Equal Marriage Supporters

[Uncle Remus]

In light of Freedom to Marry Week, I'd like to start a SSM Supporters thread on the CB.

People across the country are pledging to take part in 7 Conversations in 7 Days in honor of the 12th annual Freedom to Marry Week, February 8-14, 2009.

Why?
Having conversations is the single most important action you can take towards achieving marriage equality nationwide.

How?
Get involved by joining in any of the 7 different ways to have conversations Feb. 8-14. We will highlight different ways to get involved each day, but feel free to get involved any way possible any day of the week!

Sunday, February 8th: YouTube Challenge
Submit a video to our YouTube Challenge for a chance to win cash prizes.

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 and sign and circulate their petitions too!

Wednesday, February 11th: Button Up for Equality
Sign up to receive a button to wear or put our html button 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.

Friday, February 13th: Txt 4 Equality
Receive 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 your local newspaper.

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 here: How to talk about marriage equality.



I'd like to invite you to view this:

for my wife

 

[Uncle Remus]

"When my late husband, Richard, and I got married in Washington, DC in 1958, it wasn't to make a political statement or start a fight. We were in love, and we wanted to be married.

...Not a day goes by that I don't think of Richard and our love, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the 'wrong kind of person' for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry.

...I am proud that Richard's and my name are on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all about."

— Mrs. Mildred Loving

Read Mrs. Loving's full statement here

 

[ChrizJen]

 

[SteveInBrooklyn]

Right on!

 

[Uncle Remus]

Each of us has influence on the circles of people around us, and in the ongoing civil rights conversations about marriage, everyone's voice matters. Freedom to Marry's Voices of Equality include a diverse group of prominent Americans speaking out against discrimination in marriage.

From spiritual leaders to playwrights to politicians, these non-gay and gay women and men are refusing to be silent at a time when America's promise of equality is at stake and when fairness for all families requires ending the exclusion of same-sex couples and their kids from marriage.

See the folks at:
Freedom to Marry Voices of Equality

 

[Goofyluver]

Thank you.

 

[rparmfamily]

Passing the word...thanks!

 

[Uncle Remus]

The State of Hawaii is working to tighten their civil unions laws:

Feb 06, 2009
The state House Judiciary Committee last night approved a bill allowing same-sex partners to enter into civil unions, sending the bill to the full House in what some activists see as a historic step toward equality.

The bill would give partners who join in civil unions the same benefits, protections and responsibilities as married couples under state law. Hawai'i would also recognize civil unions, domestic partnerships and same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Source

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Thank you Uncle Remus. This is an excellent application of the Freedom to Marry Week.

I would like to add to this discussion, before someone hops in here and brings it up, that we'd prefer you not use the silliness of "then churches will be forced to marry gays which is against the religious tenets of the church."

That is a bald faced lie. There is no provision in the legislative system that would support or uphold that. Christian churches, Jewish Synagogues, Muslim Mosques, and any other religious or spiritual organization will remain free to define who they marry and under what circumstances. Let's be clear about that. No, "yeah buts," no, "sure, but what ifs," none of that propaganda that is so patently false.

This is not about anything other than civil liberties. Read that again. CIVIL liberties. This is not about religious freedom. This is about having the right to go before a civil entity and be entered into a biding agreement that goes by the definition of marriage, regardless of the gender of the person you are marrying. Period. That is all it is about.

It's not about educating children to be homosexual. It's not about promoting acceptance of being gay in elementary, junior, or high schools. Bigoted parents do a fine job right now of keeping their little darlings brainwashed. That's why racism is still so prevalent.

This is solely (as in ONLY) about two people marrying in a civil ceremony regardless of gender or religious belief/non-belief.

If you can't get your mind around that, then don't. Don't marry someone of your own gender. Don't join a group to promote marriage of same gendered couples. Don't attend the ceremonies of your friends, neighbors and perhaps one day, your child when they join together with a someone of the same gender.

Do stop lying about it. Do stop pretending that it's the imminent downfall of religion as you know it. Do stop pretending that what two people other than you and your opposite gendered spouse do is going to affect your union.

Civil liberty to marry in a civil ceremony or religious based ceremony where the church is accepting of the union. That is what same gendered marriage is all about.

 

[chrisw127]

Thank you Uncle Remus. This is an excellent application of the Freedom to Marry Week.

I would like to add to this discussion, before someone hops in here and brings it up, that we'd prefer you not use the silliness of "then churches will be forced to marry gays which is against the religious tenets of the church."

That is a bald faced lie. There is no provision in the legislative system that would support or uphold that. Christian churches, Jewish Synagogues, Muslim Mosques, and any other religious or spiritual organization will remain free to define who they marry and under what circumstances. Let's be clear about that. No, "yeah buts," no, "sure, but what ifs," none of that propaganda that is so patently false.

