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For Immediate Release
May 14, 2008
Contact Joshua Friedes 206-324-2570
Michael Taylor-Judd 206-324-2570
The board of the Legal Marriage Alliance of Washington, the state’s largest Marriage Equality education organization announced that it would merge into Equal Rights Washington, the leading gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights group in Washington. The purpose of the integration is to leverage the power of Washington State’s freedom to marry movement.
“When the Legal Marriage Alliance formed in 1995, marriage equality seemed like an unattainable goal to many,” said Michael Taylor-Judd, president of the board of the LMA. “Our members worked hard to explain to the public why marriage equality was essential to the well being of Washington families headed by gay couples and convince the gay community that with hard work the freedom to marry could be achieved in our lifetime,” added Taylor-Judd.
“Times have changed,” said Taylor-Judd. “Today the overwhelming majority of Americans believe that they will live to see the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian Americans. Washington State is at the forefront in the struggle to end discrimination in the issuance of marriage licenses,” concluded Taylor-Judd.
“The Legal Marriage Alliance and Equal Rights Washington share a common philosophy about marriage equality education; we both believe that people telling personal stories to their friends, family, co-workers and neighbors is the key,” said Michael Wrenn co-chair of the ERW Board of Directors. “Everybody-- gay and straight-- has a personal story to tell that helps illustrate the importance of marriage equality. Now we’ll have greater resources to encourage the public and lawmakers to explore the issue through real life experiences,” said Wrenn.
“The Legal Marriage Alliance developed outstanding educational tools over the past decade that empower people to share their stories and help explain the over one thousand legal protections associated with civil marriage,” said Thomas Zambito co-chair of the Equal Rights Washington Board. “We’ll be asking Equal Rights Washington’s 20,000 advocates statewide to share these materials with their friends, family and legislators,” said Zambito.
“The time seemed just perfect for the integration of the all-volunteer Legal Marriage Alliance with Equal Rights Washington,” said Connie Watts, Executive Director of ERW. “With the passage of the gay civil rights bill in 2006, the domestic partnership registry in 2007, and the domestic partnership expansion bill in 2008, it’s time to dramatically increase statewide advocacy in support of marriage equality. With this integration, we’re looking forward to expanding the reach of many of LMA’s educational programs like their ubiquitous ‘I DO: Support Marriage Equality’ bumper stickers, their speakers bureau and educational web resources,” said Watts.
For more information on the combined efforts of Equal Rights Washington and the Legal Marriage Alliace of Washington, visit www.equalrightswashington.org
Courtesy of David Rothmiller & LD Thompson, trick dog films
For My Wife is a film in memory of Kate Fleming, who died tragically in flooding after heavy rains hit the Seattle neighborhood that Kate and Charlene Strong called home. For My Wife is in production and needs the help of community members to be completed.
Charlene's testimony before the legislature helped change hearts toward passage of Washington's Domestic Partnership bill. This film can help continue her work and the efforts of individuals and communities who are working for marriage equality.
The Legal Marriage Alliance has committed itself to a matching donation to complete For My Wife. For every dollar donated during December and January, LMA will match the first $1000. You can make your donation by visiting our secure donation page. (All donations to LMA during the matching period will go to For My Wife.)
Courtesy of David Rothmiller & LD Thompson, trick dog films
The first day to register domestic partnerships is Monday, July 23, 2007. Find forms and answers to your questions at this link:
Click here to view
brochure.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire signed the state's Domestic Partnership Bill into law today. The law extends humanitarian protections to same-sex couples and older mixed-sex couples.
Legislators made it clear during the session that the ultimate goal remains full marriage equality. Before signing the bill, the Governor delivered a strong statement in support of LGBT couples.
As noted in an Associated Press article, "The new law will take effect July 22. Couples can either register with the Secretary of State in Olympia, or download the form from the Web site and send it in to register and receive a certificate of the partnership."
• You can send a message thanking Governor Gregoire via this link provided by Equal Rights Washington.
• Watch video of the signing ceremony and speeches by legislators and the governor. (22 minutes.)
In this new video, "The Way Life Should Be: Marriage in Maine," six born-and-bred Mainers tell the stories of their lives and relationships, and why they want to marry in Maine. They discuss everything from parenting to aging, and how their exclusion from marriage affects their lives legally, emotionally, and socially.
"For same-sex couples, as for opposite-sex couples, marriage is about love, dignity and respect," said EqualityMaine Executive Director Betsy Smith. "It's also about the hundreds of legal rights and responsibilities, touching on every area of life, that come with marriage."
