Young Conservatives For The Freedom To Marry

Meghan McCain

From The Advocate:

Meghan McCain, the political commentator and daughter of U.S. Senator John McCain, has joined the leadership committee of Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, the group working to build on the growing support for marriage equality expressed among young conservatives.

Freedom to Marry, which launched the initiative this past summer, announced the new appointment in a news release. McCain currently serves as an MSNBC contributor and columnist for the Daily Beast. She became vocal about her support for marriage equality after her father’s presidential run in 2008.

“I’m thrilled to join the Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, who believe, as I do, that we don’t have to choose between conservatism and marriage for all committed couples,” said McCain in a statement. “I look forward to spreading the message that the tenets of family, personal freedom and responsibility point the way toward a GOP that fully embraces the freedom to marry.”

Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry aims to show the bipartisan nature of marriage equality by providing a platform for conservatives, Republicans and Libertarians under the age of 44 who believe marriage equality “fulfills basic conservative values of responsibility and community, as well as limited government and individual freedom,” according to a news release about the group’s founding. The leadership committee also includes Margaret Hoover, the political commentator and great-granddaughter of President Herbert Hoover.

House Dem. Leadership Behind DoMA Repeal Effort

From Freedom to Marry:

This week, Congressman James Clyburn signed on as a co-sponsor for the Respect for Marriage Act. In doing so, Rep. Clyburn, who serves as the Assistant Democratic Leader and is from South Carolina, became the last member of the House of Representatives' Democratic Leadership to co-sponsor the bill. His support follows previous support from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, and Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson. The total number of co-sponsors for the Respect for Marriage Act now stands at 157 in the House and 33 in the Senate.  

See all 157 of the House co-sponsors and all 33 of the Senate co-sponsors for the Respect for Marriage Act. 

The Respect for Marriage Act is the bill that would repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which federally prohibits respect of lawful marriages between same-sex couples and denies married same-sex couples over 1,100 protections afforded to different-sex married couples.

Freedom to Marry is a chair of the Respect for Marriage Coalition, a partnership of over 80 civil rights, faith, health, labor, legal, LGBT, student, and women's organizations working to build support for the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. You can learn more about the Coalition by visiting the Respect for Marriage Coalition microsite HERE.

"Freedom to Marry" Seeks Young Conservatives

From the Huffington Post:

As support for marriage equality continues to grow, a significant number of conservative hold-outs still insist that marriage must remain between one man and one woman. But instead of simply writing off Republicans, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights group Freedom to Marry today begins a campaign to spread the message that support for marriage equality is consistent with conservative principles. To do so, Freedom to Marry is tapping a group on the right already trending away from the GOP traditional position: young conservatives.

Freedom to Marry on Tuesday launches "Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry" to highlight the demographic's growing support for marriage equality. While 61 percent of all Republicans said they believe same-sex marriage should be illegal in a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, Republicans ages 18 to 44 were evenly split.

The campaign begins with a reception this evening on Capitol Hill, and there are plans to host a brunch at the Republican National Convention.

It is true that even among conservatives, particularly younger conservatives, there is growing acceptance of LGBT equality just like there is in pretty much every socioeconomic strata.  Cultivating this demographic will be very important moving forward and is a very smart (and bold) move on the part of Freedom to Marry. Plus, there is the added bonus of pissing off folks like Tony Perkins.

Latino Groups Supporting Equality

From the Washington Blade:

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Cuban American National Council, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund are among the 22 groups that have backed the “Familia es Familia” campaign.  The initiative will provide affiliated organizations with trainings, videos, publications and other resources in both English and Spanish on marriage rights for same-sex couples, discrimination and other issues. “Familia es Familia” will also use Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks to further engage Latinos on these issues.

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 An Arcus Foundation-funded survey that ‘La Raza’ and Social Science Research Solutions released in April shows that 54 percent of Latinos support marriage rights for same-sex couples. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they back civil unions for gays and lesbians, while 78 percent of Latinos support openly gay and lesbian servicemembers. The same poll found that while 83 percent of respondents support LGBT-specific employment protections, only 55 percent said they support adoption rights for gays and lesbians.

