
Donate
online to support expenses Flyer
(Please distribute) "Canadian
same-sex marriage poster boys Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell, who run the equalmarriage.ca
web site, plan to hit the road in the U.S. and bring hope to American lesbian
and gay couples craving their own nuptials." Innewsweekly.com,
June 3, 2021
 Kevin
Bourassa, Molly MacKay, Davina Kotulski, and Joe Varnell
Sponsoring
organizations include: Asian
Pacific American Coalition for Equality California Freedom to Marry Coalition
Dignity USA Equal Marriage For Same-Sex Couples in Canada Equality California
The Equality Campaign DontAmend.com(National, Chicago, Philadelphia, Kansas
City, Dallas, Tampa, Atlanta, Seattle, and Massachusetts) Equality Illinois
EyeBite Productions Families of Color Network Freedom to Marry Immigration
Equality-San Francisco Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell: Equal Marriage For
Same-Sex Couples (Canada) Love Exiles Foundation Love Sees No Borders
Marriage Equality California Marriage Equality Colorado Marriage Equality
Georgia Marriage Equality USA Metropolitan Community of Churches Parents
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Soulforce, Inc. Maryland Equality United
Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns
Women Vision Wyoming Equality 





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Adovcacy News - International
Marriage Equality Express May
5, 2004
(Updated October 1) International
Marriage Equality Express Two civil rights milestones
celebrated "Human rights
do not begin or end at a nation's borders. Human rights and human dignity are
universal and inevitable." Jerry Shestack, Past President American Bar Association,
and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission. May
6, 2002, Toronto Update:
Due to ongoing uncertainty regarding our difficulty in entering the U.S. as a
family, and our still undefined legal strategy, we have cancelled our participation.
We greatly appreciate the organizer's kind offer for us to be their guests, and
we have donated all funds raised to the tour organizers. California
activists are spearheading an international call to action in support of marriage
equality for same-sex couples. The "Marriage
Equality Express" caravan will leave San Francisco and travel across the heartland,
spreading the word about why access to civil marriage is so important for families
of same sex couples. The caravan will converge in Washington D.C. on National
Coming Out Day, October 11th, for an emergency rally to speak out against the
proposed Constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage and in support of full
equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) people. The
caravan will be leaving from San Francisco carrying several same-sex newlyweds.
Over a seven day period, the Marriage Equality Express will stop in Sacramento,
Reno, Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, Denver, Kansas City, St, Louis, Indianapolis,
Cincinnati, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and eventually converge with other marriage
activists in Washington D.C. for the rally at the U.S. Capitol. "We
want to put a face to the issue and explain how the Defense of Marriage Act and
other state and federal discriminatory laws directly affect our lives," said Davina
Kotulski, Ph.D. organizer and author of Why You Should Give A Damn About Gay
Marriage, "Riders will include bi-national couples, parents, federal employees,
grandmothers, children of gay parents, clergy members, military veterans and other
long-time together couples who will share their personal stories at rallies along
the way. California activists committed to expanding this to a national action
are beginning to work with other states who are interested in hosting their own
Marriage Equality Express caravans to increase outreach and education in other
cities along their own route to D.C."
"This
is an emergency rally, held just BEFORE the elections, because anti-equal rights
forces are trying to ram through this discriminatory amendment, scapegoat gay
people, and thus divert attention away from the failures of the Bush administration,"
said Robin Tyler, National Co-Chair of DontAmend.com. "Unfortunately, by not standing
up to this bigotry, leaders of the Democratic opposition have ALSO failed their
constituents. They have thus far refused to take a principled stand of endorsing
full legal equality for gay people, including equal marriage rights.] Regardless
of the presidential election, we need to confront bigotry and all politicians
who continue to push Marriage segregation. We are not going to just go away, or
wait until our cause is more convenient. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, 'Justice
Delayed is Justice Denied.'" | Marriage
Equality Express Caravan Schedule October 4-11th Mon
10/4 Day 1 9:00-10:00 AM Rally in Sacramento NOON-2:00 PM Rally in Reno
Tue
10/5 Day 2 Noon -2:00 PM Rally in Salt Lake City Fundraising Dinner and
Overnight in SLC Wednesday
10/6 Day 3 4:00-6:30 PM Cheyenne/fundraiser/speakers. 8:00-11:00 PM Fundraiser
in Denver Thursday
10/7 Day 4 9:00-10:00 AM Rally in Denver 8:15-10:15pm Marriage Fundraiser
in Kansas City Fri
10/8 Day 5 Noon-2:00 PM Rally in St. Louis 6:00-9:00 PM Indianapolis
Fundraiser Dinner/Speakers Sat
10/9 Day 6 11:00 12:30 PM Morning Rally in Cincinnati 2:00-3:30 PM Rally
in Columbus 6:30-10:00 PM Pittsburgh Marriage Fundraiser Dinner
Sun
10/10 Day 7 Arrive in DC, check into hotels 6:00 PM Marriage Fundraiser Mon 10/11
Day 8 National Coming Out Day. 11:00-4:00 PM Marriage Equality Rally at the U.S.
Capitol Donate
to cover expenses |
"I
feel so far removed from the good things happening in San Francisco. I live in
Colorado where the conservative Republican House & Senate are constantly repressing
the GLBT community. The Marriage Equality caravan stopping in Denver allows us
to be a part of the action. I'm very excited about it," said Antonio Martinez,
Marriage Equality Colorado. "This
will definitely shake up Wyoming. I think it's important for people to know about
how gay and lesbian couples are hurt by not having access to marriage. We will
roll out the red carpet, here in Cheyenne," said Tony Hughes, Equality Wyoming.
"We were married
on Jan. 14, 2001 by the Metropolitan Community
Church of Toronto. On June
10, 2003 the Court of Appeal for Ontario ordered the province to register
our m arriage
and the court changed the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples,
effective immediately. Even after all we went through to have our marriage recognized
in our own country, when we tried to enter the US in September
2003 we were denied entry as a married couple. We are going on the caravan
to talk to Americans about how not having full equality, hurts all the citizens
of the world," said Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell,
Equal Marriage for Same Sex Couples (Canada). "We
are a bi-national same-sex couple. Wendy is American and I am from Wales. Despite
being married in San Francisco, Wendy is unable to sponsor me for permanent residency
as a heterosexual spouse can. We are legal strangers in the eyes of the Federal
law. This means Wendy's country "the land of the free" is forcing her to choose
her country or the love of her life. We want people to know about the plight of
same-sex bi-national couples." Belinda Ryan Immigration Equality "Hundreds
of Americans have chosen to live with their non-US loved ones in foreign countries,
where their relationships are treated as equal under law, rather than live as
second class citizens in the US. US gays and lesbians in bi-national relationships
do not enjoy the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness--at least
not in the United States. It's time for change. Love Exiles are joining the caravan
to demand our rights in the USA." Martha McDevitt-Pugh, founder of Love Exiles,
with chapters in the Netherlands, UK, Germany and Canada. The
marriage caravan will: - Increase
media attention on the issues related to marriage equality, immigration equality,
children's rights and protections, and other areas of equality for all LGBT people
and communities.
- Increase
media attention in regions where media attention may be infrequent and demonstrate
the diversity of our communities and our allies.
- Infuse,
empower, invigorate, and share resources with local leadership.
- Bring
together a coalition of organizations working together for equality and to create
a common goal and synergy that resonates throughout the country.
- Do
a Voter Drive in each location and encourage people to make their voices heard
through voting.
- Create
optimism and a united movement that will help us defeat the Federal Marriage Amendment,
overturn Don't Ask Don't Tell, repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, pass the Permanent
Partners Immigration Act and put the USA on notice that LGBT people and their
supporters are a force to reckon with.
A
few seats will be available for media who would like to cover this story. Please
contact Davina Kotulski for details: Marriage
Equality California (510) 332-0973 davina@marriageequalityca.org
Please
support
this important same-sex marriage initiative.
To
place this banner on your web site, linking to this page, simply
copy the code found below and place in your html: | |
<a href="http://www.samesexmarriage.ca/advocacy/EE050504.htm"
target="_blank"> <img src="http://www.samesexmarriage.ca/images/advocacy/marriagecaravan/banner1.gif" border="1"
width="100" height="100" alt="Equal Marriage For Same-Sex Couples - Marriage
Equality Express"></a> Our
thanks to the following for promotional assistance:
Thanks
to Richard Blaquiere, Derrick Joyner, Gian Yek Liew, George Olds and Ian Taylor,
for their online
donations. If you prefer, cheques can be made payable to MECA/EQCA, with "Kevin
and Joe: Marriage Caravan" written in the memo line and sent to MECA at 4043 Piedmont
Ave. #334, Oakland, CA 94611. |