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Why Marriage Matters to Progressives
"Major questions of civic equity and social prestige are on the line; this is much more than a flight from the creative anarchy of queer life. What gays are fighting for is the option to marry, not the obligation to do so—and choice, as all progressives should know, is the essence of freedom."
Use the key resources below to learn more about why marriage matters to Progressives.
FROM EVAN WOLFSON:
Why the Dems should NOT shut up about gays and marriage
Evan Wolfson responds to August 16, 2007's piece in The New Republic, explaining that, "As public support for marriage equality continues to evolve, Democrats, thus already perceived as the party of 'gay marriage,' have a winning issue on their hands, one that evokes the best traditions of their party—fairness and inclusion. The conversation will not stop. Candidates who want to move on to other questions ought to get the freedom to marry question right—for their sake as well as the country's."
This week's gay debate: A prime-time opportunity for straight talk on marriage
As we all prepare for tonight's historic Democratic Presidential Debate, sponsored by our partners at HRC & LOGO, check out the key points Evan Wolfson laid out in the Featured Post on the Huffington Post blog. It discusses how candidates should answer the marriage questions at the forum, and beyond. The piece contains links to several resources to help the candidates do better — not just because it's in our interest that they get it right, but because it's in theirs, too.
The scary work of winning
Evan Wolfson's seminal document outlining the marriage equality movement in the context of our nation's ongoing evolution toward equality. Download the pdf publication of The Scary Work of Winning.
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WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
The ACLU, a partner organization of Freedom to Marry, works daily in courts, legislatures and communities throughout the country to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. See the ACLU's Get Busy/Get Equal Campaign.
National Organization for Women (NOW): Equal Marriage Now
NOW is the largest organization of feminist women and men in the United States, striving to eliminate discrimination and harassment against women in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society. NOW is a partner organization of Freedom to Marry and actively takes part in the fight to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.
Stonewall Democrats
Find your local Stonewall Democrats chapter, get involved, and learn more about the 2008 election as it approaches. Stonewall Democrats is also a partner organization of Freedom to Marry.
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PUBLICATIONS:
Equal Marriage NOW Fliers and Factsheets
The National Organization for Women offers multiple publications on why equal marriage is a feminist issue, a justice issue, a civil rights issue, and so much more.
Human Rights Campaign Report Card: Where the Democratic Presidential Candidates Stand
Learn about the stances Democratic Presidential Candidates have on marriage and gay rights.
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NEWS:
PRESS RELEASE: Religious, civil rights, and child advocacy groups support same-sex couples in legal battle to marry
"We are not treating all Californians equally if some can marry and others cannot," said Alice Huffman, President of the California Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "The law should protect all people equally, and all Californians should have the choice to marry," she said. "I am honored to join other civil rights leaders in calling on our state to end its ban on marriage for lesbian and gay couples."
BLOG: Levers and fulcrum points: The death penalty and marriage equality
"Whatever our national candidates do or don't do, we progressives need to take an integrated approach to social justice. We need to be unafraid and unashamed of our political views (and hash them out and debate them here if we must.) If our politicians cannot see this, that should not prevent us from nurturing a new political movement and investing in fresh leaders who do."
The choir doesn't even have the sheet music
Joan Garry discusses her civil union ceremony and the uneducated responses of her friends "Now, you're married — just like us," highlighting the need for public education, especially to those we assume already 'have the sheet music,' on the separate and unequal status of civil unions, and the continuing exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.
The story behind 'Think Equal'
After the elections, I had been thinking about the NJ Supreme Court's decision on same-sex couples, and wanted to do something for equality. I wasn't quite sure what I — a straight political junkie kid — had to offer... One of the things we felt we could address is how the netroots talks about marriage. Often, we ignore the substance of the issue to discuss the politics — how the right uses it as a distraction, how silly their attacks are, and what's the best way for candidates to approach the issue. In doing so, it makes us think marriage is being discussed, but it's really not.
OPINION: 'Family values' for all of us
Marriage equality is not the greatest threat to the heterosexual family. Misbehavior and irresponsibility by married heterosexuals do far more damage to families and children. Liberals should be unafraid to embrace the language of personal responsibility. In my experience, there's not a dime's worth of difference between my morally conservative friends and neighbors and me in our attitudes toward the obligations of parenthood.
The radical case for marriage equality: Why progressives must join this fight
The movement for marriage equality affects all disenfranchised groups; and that means it's time for allies to get involved to beat back right-wing attacks and promote social and economic justice.
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MULTIMEDIA:
VIDEO: 'Let California Ring' campaign
CNN's Mary Snow reports on Equality California's 'Let California Ring' campaign for Situation Room. The TV ad campaign uses an amusing wedding scenario to explain why marriage matters to people who may still be undecided on where they stand on the freedom to marry.
VIDEO: HUMOR: Gay people getting married destroys heterosexual marriages
Singer Oded Gross laments in this video the end of his marriage. He has an idea of why his relationship has come to an end...
VIDEO: Edwards on the Leno couch: Wife's support for marriage equality was a surprise to him
CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer looks to Evan Wolfson to give the Edwards' disagreement some context — and included footage of the couple's couch chat with Leno. Thanks in part to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, national attention on where the presidential candidates stand on marriage isn't going away anytime soon.
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Evan Wolfson responds to August 16, 2007's piece in The New Republic, explaining that, "As public support for marriage equality continues to evolve, Democrats, thus already perceived as the party of 'gay marriage,' have a winning issue on their hands, one that evokes the best traditions of their party—fairness and inclusion. The conversation will not stop. Candidates who want to move on to other questions ought to get the freedom to marry question right—for their sake as well as the country's."
The ACLU, a partner organization of Freedom to Marry, works daily in courts, legislatures and communities throughout the country to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. See the ACLU's Get Busy/Get Equal Campaign.
NOW is the largest organization of feminist women and men in the United States, striving to eliminate discrimination and harassment against women in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society. NOW is a partner organization of Freedom to Marry and actively takes part in the fight to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.
CNN's Mary Snow reports on Equality California's 'Let California Ring' campaign for Situation Room. The TV ad campaign uses an amusing wedding scenario to explain why marriage matters to people who may still be undecided on where they stand on the freedom to marry.
