United for Marriage Los Angeles:
Light the Way to Justice!
Public Rally and Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality
Los Angeles City Hall . Sunday, March 24, 2013 . 6:30 pm
P R E S S R E L E A S E
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2013
Tonight's Rally for Marriage Equality at LA City Hall
Mirrors Growing Public Support of Same-Sex Marriage
Public Rally in Downtown LA Comes on Eve
of U.S. Supreme Court Cases on Same-Sex Marriage
Los Angeles--To see just how far U.S. public opinion has shifted in favor of same-sex marriage, you need look no further than the iconic west entrance of Los Angeles City Hall tonight.
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments in two same-sex marriage cases, supporters will gather for a rally and candlelight vigil to demonstrate public support for marriage equality.
"The growing list of groups and organizations supporting tonight's marriage equality rally in Los Angeles is a reflection of the shift in public opinion," says Jane Wishon, a self-described "straight, married, Christian mother of three," who is an elder in her Presbyterian Church and serves on the board of Marriage Equality USA.
The Los Angeles rally is sponsored by United for Marriage Los Angeles, a broad coalition of 25 organizations, representing faith communities, including The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, churches, temples, and clergy groups, a labor union, parent support groups, Latino and Asian service organizations, LGBT rights coalitions, community-based advocacy groups, and families and individuals who support equality and fairness for all people.
Public opinion polls in 1996 showed 25% of Americans supported civil marriage rights for LGBT couples. A recent 2013 Washington Post poll shows public support has climbed to an all-time high of 58%.
"A decade ago, this was controversial," notes Wishon, while surveying the City Hall site in final preparations for tonight's rally. "Who would have guessed that marriage equality would be the issue that brings us together?"
Groups supporting tonight's "Rally and Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality" at LA City Hall include: ANSWER Coalition LA, API Equality LA, California Faith for Equality, The Center Long Beach, Christ Chapel of the Valley, Congregation Kol Ami, The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, Equality California, Family Equality Council, Founders Metropolitan Community Church of LA, GetEQUAL, GLAAD, Good As You, Human Rights Campaign, LA Gay & Lesbian Center, Latino Equality Alliance, Los Angeles Queer Interfaith Clergy Council, Love Honor Cherish, The New Organizing Institute, PFLAG National, PFLAG-Los Angeles, PFLAG-Pasadena, The Task Force, Transgender Law Center, UNITE HERE Local 11.
You will find additional details about the United for Marriage Los Angeles event at: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedforMarriageLosAngeles?ref=ts&fref=ts
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR TO ARRANGE MEDIA INTERVIEWS, CONTACT:
Ari Gutierrez | communications@LatinoEqualityAlliance.com | 213-220-5530
Jim Birkitt | JimBirkitt@aol.com | 310 272-3046
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Showing posts with label DOMA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DOMA. Show all posts
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Los Angeles United for Marriage, Mar 18 Press Release
MEDIA ADVISORY: March 18, 2013
CONTACT:
Jim Birkitt | JimBirkitt@aol.com | (310) 272-3046
Southern California LGBT and Allied Groups To Hold
Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality at LA City Hall
March 24th Event Comes on Eve of
Supreme Court Arguments on DOMA, Prop. 8
LA Vigil Is One of More Than 150 Nationwide Events
Los Angeles – Forty hours before the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in the first of two cases about whether lesbian and gay couples deserve the same freedoms as other Americans, Southern California supporters of marriage equality will hold a candlelight vigil on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall.
Speakers will include gay and lesbian families who will be impacted by the court's ruling, along with celebrities, elected officials, faith leaders and community activists.
Organizers anticipate especially strong turnout by faith communities, LGBT families and straight supporters of marriage equality.
The event, sponsored by the United for Marriage Coalition, will demonstrate the deep and diverse support for all Americans to enjoy fundamental freedoms – including the freedom to marry the person you love. Members of the Coalition have scheduled more than 150 events in support of marriage equality, to take place across the U.S. over a three-day period.
Organizations participating in the United for Marriage Coalition include Founders Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, the Family Equality Council, GetEQUAL, GLAAD, Good As You, the Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality USA, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the New Organizing Institute.
WHAT:
A candlelight vigil in support of fundamental freedoms for all Americans, including same-sex couples.
WHEN:
Sunday, March 24, 2013, 6:30-7:30 pm
WHERE:
Los Angeles City Hall, West Steps on Temple and Spring Streets
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
To learn more about the United for Marriage: Los Angeles event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedforMarriageLosAngeles?ref=ts&fref=ts
To learn more about the national United for Marriage Coalition, visit: www.unitedformarriage.org.
The United for Marriage Coalition is a group of LGBT and allied organizations working to elevate the broad support for marriage equality through more than 150 public events across the U.S. in advance of the Supreme Court rulings on two marriage cases. Groups leading the United for Marriage efforts include Founders Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, the Family Equality Council, GetEQUAL, GLAAD, Good As You, the Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality USA, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the New Organizing Institute.
