April, 20 2009, 11:15am EDT
Freedom to Marry Launches Voices for Equality Program
50 Voices for Equality Already Nominated, Help Us Reach 100 Voices by May 2009
NEW YORK
Freedom to Marry announced today the creation of its new
program-Voices for Equality-an online record of prominent Americans
who have spoken out against discrimination in marriage. From religious leaders
to entertainers to politicians, these non-gay and gay women and men are
refusing to be silent at a time when America's promise of equality is at
stake.
"The Voices for Equality program highlights those who are
speaking out for marriage equality in order to honor these voices and help
promote conversations across the country with these individuals as
examples," said Evan Wolfson,
executive director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America,
Equality and Gay People's Right to Marry. "A great
example of a Voice for Equality is Steve Schmidt, chief strategist of John
McCain's presidential campaign, who spoke out in support of marriage equality
just recently, and gave a speech about why Republicans should embrace the
freedom to marry."
Our first
50 Voices for Equality, including Steve Schmidt, are already profiled on the
Freedom to Marry website (https://www.freedomtomarry.org/about_us/voices_for_equality.php),
but everyone can help spotlight the next 50. Beginning April 20, 2009,
nominations will be accepted to build the roster of Voices for Equality.
Make sure your hero is among that group by sending an email to
Tahlib@freedomtomarry.org today.
"A
small group of volunteers from across the country put together this first group
of prominent individuals," noted Tahlib Disney-Britton, Freedom to
Marry's Voices for Equality Program Director. "Now we want everyone
to help us meet our goal of 100 Voices for Equality by May 1st."
Submissions
can be made by e-mailing your nomination to Tahlib@freedomtomarry.org and
describing why you think this person deserves to be a Voice for Equality. While
we welcome all allies who are supportive of equality for gay people, only those
who have taken a public stand expressly for marriage equality can be
spotlighted as one of Freedom to Marry's Voices for Equality.
Read
Online: https://www.freedomtomarry.org/press_center/voices_for_equality.php
Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership working to win marriage equality nationwide. Headed by Evan Wolfson, one of America's leading civil rights advocates and lawyers, Freedom to Marry brings new resources and a renewed context of urgency and opportunity to this social justice movement.
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"We must resist the U.S. becoming embroiled in another costly conflict abroad," said U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee.
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Progressives in the U.S. Congress on Sunday urged the Biden administration to resist calls for an attack on Iran following the country's
retaliation against Israel for the deadly bombing of Tehran's consulate in Syria earlier this month.
The hawkish rhetoric came from both sides of the political aisle in the U.S.—Israel's main ally and weapons supplier.
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), one of Congress' most fervent supporters of Israel's war on Gaza, claimed Iran is "the single most destabilizing force in the Middle East" and "must be held accountable for the aggression it has long shown toward Israel not only directly but also indirectly through proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis."
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), directing her message at President Joe Biden, was more explicit in demanding an immediate military response from the U.S.
"We must move quickly and launch aggressive retaliatory strikes on Iran," Blackburn wrote on social media.
The number two Republican in the U.S. House, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.),
said Saturday that the chamber would "move from its previously announced legislative schedule next week to instead consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable."
"The House of Representatives stands strongly with Israel, and there must be consequences for this unprovoked attack," Scalise added. "More details on the legislative items to be considered will be forthcoming."
"As leaders in Washington jump to call for war with Iran and rush additional offensive weapons to the Israeli military, we need to exercise restraint and use every diplomatic tool to de-escalate tensions."
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Iran said its retaliatory firing of missiles and drones—most of which were intercepted—was in line with international law. One person, a seven-year-old girl, was seriously injured in the attack.
Israeli officials immediately vowed revenge, a pledge that intensified global calls for restraint to prevent the regional war in the Middle East from spiraling further out of control.
As
The Intercept's Ken Klippenstein and Daniel Boguslaw noted Sunday, the conflict "now involves at least 16 different countries," including the U.S., which "flew aircraft and launched air defense missiles from at least eight countries, while Iran and its proxies fired weapons from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen."
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), a vocal supporter of a cease-fire in Gaza, issued a statement Sunday condemning both Israel's attack on Iran's consulate and Tehran's response, which she said "threaten civilian lives and regional war."
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Bush urged the Biden administration to "take immediate steps, including at the U.N. Security Council and G7, to de-escalate and facilitate an immediate, lasting cease-fire in the region."
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), the lone congressional no vote against the war in Afghanistan, similarly called on the Biden administration to "lead efforts toward de-escalation, diplomacy, and securing a permanent cease-fire in Gaza."
"We must resist the U.S. becoming embroiled in another costly conflict abroad, but rather lead toward peace and security in the region," Lee added.
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Echoing her progressive colleagues, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)
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The protesters remained in the museum overnight on Saturday and ended their action on Sunday.
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