Coast to Coast Marriage Equality Marches on Sunday, September 14, 2008 in Support of the Freedom to Marry

San Francisco, CA: On Sunday, September 14, 2008, Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) and Marriage Equality New York (MENY) are partnering together for their fifth annual simultaneous walks across the Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge in support of marriage equality.

“This year has seen incredible progress for marriage equality coast to coast,” said Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director. “Last year at this time, neither California or New York recognized the marriages of same-sex couples. Now, one year later, California is enjoying its fourth month of same-sex couples getting legally married in all 58 counties and New York is recognizing marriages of same-sex couples. We are well on our way to fulfilling this quest for basic fairness for all families and we want to recognize and celebrate how far we have come and ensure that this basic civil right is protected and extended to all Americans.”

In New York City, marchers will gather at 11am (EST) at City Hall Park proceeding across the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn, ending with a picnic and festival in Cadman Plaza and in Albany, marchers will also gather in 11am (EST) at Albany Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve.

In San Francisco, marchers will gather at 9:30am (PST) at the west end of Crissy Field to march across the Golden Gate Bridge and then return to Crissy Field for wedding cake and entertainment. Prior to the march in San Francisco, at 10am (PST), a press conference will be held that shall include San Francisco County Assessor Phil Ting who has been a long time advocate for same-sex couples and now houses the office that has recorded thousands of marriage licenses for same-sex and different-sex couples since marriage equality has been the law of the land in California.

At the press conference, MEUSA will remember Del Martin, a LGBT civil rights hero, who passed away last month and honor her life by redoubling our efforts to ensure that all loving, committed couples like Del and Phyllis Lyons (her wife) have the freedom to marry. The press conference will conclude with a cross-country call to marriage equality marchers in New York City who will be finishing their march across the Brooklyn Bridge and we start our walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.

“This is a terrific event for the whole family and a great way for supporters to find out the latest information about how to ensure we sustain marriage equality in California,” said Brown. “Come use your voice for equality and get your t-shirts, bumper stickers and posters to show your support for marriage equality.”

Additional information on both events can be found on the web at http://www.marriageequality.org.


>> This is an official press release from the National Press Center of Marriage Equality USA, a national organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.