Marriage Equality and Lincoln

Evan Wolfson, Executive director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People’s Right to Marry, has a new article up on Huffington Post about marriage equality and Lincoln. It’s an interesting read, both for the purported historical tibits and for the conversation about courage and conviction when pushing forward what is right.

“Lincoln’s strongest connection to the freedom to marry cause lies in the values he embodied in his life, and embodies in ours. He was committed to equality, freedom, and lifting people up. He called Americans to the “better angels of our nature,” and he combined a deep moral integrity with a determined and strategic focus on achieving what is most important and right.

In the wake of last November’s Proposition 8 temporarily halting marriages in California, and with marriage equality shimmering within reach in other states such as New York and New Jersey, gay and non-gay people and organizations across the country will spend Freedom to Marry Week asking our fellow citizens to, in Lincoln’s words, “think anew” about how exclusion from marriage harms gay families while helping no one. Freedom to Marry Week in this Lincoln bicentennial year recalls his admonition, “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.”

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

For some original Lincoln photos, take a look at the Library of Congress Flickr Stream

It’s Freedom to Marry Week! February 8-14

People across the country are pledging to take part in Freedom To Marry’s campaign, 7 Conversations in 7 Days, in honor of the 12th annual Freedom to Marry Week! Here’s how to love out loud every day this week!

Monday, February 9th: Make Your Voice Heard
Add your face and voice to the conversation. Create a blog post, vlog, comment on our blog, change your status on facebook, or change your picture on social networks.

Tuesday, February 10th: Email for Equality
Sign the marriage resolution and email it to friends. Support your state’s equality organization – THAT WOULD BE MERI! Make a tax-deductible donation to honor your loved one(s)!

Wednesday, February 11th: Button Up for Equality
Sign up to receive a button to wear or place on your website, blog, or social networking page.

Thursday, February 12th: Face to Face to Equality
Have a face to face conversation by attending or hosting an event. Tell us about any events happening during the week, and we’ll post them. ATTEND THE “OPEN YOUR HEART TO EQUALITY” RALLY AT THE STATE HOUSE IN PROVIDENCE THIS THURSDAY, FEB 12

Friday, February 13th: Txt 4 Equality
Send a text or tweet about why marriage matters and forward on to friends.

Saturday, February 14th: Get Local With It
Write a letter to the editor of the Providence Journal.

Encourage your friends, family, and co-workers to take the pledge to have 7 Conversations in 7 Days this February 8-14! Stuck on what to say? Pick up some talking points and conversation starters

Thanks, Joe Brummer and get RI Magazine!

The February edition of get Magazine featured the following in Joe Brummer’s pg9 editorial.

“A recent study published by the group Freedom to Marry showed that legislators who support marriage equality are more likely to gain re-election.

The report, available on the (FTM website) states, ‘In the 17 different state legislatures that have voted on an anti-gay constitutional amendment since 2005, none of the 670 legislators who voted against discrimination lost their stand when they next faced voters…”

This should send a message to legislators in Rhode island to wake up and support equality.”

WE COULDN’T AGREE MORE! Let your elected officials know that it’s time to make marriage equality a reality for same-sex couples in Rhode Island with the message, Open Your Heart to Marriage Equality NOW.

See you at the State House Rally on Thursday, February 12!

Pro Marriage Equality = Strong Political Career

Freedom to Marry has recently released a study showing that “exhibiting leadership by voting to support the freedom to marry helps rather than hurts politicians.”

From the report:

A review of all of these votes from 2005 to the present shows that legislators who vote to end marriage discrimination for same-sex couples are consistently re-elected. The success of more than 1,100 state legislators who voted to support the freedom to marry stands in bold contrast to the commonly held belief that supporting marriage equality ends political campaigns and careers. In fact, these legislators are re-elected no matter what party they represent or if they changed their vote from opposing to supporting marriage equality. Even better, legislators who run for higher office win after voting in favor of marriage for same-sex couples.

This report supports what we are MERI believe, voting for equality is good for our elected officials. Freedom to Marry shows this unequivocally in their finding that those who voted to end marriage discrimination since 2005 have had a 100% re-election rate. Better yet, the finding goes beyond re-election and shows that even those who sought higher office in 2008 all won their seats.

READ THE REPORT

7 Conversations in 7 Days During Freedom to Marry Week

Join Freedom to Marry’s campaign by pledging to have at least 7 conversations in 7 days about marriage equality during Freedom to Marry week, February 8-14. MERI responded enthusiastically when FTM invited us to participate. If you would like to be videotaped for a “1 Minute for MERI” spot, or if you’d like to submit your conversation in 100 words or less, please email Susan MacNeil.

For more more details about Freedom to Marry week please visit their website.