Lambda Legal Celebrates 6th Annual Freedom to Marry Week with Events Around the Country

(New York, Wednesday, February 11, 2004) - In cities and towns nationwide, Lambda Legal and dozens of local groups will hold celebrations, community meetings, workshops and other events to mark National Freedom To Marry Week.

For the last six years, local groups in communities across the country have joined Lambda Legal in celebrating National Freedom To Marry Week - leading up to Valentine’s Day -- to build public support for the right of same-sex couples to marry.

“The victory in Massachusetts is huge and one day we will have recognition and respect for our relationships across the country-until we do, celebrations like the ones taking place this week are important to help educate the public about why full equality for our families is imperative,” said Michael Adams, Director of Education and Public Affairs at Lambda Legal.

Adams also noted that after a widely successful 13-stop town hall meeting series in New Jersey, featuring seven same-sex couples who are seeking the right to marry in that state, Lambda Legal will soon roll out their spring event schedule which includes a focus on clergy members and the Latino community. The outreach in New Jersey centers around a lawsuit brought by Lambda Legal on behalf of the seven couples seeking the right to marry in New Jersey.

A list of major events planned for Freedom to Marry Week, along with contact information and major co-sponsors, follows.

Wednesday, Feb. 11: Town hall meeting (Columbia, South Carolina)
7:00 p.m. on the campus of the University of South Carolina in the Gambrell Auditorium (Gamb 153) Contact: Asha Leong, 404-897-1880
Lambda Legal and the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement are partnering together to produce a town hall meeting on the future of LGBT Marriage Equality. Please join them for this unique opportunity to hear from national and local leaders discussing the movement for civil marriage equality. This event is free and open to the public. Co Sponsors include: SGLPM, Lambda Legal, Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, USC Student Government and the USC Bisexual Gay and Lesbian Alliance.

Wednesday, Feb. 11: Clergy Breakfast Event (West Hollywood, California)
9:00 a.m. at Congregation Kol Ami, 1200 N. LaBrea Ave at Lexington; Contact: Rabbi Denise L. Eger 323-606-0996
Featured speakers include: Rabbi Allen Freehling (Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission), Jon Davidson (Senior Counsel of Lambda Legal), Dr. Sylvia Rhue (Executive Director of the CA Freedom to Marry Coalition) and, possibly, Rev. Ed Bacon (All Saints, Pasadena). To RSVP, call: 323-606-0996. This event is sponsored by the Voice of My People Foundation in conjunction with Congregation Kol Ami and West Hollywood Presbyterian Church.

Thursday, Feb. 12: Marriage Equality Reception (Chicago, Illinois)
7:00-9:00 p.m. at the High Risk Gallery, 1113 West Belmont, Chicago. Contact: Feb12Chicago@lambdalegal.org
Working in cooperation with over 30 local and national groups, Lambda Legal will highlight numerous community organizations that work for and support marriage equality including Pastor Karen Hunt of the Church of the Open Door. Pastor Hunt will address the crowd, as will representatives from PFLAG and the Association of Latin Men for Action. Lambda Legal’s Director of Education and Public Affairs Michael Adams and Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley will also speak. Admission is free, RSVP is requested by emailing Feb12Chicago@lambdalegal.org.

Thursday, Feb. 12: Strolling Wedding Party (Columbia, South Carolina)
10:00 a.m. Register for marriage at the Richland County Courthouse then at 11:30 stroll through downtown Columbia as a wedding party. Contact: Ed Madden SCPrideCenter@aol.com or 803-771-7713

Thursday, Feb. 12: Marriage Equality Town Hall Meeting (Madison, Wisconsin)
7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater in Madison, 216 State St. Contact: Joshua Freker 608-441-0143
The event will feature a panel of leading experts on legislative and judicial developments, testimonies from same-sex couples, and an audience Q&A. Featured speakers will include representatives from Lambda Legal, the national legal group that convinced the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Texas’s sodomy law, and the Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. Sponsors of the event include Action Wisconsin, the ACLU, Freedom to Marry, GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Friday, Feb. 13: Demonstration and Celebration for Marriage Equality (Houston, Texas)
2:00 p.m. at the County Clerk’s office; Contact: Jerry Simoneaux 713-227-1717
Thirty same-sex couples will march into the clerk’s office and register to marry. Outside on the steps PFLAG parents will protest with signs reading “My Child Deserves the Right to Marry”. There will also be a press event-Dennis Coleman, Lambda Legal’s South Central Regional Director will participate.

7:00-10:00 p.m. at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 2025 West 11th St. at T.C. Jester; Contact: Jerry Simoneaux 713-227-1717
Clergy from various faiths will be present to speak on marriage equality from their religious perspective. Then, the Reverends Carolyn Mobley and Bernard Barbour will perform the ceremony. Guests and well-wishers are all welcome. A reception at the church will follow the ceremony.

Saturday, Feb 14: Valentine’s Day of Action Rally (Atlanta, Georgia)
12:00 p.m. Noon on the Washington Street side of the Georgia State Capitol on or near the steps; Contact: Bradley Smith 404-372-4271 or Rev. Paul Turner 404-522-1444
The purpose of the Valentine's Day Action Rally is to express opposition to the "Federal Marriage Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, as well as SR 595, a bill currently in the Georgia Senate calling for prohibition of same-sex marriages. As well as protesting the proposed amendments, the rally will celebrate and call for marriage equality for all people. The event is organized by DontAmend Atlanta. A few of the many cosponsors are Lambda Legal, Georgia Equality, Grace Church, Morehouse College Chapter of Safe Space, Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Karla Drenner, State Representative Dist 57, Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, Unity Fellowship, Trans=Action, University of Georgia Stonewall Students, University of Georgia Lambda Alliance, and Sam Zamarripa, State Senator Dist 36.

Saturday, Feb 14: Valentine’s Day Rally for Marriage Equality (Columbia, South Carolina)
12:00 p.m. Noon on the State House Steps; Contact: Ed Madden SCPrideCenter@aol.com or 803.771.7713. The rally is supported by Lambda Legal.

Sunday, Feb. 15: Rite of Blessing for Couples (Columbia, South Carolina)
11:00 a.m. at the MMC Church in Columbia; Contact 803-256-2154
MCC Columbia will offer a rite of blessing for couples in loving relationships during the morning worship service at 11 am. The blessing is open to all couples, regardless of gender. Lambda Legal supports this event.

Sunday, Feb 22: Town Hall Meeting ( Louisville, KY)
4:00-6:00 p.m. at MCC Louisville, 1432 Highland Ave.; Contact: Asha Leong 404-897-1880
While we have just ended one of the most important years for civil rights gains in the LGBT community, some legislators are trying to enshrine discrimination against our families and relationships through a federal constitutional amendment and other measures designed to prohibit marriage by same-sex couples. Co sponsors include: MCC Louisville, Fairness Campaign, and Lambda Legal.

###

Contact: Lisa Hardaway 212-809-8585 X 266