User:Jjswin/out4marriage

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Out4Marriage
FoundedMay 9, 2012 (2012-05-09)
FoundersBenjamin Cohen and Mike Buonaiuto
Location
Area served
Worldwide
Websitehttp://www.Out4Marriage.org/

Out4Marriage Campaign[edit]

Out4Marriage is an internet-based campaign that was started on May 8th, 2012, in response to the British Government’s consultation concerning the legalisation of same sex marriage in England and Wales.[1] It centres on YouTube videos in which those filmed give their views on why they support equal marriage, with each video finishing with the tagline “And that’s why I’m out for marriage. Are you?”. Those creating videos have included members of the public, Members of Parliament, Peers and celebrities.[2]

Its goal is to raise awareness about the issue of equal marriage and to provide a voice for the people who support it. Out4Marriage is modelled on the It Gets Better YouTube project, launched by the US agony uncle, Dan Savage, where politicians, celebrities and members of the public gave hope to teenagers coming to terms with their sexuality.[3]

Campaign Background and History[edit]

The British Government's consultation on equal marriage was started on 15 March 2012, prompting the launch of a Christian campaign group called the Coalition for Marriage (C4M).[4] The website for C4M states that they are "an umbrella group of individuals and organisations in the UK that support traditional marriage and oppose any plans to redefine it."[5] In response to the C4M campaign and a number of statements from Church leaders opposing equal marriage,[6] Conor Marron and James Lattimore, a same-sex couple from Newcastle, created a campaign in support of equal marriage: the Coalition for Equal Marriage. Their campaign notably mirrored C4M's petition-style approach.[7] As part of their campaign, film director Mike Buonaiuto created Homecoming, a short film depicting the proposal of a gay soldier to his partner, upon returning home from war. It encouraged viewers to sign the Coalition for Equal Marriage petition and to respond to the government's consultation. The film received 700,000 YouTube views in its first week online.[8][9]

In a BBC World News interview on May 11, 2012, Buonaiuto explained that Homecoming was what had inspired Out4Marriage. He went on to say that those working on the campaign were all volunteers and that no money had been spent on the project.[10] The Out4Marriage website states that the campaign was conceived by Buonaiuto and Pink News founder, Benjamin Cohen. It is "powered by" the Coalition for Equal Marriage, Pink News and digital agency Remarkable. The website also posits that a “global team of volunteers are helping to recruit new video makers, moderate submissions and engage with politicians”.[11] In the first week, the Out4Marriage Youtube account recorded 150,000 views and, within three weeks, a reach of 14 million people was achieved through articles in the Daily Mail, The Independent and The Guardian newspapers, both online and in print.[12][13][14]

Notable contributions[edit]

Within the first three weeks after the campaign was launched, videos were uploaded to the Out4Marriage YouTube account from public figures such as Richard Branson[15], UK pop girl band The Saturdays[16] and human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell[17] .

Many MPs also recorded videos for the campaign, including the incumbent Home Secretary, Theresa May; Equalities Minister, Lynne Featherstone and former cabinet minister, Jack Straw.

List of contributions from public figures and personalities[edit]

References[edit]

<references>

  1. ^ "PinkNews: Groundbreaking global campaign for marriage equality, Out4Marriage launched". Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  2. ^ "Out4Marriage YouTube Account". Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  3. ^ "Out4Marriage Website". May 09, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "UK Government Home Office: Equal civil marriage consultation". Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  5. ^ www.c4m.org
  6. ^ "Gay marriage: Roman Catholic archbishops step up fight". March 11, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  7. ^ http://www.c4em.org.uk
  8. ^ http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/film/2447/homecoming
  9. ^ "Homecoming". April 24, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  10. ^ "BBC World News: Equal Marriage Debate With @Out4Marriage Co-Founder Mike Buonaiuto". May 11, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  11. ^ http://www.out4marriage.org
  12. ^ Walker, Kirsty (25 May 2012). "I'm backing gay marriage campaign: Theresa May records video in support of law change". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  13. ^ Grice, Andrew (24 May 2012). "Home Secretary Theresa May records video declaring full support for gay marriage". The Independent. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  14. ^ Guardian, The (24 May 2012). "Theresa May records video in support of gay marriage – video". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  15. ^ "Richard Branson Out4Marriage". YouTube. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  16. ^ "Wow! @TheSaturdays are @Out4Marriage, are you?". YouTube. 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  17. ^ "Peter Tatchell Comes @Out4Marriage - Will You?". YouTube. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
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