This is not about anything other than civil liberties. Read that again. CIVIL liberties. This is not about religious freedom. This is about having the right to go before a civil entity and be entered into a biding agreement that goes by the definition of marriage, regardless of the gender of the person you are marrying. Period. That is all it is about.

It's not about educating children to be homosexual. It's not about promoting acceptance of being gay in elementary, junior, or high schools. Bigoted parents do a fine job right now of keeping their little darlings brainwashed. That's why racism is still so prevalent.

This is solely (as in ONLY) about two people marrying in a civil ceremony regardless of gender or religious belief/non-belief.

If you can't get your mind around that, then don't. Don't marry someone of your own gender. Don't join a group to promote marriage of same gendered couples. Don't attend the ceremonies of your friends, neighbors and perhaps one day, your child when they join together with a someone of the same gender.

Do stop lying about it. Do stop pretending that it's the imminent downfall of religion as you know it. Do stop pretending that what two people other than you and your opposite gendered spouse do is going to affect your union.

Civil liberty to marry in a civil ceremony or religious based ceremony where the church is accepting of the union. That is what same gendered marriage is all about.

What she said.

 

[Laura]

Amen, DVC~OKW~96!

 

[Va-bear]

What she said.

I double that!!

Equal rights for ALL!

 

[TerriP]

 

[goofy4tink]

Thank you Uncle Remus. This is an excellent application of the Freedom to Marry Week.

I would like to add to this discussion, before someone hops in here and brings it up, that we'd prefer you not use the silliness of "then churches will be forced to marry gays which is against the religious tenets of the church."

That is a bald faced lie. There is no provision in the legislative system that would support or uphold that. Christian churches, Jewish Synagogues, Muslim Mosques, and any other religious or spiritual organization will remain free to define who they marry and under what circumstances. Let's be clear about that. No, "yeah buts," no, "sure, but what ifs," none of that propaganda that is so patently false.

This is not about anything other than civil liberties. Read that again. CIVIL liberties. This is not about religious freedom. This is about having the right to go before a civil entity and be entered into a biding agreement that goes by the definition of marriage, regardless of the gender of the person you are marrying. Period. That is all it is about.

It's not about educating children to be homosexual. It's not about promoting acceptance of being gay in elementary, junior, or high schools. Bigoted parents do a fine job right now of keeping their little darlings brainwashed. That's why racism is still so prevalent.

This is solely (as in ONLY) about two people marrying in a civil ceremony regardless of gender or religious belief/non-belief.

If you can't get your mind around that, then don't. Don't marry someone of your own gender. Don't join a group to promote marriage of same gendered couples. Don't attend the ceremonies of your friends, neighbors and perhaps one day, your child when they join together with a someone of the same gender.

Do stop lying about it. Do stop pretending that it's the imminent downfall of religion as you know it. Do stop pretending that what two people other than you and your opposite gendered spouse do is going to affect your union.

Civil liberty to marry in a civil ceremony or religious based ceremony where the church is accepting of the union. That is what same gendered marriage is all about.

No need to add a thing....I'll second the entire post!!

 

[Uncle Remus]

This might be useful information for Christian gays:

Welcome to the largest gay friendly church directory in the world! Would you like to add your Christian church to this list or modify a church that is already listed? If so email us at G.A.L.I.P.. We will need your church name, location, denomination, web site url (if you have one) and a contact email address. Physical and email address are for our records only.


All churches listed represent themselves in some form or fashion as welcoming Christian church (i.e. gay friendly). "Welcoming" means that the church does not view homosexuality in and of itself as a sin and therefore they would welcome and treat a homosexual person no differently than any other person who walked through their church doors seeking Christ.

"Welcoming" does not necessarily mean that the church is allowed to ordain gay ministers, perform holy unions etc... These issues are usually set at the denominational level and are, many times, outside of the auspices of the individual church.

Worldwide Directory

 

[LukenDC]

These conversations are important.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I'm in!!

 

[Uncle Remus]

These conversations are important.

Yes, they are.

 

[rabx5]

Count me in to spread the word

It's sort of ironic because I had no idea about this until this thread, yet this weekend me, dh and my 19 year old bible thumping son had lengthy discussions about this. Unfortunetely, my son won't budge on this We raised all of our children the same way, but this one is very intolerant of others and it burns my butt. I just don't get him

I will post something on my myspace tonight

This is a very uplifting thread Uncle Remus

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Don't give up on your son. Keep reminding him, and pointing out that "his Jesus" "his G-d" is a kind and loving G-d, and if indeed is responsible for the creation of all, is then responsible for the creation of folks who are different than he.

Thank you for your support. Do let us know how it goes on myspace, please? I don't have an account there, so am not familiar with how it works or the atmosphere there.

Take care now!