empire State Pride Agenda is leading the efforts to pass marriage equality legislation in New York State. On July 6, 2006 New York's highest court ruled that the NY Constitution does not compel recognition of same-sex marriages and that the legislature can decide. Governor Spitzer introduced marriage equality legislation in May 2007 and the Assembly approved it on June 19, 2007 thanks to the Empire State Pride Agenda and several other organizations. The legislation is now held in the Senate. In the November 2008, we need to change one senate seat to pass this legislation.

  • GOAL: WIN MARRIAGE IN NEW JERSEY
    Garden State Equality is leading the efforts to win marriage equality in New Jersey within one year. The NJ Supreme Court ruled unanimously in October 2006 in favor of Lambda Legal's lawsuit, requiring civil unions or marriage within 180 days. In December 2006, the legislature voted to provide only civil unions. Marriage equality is possible in New Jersey by June 2009.

  • GOAL: WIN MARRIAGE IN CONNECTICUT
    Love Makes a Family (LMF) and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
    By focusing on marriage, LMF was successful in making Connecticut the first state to pass civil unions without a court mandate. Now, pursuing a dual strategy of litigation and legislation, LMF and GLAD are working to bring marriage equality to Connecticut by 2008 or 2009. 

  • GOAL: WIN MARRIAGE IN RHODE ISLAND
    Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) is a small and very focused organization that led the introduction of a same sex marriage bill in the state legislature. It is working to get enough cosponsors to make Rhode Island the second or third state to approve marriage equality through the legislature. This is a place where even small donations can have a major impact since MERI's budget is small.

  • GOAL: WIN MARRIAGE IN MARYLAND
    Equality Maryland is working to approve same sex marriage legislation in Maryland, since the litigation resulted in Maryland’s highest court ruling 4-3 in 2007 that it is not unconstitutional to exclude same-sex couples from marrying.

  • GOAL: CONVERT CIVIL UNIONS TO MARRIAGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
    NH Freecom to Marry Coalition succeeded in approving civil unions through the legislature without a court mandate in 2007. They need support to pass legislation for full marriage as well as other protections.

  • GOAL: WIN MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN WASHINGTON STATE
    Equal Rights Washington is lobbying the Washington State legislature to pass marriage equality, given that a Right to Marry case was decided on July 26, 2006 by the state's Supreme Court ruling that DOMA was legal and that the state could discriminate against same-sex couples in getting marriage licenses.

 
 
ONE-STOP GIVING FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY
 
Donors who prefer to give a single check and let others decide how to allocate the money can consider the Civil Marriage Collaborative (CMC) which is doing an excellent job in this area.




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Last Modified 2008-06-28