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 “A growing majority of Latinos in this country know that every gay or lesbian person is part of someone’s family — a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a loved one — and the more conversations we have, family member to family member, the more support for the freedom to marry grows,” [Evan] Wolfson [from Freedom to Marry] stressed to the Blade, specifically highlighting marriage rights for same-sex couples. “Latino gay couples seek the freedom to marry to affirm and strengthen their love, their commitment, and their ability to take care of each other and their families; government should not be putting barriers in their way. Freedom to Marry is proud to be supporting the ‘Familia es Familia’ campaign to lift up Hispanic voices and stories as together we make the case for ending the exclusion from marriage.”

I guess the National Organization For Marriage Discrimination trying to drive wedges between the LGBT community and racial minorities is not going so well.

The Wrap-Up: February 16, 2012

When it comes to this recent argument over contraception, the GOP is (yet again) out of touch with most Americans...and most Catholics.

"Doctor" Keith Ablow (a psychological contributor for Fox) makes a judgement call on Media Matters founder David Brock. I wonder how much time the "doctor" spent with Brock to make this diagnosis.

As Freedom to Marry calls on the Democratic Party platform to embrace fulls LGBT equality (including marriage), Nancy Pelosi shows her support.

A committee in the New Mexico state House had a very disappointing way of celebrating Valentine's Day.

Virginia's drunk drivers are in the legislature's cross-hairs.

While I'm on the Commonwealth, some same-sex couples in the Virginia see reasons for optimism.

The most homophobic member of the New York state legislature may be seeking a seat in the House of Representatives.

Liebes Deutschland, YOU'RE WELCOME. Love, English-speakers.

A Civil Unions bill is advancing through the Colorado legislature.

And lastly, this didn't make the television broadcast at the Grammys (commercial break), but here is Adele's epic (and melodic) take-down of Newt Gingrich. Thank God her throat surgery went well or this may not have happened.

The Wrap-Up: February 15, 2012

Freedom to Marry is putting the heat on the Democratic Party.

One of these days, athletes will learn that anti-gay tweets are just going to get them in trouble. Unfortunately, that day has yet to arrive.

The Anoka-Hennipin school district's neutrality policy on anti-gay bullying has finally been replaced.

Romney and Santorum are in a statistical dead heat. I say battle to the death, winner gets the GOP nod.

Even in Romney's state of origin (not Massachusetts), Romney is losing to Santorum.

Here was one way you could have celebrated Valentine's Day: by breaking up...with Bank of America.

Did you know that marriage equality will lead to people marrying horses? I'm sure this problem is rampant in the 10 countries which have legalized gay marriage, they just choose not to tell us.

And lastly, the international community, including the European Union and the United States, is condemning an anti-gay "propaganda" law which is about to be enacted in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Wrap-Up: February 14, 2012

HAPPY VALENTINES' DAY TO ALL!!!

Yesterday saw Washington state have marriage equality signed into law and the New Jersey state Senate pass a marriage equality bill of its own.

Yesterday also saw President Obama unveil his budget for fiscal year 2013.

Where Are They Now: Tea Party Edition.

Canada calls the U.S. on its problem with the gays.

"Women in the military should expect to be raped" (paraphrased...barely) is exactly the kind of punditry we have come to expect from Fox and its contributors.

An open letter was pinned for the LGBT students in the Anoka-Hennipin school district (the one in Minnesota that has seen a rash of suicides linked to anti-LGBT bullying).

The GOP blinked on extending the tax cuts...luckily.

Some Wisconsin legislators are making a move to undo Citizens United and end corporate personhood.

Some clergy members are lobby MSNBC to stop having Tony Perkins on-air. I wonder why since it's not like he's the leader of a hate group. Oh wait...

And lastly, the good news is that more mayors are on board with Freedom To Marry. The bad news, being a Hokie fan, I can't hate on Charlottesville nearly as much.