Living Out Loud with Darian

There's a lot happening around the country in terms of marriage equality and if you're a regular reader then you already know I'm an advocate for the civil rights of gays and lesbians to legally wed. So much so I'm putting my feet and my big mouth into action on the ground. Below are a few stories that are making headlines.

RIGHT TO MARRY ARIZONA -Soulforce



Soulforce Q is proud to introduce Right to Marry Arizona. Arizona is the first state to defeat a constitutional anti-marriage amendment which returns on the ballots this November.

In August 8th through August 16th, Soulforce Q team of Equality Walkers will set out to engage Phoenix in supporting marriage equality. These young adults will cover 96 miles on foot, the number of years Arizona has been a state without equal protection for its LGBT citizens, throughout the city. They will stop at city halls, local congregations and senior adult communities to share stories of those affected by the anti-marriage legislature.

I'm pleased to announce that I've been invited to participate by Soulforce in Right To Marry Arizona and will be traveling to Phoenix next week. Yea!

Opponents of gay marriage say they'll sue over changed wording in Proposition 8 -L.A. Times



The Secretary of State recently changed the word in the anti-gay ballot measure proposition 8 to accurately reflect the fact that it would actually remove a right from many Californians. The language was changed from “to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” to the more accurate “eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.” Now, gay marriage foes are suing to have the language changed back to what it was originally.

Victory! House passes 1913 law repeal in roll call vote-Bay Windows



The bill to repeal the 1913 law is on its way to Governor Deval Patrick, who will sign it into law. The bill cleared a final hurdle t when the House of Representatives passed the bill on a roll call vote after about 25 minutes of debate. The vote was 118-35, with five members not voting. The Senate passed the repeal bill on a voice vote with no fanfare or dissent on July 15.

Bruce Bastian donates $1 million to defeating California marriage amendment -HRC Back Story



Angel Investor: Utah's Bruce Bastian, a member of HRC's Board of Directors, announced at HRC's San Francisco Gala Dinner on Saturday that he will donate $1 million to the campaign against Proposition 8, the ballot amendment to overturn marriage equality in California. With more than three months to go before election day, the outside money on both sides of the ballot battle will just keep coming.


Minnesota to Follow Mass. and Calif. in Same-Sex Marriage? -The Advocate



Minnesota’s gay and lesbian couples have begun organizing a lawsuit similar to the ones that overturned same-sex marriage bans in Massachusetts and California, the Twin Cities’ Daily Planet reported Sunday.

“Gays and lesbians face legal costs to get legal documents such as hospital visitation, care decisions, and so on -- all that are granted by marriage,” Duane Benson told the Planet. Benson and his partner, Doug, are one of the couples looking to sue the state.

“We want a critical mass of couples involved,” Doug told the Planet. So far, the Bensons are joined by three other couples and are hoping for a group of nearly 30 couples by August 15 in order to bring a successful suit.

NJ: Garden State Equality nabs Commercial Closet Award -Pam's House Blend



Pop the cork of the champagne bottle for Garden State Equality for its Commercial Closet Association Award for the year's Outstanding Nonprofit Campaign! The Think Equal ad for marriage equality, produced by Blue Jersey and Kaplan Thaler, aired with a grant from Freedom to Marry on cable TV stations in New Jersey. Here's the winning ad honored at the 4th Annual Images in Advertising Awards:



Check this one out too: