In the wake of California’s passage of Proposition 8, a group of gay and lesbian families are taking to the airwaves with 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that are airing throughout the state. Their purpose is to capture the hearts and minds of people who do not understand why marriage is so important to us. Our message: Marriage promotes families. Support marriage equality Get to know us first. We have run our ads on broadcast and cable television before, during and after the Presidential Inauguration, the Super Bowl, the NAACP Image Awards and The Oscars. We continue to air our PSAs across California during daytime and prime time, focused on 42 of California’s 58 counties, where Proposition 8 received a majority of the vote. Our campaign profiles five gay and lesbian families, some with children, others not and we have ads in English and Spanish. For more information, contact John at (323) 284-5552. Is your faith community taking part?  This summer, we are distributing DVD screeners of the GetToKnowUsFirst PSAs, as well as other relevant print materials to help you start (or continue) the discussion of Marriage Equality from a faith perspective. These packets provide everything you would need to host a screening and discussion, complete with study guide and promotional posters. We expect to reach over 5,000 churches, temples and mosques across California, thanks to our partnership with California Faith for Equality and California Council of Churches. Much like our media campaign, we are focused on people who do not feel strongly about the issue either way. While we are not sending materials to congregations that have taken a stand against Marriage Equality, we have set-up an Adopt a Congregation program for faith communities you feel would be open to our message. Help us to identify congregations in your community that fit into this “moveable middle.”   In Their Own Words... CLERGY ”I would hope that any two committed people, regardless of their gender, could have the same opportunity to have a wonderful, glowing, nurturing, loving relationship in the context of marriage.” Bishop John Selders United Church of Christ ”Our faith communities are ideal venues to discuss scriptural texts, theology, church traditions and civil rights... from a place of compassion and love of neighbor.” Rev. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director California Council on Churches “As a person of faith, love and family is extremely important. God doesn’t ask us to pick a particular person. God just asks us to love.” Rev. Tiffany Steinwert United Methodist Pastor ”I support the freedom to marry because I have never met gays and lesbians in the abstract. It is my son and my daughter, it is my sister and my brother and I wish for them the privilege, the miracle and the gift of a long and lasting relationship. In our faith community, we call that marriage.” Rabbi Ed Feinstein ”Every movement for liberation and progressive social change has been fueled by people of faith and religious communities... from the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage, to the civil rights movement. People of faith have every reason to support the freedom of all people to marry whom they choose.” Rev. Jay Johnson Episcopal Priest ”I support the freedom to marry because it is the right thing to do, the just and moral thing to do.” Sylvia Rhue, Director of Religious Affairs National Black Justice Coalition In Their Own Words... gay families We’ve raising five kids and each one of them is unique. The one thing they all need is respect and self-confidence. We take our responsibility seriously to provide them with these and that;s why we’re telling our story. Xavier & Michael  “We’ve never really been activists. When Prop 8 passed, we realized we have to do something... for our kids. We teach them about equality and respect. How could we not get involved?” Sonia & Gina “Triplets are a lot of work. We would do anything for these kids... and that includes fighting for their rights. We are Californians, too, just like every other family. We are not second class citizens.” Miguel & Ru “We’ve been together for 16 years... friends for 35 years. Finally, we’re married. There is no reason why anyone should be threatened by us.” Diane & Robin “After Prop 8 passed in November, people came up to us everywhere... the grocery store, work, at the dry cleaners, at our son’s preschool... These people, acquaintances and friends, apologized to us. One mom said, ‘Before I got to know you, I had no clue that gay people had kids. You are why we voted for marriage equality.’ That’s when the light bulb went off for us.” Duncan & John Resources Many religions have developed “open and affirming” curriculum addressing the lives of their gay and lesbian members. Recently, Marriage Equality has become a topic of discussion within a broad base of congregations. To the extent you feel comfortable, we urge you to approach the leaders in your own faith community to answer your questions. You may also be interested in the information available through a number of organizations engaged in the Marriage Equality discussion: Dignity USA (Catholic), www.DignityUSA.org Integrity USA (Episcopalian), www.IntegrityUSA.org Claiming the Blessing (Episcopalian), www.ClaimingTheBlessing.org Jewish Mosaic, www.JewishMosaic.org Lutherans Concerned, www.lcna.org More Light Presbyterians, www.mlp.org Reconciling Ministries (United Methodists), www.RMNetwork.org UCC Coalition (United Church of Christ), www.UCCCoalition.org Thank you for being willing to learn why Marriage Equality is so important to gay and lesbian families. We look forward to a day when all families and all children can come together as equals.http://www.cafaithforequality.orghttp://www.cafaithforequality.orghttp://www.CalChurches.orghttps://app.icontact.com/icp/sub/survey/start?sid=7671&cid=383014http://www.DignityUSA.orghttp://www.IntegrityUSA.orghttp://www.ClaimingTheBlessing.orghttp://www.JewishMosaic.orghttp://www.lcna.orghttp://www.mlp.orghttp://www.rmnetwork.orghttp://www.ucccoalition.orghttps://app.icontact.com/icp/sub/survey/start?sid=7671&cid=383014Overview_files/LivingLovingly.pdfshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4shapeimage_1_link_5shapeimage_1_link_6shapeimage_1_link_7shapeimage_1_link_8shapeimage_1_link_9shapeimage_1_link_10shapeimage_1_link_11
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Quick Link Resources

California Council on Churches

  www.CalChurches.org

California Faith for Equality

  www.CAFaithForEquality.org

All or Not at All

  www.allornotatall.org

Courage Campaign

  www.CourageCampaign.org

Equal Roots Coalition

  www.EqualRoots.com

Equality California

  www.EQCA.org

Equality Network

  www.EqualityNetwork.org

Human Rights Campaign

  www.HRC.org

Love Honor Cherish

  www.LHC.org

Yes! on Equality

  www.YesOnEquality.org


 

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