Freedom to Marry
Freedom to Marry is an organization which campaigns for the right of same-sex couples to marry in the United States. Freedom to Marry was founded in New York City in 2003 by Evan Wolfson, whom many consider to be the father of the modern marriage movement.[1]
According to its “Roadmap to Victory”, Freedom to Marry is working "to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage" by building a national majority supportive of same-sex inclusive marriage, and by repealing the Defense of Marriage Act a law it sees as discriminatory.[2]
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[edit] Activities
[edit] Federal campaign to repeal DOMA
Freedom to Marry is pursuing a federal campaign to increase the number of supporters for the Respect for Marriage Act,[3] the bill that would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman under federal law. Freedom to Marry has partnered with other organizations including Equality Maryland, Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Courage Campaign, and Ocean Station Action in its efforts to reach members of Congress. The organization garnered a petition with 3,000 signatures from Maryland residents to pressure Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland to co-sponsor the bill.[4] Currently, the groups are lobbying Sens. Bob Casey, Jack Reed, Joe Lieberman, and Susan Collins to support the bill.[5]
[edit] New York campaign
Freedom to Marry was involved in the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York in 2011. Freedom to Marry was one of the founders of New Yorkers United for Marriage, a coalition of New York LGBT organizations that worked for the legalization.[6] Taking on a key leadership role in guiding the coalition’s work, Freedom to Marry spent over $1,000,000 on television and newspaper ads, direct mail, and polling in the effort.[citation needed]
[edit] "Say, 'I Do'"
In March 2011, the organization launched an open letter calling on Barack Obama to support same-sex marriage.[7] Over 110,000 people have signed to the letter,[8] including numerous celebrities and entrepreneurs.[9][8]
[edit] Why Marriage Matters
"Why Marriage Matters" is Freedom to Marry’s national public education campaign.[10] The campaign was launched on February 14, 2011[10] The Why Marriage Matters project includes videos and stories from real people and real facts about why marriage matters.[11]
[edit] Summer for Marriage
In 2010, Freedom to Marry launched their “Summer for Marriage” campaign countering the National Organization for Marriage’s “One Man, One Woman” bus tour.[12] Sean Eldridge stated “Our goal is to demonstrate that there are loving, committed same-sex couples across the US who deserve, and in some states now have, the protections and the responsibilities of marriage. We’re not going to let NOM get away with distracting from and distorting the truth about our families and the protections that we need.”[13]
[edit] Democrats: Say I Do
In February 2012, Freedom to Marry launched a campaign to persuade Democratic Party politicians to adopt an inclusion of same-sex marriage as part of the party platform at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
[edit] Mayors for Marriage
In January 2012, Freedom to Marry launched the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry campaign (also known as Mayors for Marriage), encouraging mayors of cities throughout the United States to endorse marriage equality for their localities.[14]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Galles, Kristen (Summer 2009). "Human Rights Heroes, Evan Wolfson and Mary Bonauto". Human Rights (Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, American Bar Association) 36 (3): 24. http://www.abanet.org/irr/hr/hrsummer2009.pdf. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ "Roadmap to Victory". Freedom to Marry. http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/roadmap-to-victory. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ Joseph, Andrew (November 3, 2011). "Same-Sex Marriage Supporters Looking for Conservative Support". National Journal. http://influencealley.nationaljournal.com/2011/11/doma.php. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ Johnson, Chris (August 24, 2011). "Mikulski pressured to co-sponsor DOMA repeal". Washington Blade. http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/08/24/mikulski-pressured-to-co-sponsor-doma-repeal/. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ "Groups Launch Campaign Urging Senators Lieberman & Collins to Co-Sponsor Respect for Marriage Act". American Civil Liberties Union. November 16, 2011. http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/groups-launch-campaign-urging-senators-lieberman-collins-co-sponsor-respect-marriage-act. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ "Cuomo Helps Groups Mobilize for Gay Marriage Bill". New York Times. April 19, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/nyregion/cuomo-helping-rights-groups-on-gay-marriage-effort.html. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "Say, "I Do" Mr. President". Freedom to Marry. http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/s/i_do. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Riley, Jennifer (June 9, 2011). "Natalie Portman, Fiancé Millepied Push President Obama for Gay Marriage". Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/news/natalie-portman-fiance-benjamin-millepied-push-for-gay-marriage-51008/. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ Park, James (March 14, 2011). "US celebrities and entrepreneurs call on Obama to support gay marriage equality". Pink News. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/03/14/us-celebrities-and-entrepreneurs-call-on-obama-to-support-gay-marriage-equality/. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ a b "Gay Love, Equality Examined in Nationwide Valentine's Day Campaign". ABC News. February 14, 2011. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gay-rights-advocates-renew-push-sex-marriage-valentines/story?id=12911051. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ "Stories". whymarriagematters.org. 1. http://www.whymarriagematters.org/stories. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ Grair, Marchae (June 24, 2010). "Freedom to Marry Announces Summer Tour". The Advocate. http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/24/Freedom_to_Marry_Announces_Summer_Tour/. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ Hellew, Candace. "Summer Brings Competing Marriage Tours". Religion Dispatches. http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/candacechellew-hodge/2871/summer_brings_competing_marriage_tours/. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ Byrne, John (January 20, 2012). "Emanuel joins U.S. mayors supporting same-sex marriage; Municipal leaders launching a national push". Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-20/news/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-gay-marriage-0120-20120120_1_mayor-rahm-emanuel-gay-marriage-political-support.
[edit] External links
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Wikinews has related news: Interview with gay marriage movement founder Evan Wolfson |
[edit] News reports
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This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into footnote references. (March 2012) |
- New York Times, "Evan Wolfson and Cheng He: Vows," October 2011
- The Advocate, "Op-Ed: For Evan Wolfson, an 'I Do' Filled With 'I Did', October 2011
- U.S. News & World Report, "Without Nationwide Gay Marriage, U.S. Government Discriminates, October 2011
- TIME Magazine, "After New York: The (Near) Future of Gay Marriage, July 2011
- Huffington Post, "The Freedom to Marry: What's Next After New York?, June 2011
- The Advocate, "Freedom to Marry Announces Expansion Plans," January 2011
- The Economist, "Single-Sex Marriage: This house believes that gay marriage should be legal," January 2011
- Pacific Daily News, "Civil rights attorney promotes gay marriage", December 2010
- Los Angeles Times, "Gains outweigh setback in landmark year for gay rights," December 2010
- The Sunday Business Post, "A Very Civil Defense", December 2010
- The Advocate, "The Message from Iowa", November 2010
- Fox News, "Judges Ouster Stirs Debate", November 2010
- New Jersey Record, "Seizing the Moment", October 2010
- Anderson Cooper 360, "Same-Sex Marriage Ban Overturned", August 2010
- The New York Times, "Ted Olson's Supreme Court Adventure", August 2009
