Our first stop on the Summer for Marriage tour

by: Freedom To Marry

Fri Jul 16, 2010 at 13:00

Earlier this week, Freedom to Marry teamed up with local and state equality groups to launch Summer for Marriage, a cross-country series of events about the importance of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. The tour also counters the anti-gay bus tour being sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). NOM is headed by Brian Brown who recently called for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning same-sex couples from marrying.

The first stop on the equality tour was in Augusta, Maine. Marriage supporters were joined by Gov. John Baldacci who called the marriage movement "It was one of the most passionate, committed causes that I've been a part of, and proud to be a part of." Gov. Baldacci signed the marriage bill into law in 2009 that was overturned by votes in a ballot fight partially financed by NOM. Adam provided great on-the-ground coverage of the Maine ballot campaign here.

A coalition of groups led by Equality Maine is working together to win back marriage for gay and lesbian couples. The coalition held a press conference on Wednesday attended by rough 100 marriage supporters and featuring same-sex couples and elected officials who support marriage equality.

More on what happened in the extended entry.

In an attempted pre-emptive strike, supporters of same-sex marriage held a press conference inside the State House earlier Wednesday in which they accused NOM of using the same "fearmongering" techniques employed in 2009.

Speakers also pledged to continue striving for what they see as equal protection for gay couples.

"That is a community that is ready to fight," Betsy Smith, executive director of Equality Maine, said while standing in front a stairwell full of about 100 supporters.

The second stop on the Summer for Marriage Tour was in Manchester, NH. New Hampshire is one of five states plus Washington, D.C. where same-sex couples can marry.

The reception NOM got in Manchester was underwhelming. After months of organizing, about 70 staffers and supporters attended their rally.

In another example of NOM's escalating anti-gay rhetoric, Dr. Ruth Roback, who heads the NOM-financed Ruth Institute said:

Same-sex marriage is a hostile takeover of civil society by the state.

The poor turnout at the NOM event may be a sign that their influence is waning in New Hampshire. As Mo Baxley, Executive Director of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition pointed out:

The people of New Hampshire have demonstrated time after time that they are not bigots and will not condone discrimination.

After six months of marriage equality in New Hampshire, the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west. And truth be told, most people have seen no impact on their lives at all.

Upcoming events on the Summer for Marriage Tour:

July 17th -  Albany, NY
11:30am-1:30pm
Picnic for couples and families who support the freedom to marry, Reflecting Pools at Albany Plaza

July 20 - Trenton, NJ
11:30am
Town Meeting on Marriage sponsored by Garden State Equality
State House Annex, 125 West State Street, Committee Room 1

July 23 - Columbus, OH
Press Conference
Details: TBD

Additional events are planned through mid-August.  Stay tuned - and visit http://www.freedomtomarry.org/summer-for-marriage - for more details as they become available.