CONTACT:
Jim Birkitt | JimBirkitt@aol.com | (310) 272-3046
Southern California LGBT and Allied Groups To Hold
Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality at LA City Hall
March 24th Event Comes on Eve of
Supreme Court Arguments on DOMA, Prop. 8
LA Vigil Is One of More Than 150 Nationwide Events
Los Angeles – Forty hours before the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in the first of two cases about whether lesbian and gay couples deserve the same freedoms as other Americans, Southern California supporters of marriage equality will hold a candlelight vigil on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall.
Speakers will include gay and lesbian families who will be impacted by the court's ruling, along with celebrities, elected officials, faith leaders and community activists.
Organizers anticipate especially strong turnout by faith communities, LGBT families and straight supporters of marriage equality.
The event, sponsored by the United for Marriage Coalition, will demonstrate the deep and diverse support for all Americans to enjoy fundamental freedoms – including the freedom to marry the person you love. Members of the Coalition have scheduled more than 150 events in support of marriage equality, to take place across the U.S. over a three-day period.
Organizations participating in the United for Marriage Coalition include Founders Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, the Family Equality Council, GetEQUAL, GLAAD, Good As You, the Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality USA, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the New Organizing Institute.
WHAT:
A candlelight vigil in support of fundamental freedoms for all Americans, including same-sex couples.
WHEN:
Sunday, March 24, 2013, 6:30-7:30 pm
WHERE:
Los Angeles City Hall, West Steps on Temple and Spring Streets
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
To learn more about the United for Marriage: Los Angeles event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedforMarriageLosAngeles?ref=ts&fref=ts
To learn more about the national United for Marriage Coalition, visit: www.unitedformarriage.org.
The United for Marriage Coalition is a group of LGBT and allied organizations working to elevate the broad support for marriage equality through more than 150 public events across the U.S. in advance of the Supreme Court rulings on two marriage cases. Groups leading the United for Marriage efforts include Founders Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, the Family Equality Council, GetEQUAL, GLAAD, Good As You, the Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality USA, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the New Organizing Institute.
###
Monday, February 11, 2013
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Can Real Life Intrude on the GOP?
Just some thoughts on the first day-and-a-half of the Democratic National Convention ...
In a strange way, it's almost like we've won something. The GOP was mostly mum on its pesky social issues -- Rep. Todd Akin had made abortion toxic, and new polling before the convention had shown that LGBT issues were just not working as a wedge issue anymore. As gay columnist Michelangelo Signorile put it, they stood by the rule "don't say gay." On the other hand, the Democrats almost can't say it enough -- and they aren't saying it with the apologetic "It's perfectly understandable why you wouldn't like this" or the too-clever-by-half "We're so cool for being hip enough to go there." They're grinning from ear to ear and saying, "They're here, they're queer, we're so over it!"
Now that doesn't mean we've already won civil rights protections or marriage equality or the ability to live without fear of violent repercussions because of who we are any more than Obama saying "hope and change" in 2008 meant we had already won single-payer health care or attained full employment or ended the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But in a way that transcends those harsh realities, it feels kind of like we've won the hearts and minds and the whole playing field has changed.
Is that feeling something that will soon manifest on the policy level? Will it pass ENDA or repeal DOMA? Can the conservative power-brokers keep counting on the support of their constituents on these issues? I'm thinking that the ambiguity factor has taken hold: that, like with their failure to allow for exceptions for rape and incest survivors in their abortion laws, the Republicans have hit the wall where people stop thinking about those evil queers who want to eat your children and realize they're talking about Cousin Tommy and the woman at the next desk -- not to mention their own kid. What used to be black and white is now revealed to have many shades of gray -- and even a rainbow or two. Real life may finally be overtaking ideology.
In a strange way, it's almost like we've won something. The GOP was mostly mum on its pesky social issues -- Rep. Todd Akin had made abortion toxic, and new polling before the convention had shown that LGBT issues were just not working as a wedge issue anymore. As gay columnist Michelangelo Signorile put it, they stood by the rule "don't say gay." On the other hand, the Democrats almost can't say it enough -- and they aren't saying it with the apologetic "It's perfectly understandable why you wouldn't like this" or the too-clever-by-half "We're so cool for being hip enough to go there." They're grinning from ear to ear and saying, "They're here, they're queer, we're so over it!"
Now that doesn't mean we've already won civil rights protections or marriage equality or the ability to live without fear of violent repercussions because of who we are any more than Obama saying "hope and change" in 2008 meant we had already won single-payer health care or attained full employment or ended the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But in a way that transcends those harsh realities, it feels kind of like we've won the hearts and minds and the whole playing field has changed.
Is that feeling something that will soon manifest on the policy level? Will it pass ENDA or repeal DOMA? Can the conservative power-brokers keep counting on the support of their constituents on these issues? I'm thinking that the ambiguity factor has taken hold: that, like with their failure to allow for exceptions for rape and incest survivors in their abortion laws, the Republicans have hit the wall where people stop thinking about those evil queers who want to eat your children and realize they're talking about Cousin Tommy and the woman at the next desk -- not to mention their own kid. What used to be black and white is now revealed to have many shades of gray -- and even a rainbow or two. Real life may finally be overtaking ideology.
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