The video will be shown at house parties across the state. In conjunction with national Freedom to Marry Week (February 11-17), "The Way Life Should Be: Marriage in Maine" is also being sent to cable access stations.
The video is a production of EqualityMaine, the Maine Civil Liberties Union (MCLU), and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), who worked with filmmaker Molly O'Neill of Moped Productions on the 12-minute video.
| To Form a More Perfect Union: Marriage Equality News Sponsored by LMA |
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Read daily updates of marriage equality news from around the nation and the globe.
Information, news, and discussion about the legal recognition of same-sex couples and their families, including marriages, domestic partnerships, civil unions, adoptions, foster children and similar issues.
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Study: The Effect of Marriage Equality and Domestic Partnership on Business and the Economy (PDF format, 12 pages) |
This report by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law finds that employer policies that treat employees with same-sex partners or spouses equally would improve the health and well-being of their families, which results in gains for both the employee and his or her family as well as to the employer. Small costs to the employer are balanced out by benefits to employers from positive effects on employees' productivity, health, and stability. Businesses in the wedding-related industries will experience increased revenues and profits from more weddings. In addition, state and federal budgets will see a net gain.
Listen to Evan Wolfson's October 5, 2006, debate with VA Delegate Bob Marshall, co-sponsor of a proposed amendment to the VA Constitution to prohibit legal recognition or benefits for same-sex relationships. (MP3 format. Click to stream or right-click to save as podcast.)
A FAQ has been posted here. These Frequently Asked Questions, sponsored by the Working Group for Marriage Equality in the state of Washington, provide the latest information on the decision by our state supreme court.
The court's decision, dissents and concurrences can be found here. (The case is HEATHER ANDERSEN ANDERSEN ET AL VS KING COUNTY ET AL.)
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Read current letters to the editor, op-eds, commentaries and news items that address marriage equality. Every item includes links and other information for you to write your own response to the editor. Also: writing tips and links for most media outlets in the state. |
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Go to the Bumper Sticker page to order securely online or by mail. |
• Analysis of Recent Rulings, Decisions & Opinions on the Freedom to Marry from the Freedom to Marry site.
• Evan Wolfson Commentary—The freedom to marry: Keep dancing
"The silver lining to the New York State high court’s poorly argued ruling in favor of marriage discrimination is, well, that it’s poorly argued. If we make our case for equality directly to our fellow Americans, we’ll win."
A comparison provided by the Legal Marriage Alliance of Washington
Evan Wolfson delivers the Cal Anderson Memorial Lecture at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, and calls for all of us to engage neighbors and fellow citizens in the personal and informational conversations they deserve—and trust that from that engagement will come marriage.
• Read or save speech text in Adobe Reader format
• Listen to audio (includes Q&A; 1 hour 5 minutes.)
Streaming audio: Just say no to civil union
Evan Wolfson's keynote speech delivered at the LMA 10th Anniversary Celebration on October 16, 2005.
Print article: Just say no to civil union
The Stranger
October 20, 2005
EVAN WOLFSON [bio]
As the Washington Supreme Court's decision on a marriage case draws near, Evan Wolfson writes that "The right way to end discrimination in marriage is to, well, end discrimination in marriage," not create a separate, gay-only status called civil union as a substitute for full equality. Wolfson explains how to make the case for marriage to neighbors, allies, and legislators, too. (Adaptation of the keynote address delivered at the LMA 10th Anniversary Celebration on October 16, 2005.)
• The Freedom To Marry: Rites & Rights— history of marriage equality in the United States.
• The RCW Project—list of Washington state laws that same-sex couples are excluded from.
• The Reading Room—legal cases, notable quotes and reports. Especially useful for students and writers.
Read the latest news on the marriage front hosted part by LMA.
Equal Rights Washington (ERW), is a statewide political advocacy organization for the LGBT community of Washington State with the primary mission of ending discrimination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered persons in every corner of the state.
Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership working to win marriage equality nationwide. Headed by Evan Wolfson, one of America's leading civil rights advocates and lawyers, Freedom to Marry brings new resources and a renewed context of urgency and opportunity to this social justice movement. Freedom to Marry brings the work of its partner organizations into a larger whole, a shared civil rights campaign that fosters heightened outreach to non-gay allies.
Religious Coalition for Equality—Washington
An interfaith association of lay persons and clergy committed to this twofold purpose: to educate Washington State citizens about and to advocate for marriage equality for all couples and the civil rights of all.
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
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