MARRIAGE EQUALITY RESOURCE GUIDE
The story of marriage equality begins with near-total acceptance of second-class status for a large swath of Americans—and ends with an overwhelming sense of inevitability that all people are entitled to access to the benefits of marriage. That enormous change—as well as the continuing manifestation of this “sure thing”—is the result of thousands of individuals acting in small ways to change their own perspective, that of their communities, and ultimately lawmakers’ views, bills, and votes.
So, what can we do to continue the work celebrated in this volume? Each day there are countless opportunities to interrupt the status quo and shape the world so that it more closely hews to the ideals on which this nation was founded. To name a few:
• You can write your representatives on the state and federal level and let them know you support equal marriage and want representatives in office who share those values. If your elected officials already support marriage equality, send them a thank you note—in many states, it’s still a brave position to take and kind words are always good for courage.
• Scour your local paper for stories relating to marriage rights and write a letter to the editor in response. It gives you a chance to voice your opinion to a broad audience—and emboldens others to do the same.
• You can get involved with or donate to any of the organizations below, all of which have wonderful human rights agendas that include marriage equality.
American Civil Liberties Union
In addition to being “our nation’s guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone,” the ACLU sued the federal government on behalf of Edith Windsor to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013. Every state and Puerto Rico has its own affiliate, and the national organization can be reached at:
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 212-549-2500
www.aclu.org
Audre Lorde Project
“There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” So said the great lesbian poet warrior who is the namesake of this organization. Her words embellish millions of e-mails from idealists around the world, and this organization, devoted to her memory, is explicitly antisexist and recognizes the full diversity of gay communities of color.
Manhattan:
147 West 24th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-463-0342
Brooklyn:
85 South Oxford Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 718-596-0342
www.alp.org
BiNet USA
As the foremost umbrella organization representing bisexual, pansexual, and fluid communities, BiNet supports marriage equality, immigration reform to support queer families and avoid needless separation, and the right to adopt, foster, and have child custody.
4201 Wilson Boulevard, #110-311
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: 1-800-585-9368
www.binetusa.org
Family Equality Council
The Family Equality Council “is committed to achieving family equality for all types of families” and to making marriage an option for any couple who desires that right.
Washington, DC:
1050 17th Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Boston:
41 Winter Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-502-8700
Fax: 617-502-8701
www.familyequality.org
Freedom to Marry
This civil rights campaign has partnered “with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings” since 2003. Evan Wolfson, a key figure in the struggle for marriage equality, is the founder.
New York City:
155 West 19th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-851-8418
Fax: 646-375-2069
Washington, DC:
2120 L Street NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-223-0732
Fax: 202-223-0082
www.freedomtomarry.org
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders
According to GLAD’s website, “Whether it’s marriage for same-sex couples, nondiscrimination policies for transgender people in the workplace, or protections for people with HIV, GLAD doesn’t shrink from tough issues. And we don’t compromise on our belief that every citizen deserves full equality under the law—without exception.”
30 Winter Street, Suite 800
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-426-1350
www.glad.org
Human Rights Campaign
According to HRC’s website, “We are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. We are friends and neighbors and colleagues. We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight. We believe every American has the right to marry the person they love.”
1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-628-4160
Fax: 202-347-5323
www.hrc.org
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
This pioneering international activist organization was founded in 1990 by Julie Dorf, who believes that “all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status” deserve human rights.
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 1505
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-430-6054
Fax: 212-430-6060
www.iglhrc.org
Lambda Legal
From winning the freedom to marry to defending domestic partnership benefits and securing parent-child relationships, Lambda Legal protects same-sex couples and their families through a broad range of litigation, education, and advocacy strategies.
120 Wall Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 212-809-8585
Fax: 212-809-0055
www.lambdalegal.org
Log Cabin Republicans
Gay Republicans need organizations too. According to Executive Director Gregory T. Angelo, “Log Cabin Republicans will continue to be on the front lines to take the conservative case for marriage to Republicans across the nation.”
1090 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-420-7873
www.logcabin.org
Marriage Equality
Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots, volunteer-driven organization dedicated solely to securing the right for all Americans to enter into legally recognized civil marriages.
PO Box 121, Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113
Phone: 347-913-6369
Fax: 347-479-1700
www.marriageequality.org
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
NGLTF believes that the respect, many rights, and protections marriage provides are essential to the well-being of all families. Since the 1970s, NGLTF has worked to lobby, change our culture, and train activists, responding to the most pressing needs of the gay community.
Washington, DC:
1325 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-393-5177
Fax: 202-393-2241
New York City:
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 1504
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-604-9830
Fax: 212-604-9831
Cambridge, MA:
1151 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617-492-6393
Fax: 617-492-0175
Miami, FL:
801 Arthur Godfrey Road, Suite 402
Miami Beach, FL 33140
Phone: 305-571-1924
Fax: 305-571-7298
Minneapolis, MN:
122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 210
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: 612-821-4397
Fax: 612-821-4397
www.ngltf.org