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Why Marriage Matters to Latino/as
"Now is the time for Equality & Marriage to be a reality. Why should we make people wait for such a Fundamental Justice? There is no justification for discriminating against same sex couples!
Hispanic and Latino/a same-sex families have much to gain from the legal protections of marriage and nondiscrimination protections — and much to lose when states prohibit marriage equality. Generations of Americans of Latin American heritage, both leaders and every day folks, understand what's at stake and continue to work hard in order to make our nation's promise of equal justice a reality.
Use the key resources below to learn more about why marriage matters to Latino/as.
FROM EVAN WOLFSON:
Marriage equality, justice in immigration go together
Gay people — both citizens and non-citizens — have a direct stake in both immigration fairness and ending anti-gay discrimination.
The need to stand up against hostile or unfair policies
Evan Wolfson weighs in on immigration and the freedom to marry.
Celebrating the Freedom to Marry on the 40th Anniversary of Loving v. Virginia
Our page commemorates the Loving celebration in June 2007 which was co-sponsored by civil rights organizations from across the country. Honoring the freedom to marry as a civil right, we feature a rare public statement by Mrs. Mildred Loving (a plaintiff in the historic Loving v. Virginia Supreme court case which ended racial discrimination in marriage) supporting the freedom to marry for all Americans.
STORY CENTER COUPLES:
Meet some of the Latin@ couples from our Story Center
Barry Clayton and Michael Garaza
Delia Meraz and Persephone Gonzalez
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WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
Unid@s
Unid@s is a national Latina/o lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender human rights organization which recently merged with the National Latino/a Coalition for Justice, a group working towards empowering the Latino/a community to fight for marriage equality.
Human Rights Campaign: People of Color
The Human Rights Campaign strives to develop the tools and resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning people of color to live full and healthy lives without fear or oppression at home, in our communities, in the workplace and in our places of worship.
UNITY COALITION/COALICION UNIDA
Florida's leading Latino/Hispanic gay civil-rights nonprofit initiative, offering leadership on issues that concern Latino/Hispanic LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) and other minority groups.
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PUBLICATIONS:
For Richer, For Poorer
Contrary to right-wing claims that same-sex couples are comprised largely of white, male, upper-class citizens, 2000 Census data show same-sex couples are even more racially diverse than the general population, come from all types of backgrounds, and live in 99% of the counties in America. As partners try to take care of each other and their families, they have the same sets of economic decisions to make as everyone else. This publication explores some of the many ways that same-sex committed couples experience numerous economic injustices directly connected to their exclusion from the protections marriage provides under the law.
Same-Sex Couples and Same-Sex Couples Raising Children in The United States: Data from Census 2000
This report provides demographic and socio-economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in the United States.
Preguntas y Respuestas Sobre el Derecho al Matrimonio
¿Como puedo protegar a mi familia y mantenerla fuerte sin las mas de 1,100 protecciones federales que se les dan a otras familias quienes si tienen el derecho al matrimonio?
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NEWS:
Uruguay holds Latin America's first wedding for a same-sex couple
Uruguay on Thursday became the first nation in Latin America to marry a gay couple, after a law allowing couples living together to formalize their union went into effect at the start of the year.
Una prohibición que roba el futuro
El Senado acaba de aprobar una resolución para prohibir constitucionalmente el matrimonio entre parejas del mismo sexo. De ello lograrse, Puerto Rico quedará rezagado comparado con otros países desarrollados que permiten las uniones homosexuales y hasta el matrimonio gay. Hasta en España, de donde proviene gran parte del derecho puertorriqueño, se les permite a las parejas homosexuales casarse.
La igualdad es una: la igualdad
Pedro Julio Serrano comenta sobre el poderoso testimonio del alcalde republicano de la ciudad de San Diego, Jerry Sanders, al decidir apoyar una resolución de su Consejo Municipal en favor de la igualdad en el matrimonio para las parejas gay y lésbicas.
Freedom to Marry Voice of Equality shares message of equality, activism
In a speech at Pullman University, Dolores Huerta touches on a variety of issues — including women's roles, racism, social injustice, immigration and marriage equality. She encourages students to take attainable steps toward change, such as calling out people who use degrading terminology, organizing in groups to support causes, and writing letters to legislators.
Immigration is an LGBT issue
In this opinion piece, Cesar Chavez's granddaughter Christine urges the consideration of LGBT persons in the overarching struggle for immigration reform. Given the major restrictions still barring same-sex bi-national couples from enjoying full equality, Chavez's message is important and timely.
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MULTIMEDIA:
GLAAD
CNN en Español explores the national conversation about marriage and the anti-gay constitutional amendments in 11 states leading up to the Nov. 2 elections. The news report includes interviews with two gay Latino men and a transgender Latina.
[ watch in Español ]
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Unid@s is a national Latina/o lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender human rights organization which recently merged with the National Latino/a Coalition for Justice, a group working towards empowering the Latino/a community to fight for marriage equality.
In a speech at Pullman University, Dolores Huerta touches on a variety of issues — including women's roles, racism, social injustice, immigration and marriage equality. She encourages students to take attainable steps toward change, such as calling out people who use degrading terminology, organizing in groups to support causes, and writing letters to legislators.
