Freedom to Marry
Encyclopedia
Freedom to Marry is a non-profit organization leading the campaign for same-sex marriages to be recognized nationwide in the United States of America. Freedom to Marry was founded in New York City in 2003 by Evan Wolfson
, who many consider to be the father of the same-sex marriage movement.
According to their “Roadmap to Victory”, Freedom to Marry is working to win marriage in more states, build majority support for marriage equality, and end federal marriage discrimination by repealing the "Defense of Marriage Act
".
stated “Our goal is to demonstrate that there are loving, committed same-sex couples across the US who deserve, and in some states now have, the protections and the responsibilities of marriage. We’re not going to let NOM get away with distracting from and distorting the truth about our families and the protections that we need.”
, Executive Director and Founder. Wolfson is founder and Executive Director of Freedom to Marry. Recognizing his longtime civil rights
leadership in the movement for marriage equality, in 2004 TIME magazine named Evan one of the "100 most influential people in the world." Wolfson was co-counsel in the historic Hawaii
marriage case, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court
in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
, served in the Peace Corps
in West Africa
, and is the author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People's Right to Marry.
Michael Crawford, Director of New Media. Before joining Freedom to Marry, Crawford was co-chair of D.C. for Marriage, a grassroots group that helped to successfully pass the D.C. marriage equality bill.
Scott Davenport, Managing Director. Davenport’s served as a Vice President for Oliver Wyman Consulting assisting Fortune 500
companies enhance their strategic direction. He co-founded Family Week in Provincetown, MA. and is currently the Board President for Equality Maryland
.
Sean Eldridge
, Political Director. Eldridge was one of the architects of Obama for America’s youth organizing strategy and served on the board of the Friends of GLBT
Youth in Massachusetts
before joining Freedom to Marry. Eldridge’s partner, Chris Hughes, co-founded Facebook
and led online organizing for campaign of Presidential candidate Barack Obama
. In January 2011, Eldridge and Hughes announced their engagement.
Marc Solomon, Senior Consultant. Solomon joined Freedom to Marry after serving as executive director of MassEquality. Most recently, Marc served as marriage director of Equality California
, Solomon led the largest state effort in movement history to make the case for marriage equality through face-to-face conversations.
Thalia Zepatos, Director of Messaging and Field. Zepatos served as the Director of Organizing and Training at the Task Force and served as a consultant for the National Collaborative before joining Freedom to Marry. Zepatos is the co-author of Women for a Change: A Grassroots Guide to Activism and Politics.
In the press:
The Advocate
, "Freedom to Marry Announces Expansion Plans," January 2011
The Economist
, "Single-Sex Marriage: This house believes that gay marriage should be legal", January 2011
Pacific Daily News, "Civil rights attorney promotes gay marriage", December 2010
Los Angeles Times
, "Gains outweigh setback in landmark year for gay rights", December 2010
The Sunday Business Post, "A Very Civil Defense", December 2010
The Advocate
, "The Message from Iowa", November 2010
Fox News, "Judges Ouster Stirs Debate", November 2010
New Jersey Record, "Seizing the Moment", October 2010
Anderson Cooper 360, "Same-Sex Marriage Ban Overturned", August 2010
The Advocate
, "Freedom to Marry Announces Summer Tour", June 2010
The New York Times
, "Ted Olson's Supreme Court Adventure", August 2009
Evan Wolfson
Evan Wolfson is an American civil rights attorney and advocate. He is founder and executive director of Freedom to Marry, a group favoring same-sex marriage in the United States...
, who many consider to be the father of the same-sex marriage movement.
According to their “Roadmap to Victory”, Freedom to Marry is working to win marriage in more states, build majority support for marriage equality, and end federal marriage discrimination by repealing the "Defense of Marriage Act
Defense of Marriage Act
The Defense of Marriage Act is a United States federal law whereby the federal government defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Under the law, no U.S. state may be required to recognize as a marriage a same-sex relationship considered a marriage in another state...
".
Summer For Marriage Campaign
In 2010, Freedom to Marry launched their “Summer for Marriage” campaign countering the National Organization for Marriage’s anti-gay “One Man, One Woman” bus tour. Sean EldridgeSean Eldridge
Sean Eldridge , is an American political activist and philanthropist. He is a Senior Advisor at the non-profit Freedom to Marry for same-sex marriages and President of the Telos Foundation.-Early life and education:...
stated “Our goal is to demonstrate that there are loving, committed same-sex couples across the US who deserve, and in some states now have, the protections and the responsibilities of marriage. We’re not going to let NOM get away with distracting from and distorting the truth about our families and the protections that we need.”
Senior staff
Evan WolfsonEvan Wolfson
Evan Wolfson is an American civil rights attorney and advocate. He is founder and executive director of Freedom to Marry, a group favoring same-sex marriage in the United States...
, Executive Director and Founder. Wolfson is founder and Executive Director of Freedom to Marry. Recognizing his longtime civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
leadership in the movement for marriage equality, in 2004 TIME magazine named Evan one of the "100 most influential people in the world." Wolfson was co-counsel in the historic Hawaii
Recognition of same-sex unions in Hawaii
The U.S. state of Hawaii currently recognizes same-sex couples in reciprocal beneficiary relationships, which provide limited rights and benefits. Civil unions that provide benefits similar to marriage were legalized in 2011, and will become available in 2012...
marriage case, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
Boy Scouts of America et al. v. Dale, , was a case of the Supreme Court of the United States overturning the New Jersey Supreme Court's application of the New Jersey public accommodations law, which had forced the Boy Scouts of America to readmit assistant Scoutmaster James Dale...
, served in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, and is the author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People's Right to Marry.
Michael Crawford, Director of New Media. Before joining Freedom to Marry, Crawford was co-chair of D.C. for Marriage, a grassroots group that helped to successfully pass the D.C. marriage equality bill.
Scott Davenport, Managing Director. Davenport’s served as a Vice President for Oliver Wyman Consulting assisting Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
companies enhance their strategic direction. He co-founded Family Week in Provincetown, MA. and is currently the Board President for Equality Maryland
Equality Maryland
Equality Maryland is a non-profit organization formerly headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, now based in Baltimore. Its activities focus on advocacy and education with regard to a number of LGBT social and political movements...
.
Sean Eldridge
Sean Eldridge
Sean Eldridge , is an American political activist and philanthropist. He is a Senior Advisor at the non-profit Freedom to Marry for same-sex marriages and President of the Telos Foundation.-Early life and education:...
, Political Director. Eldridge was one of the architects of Obama for America’s youth organizing strategy and served on the board of the Friends of GLBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
Youth in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
before joining Freedom to Marry. Eldridge’s partner, Chris Hughes, co-founded Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and led online organizing for campaign of Presidential candidate Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. In January 2011, Eldridge and Hughes announced their engagement.
Marc Solomon, Senior Consultant. Solomon joined Freedom to Marry after serving as executive director of MassEquality. Most recently, Marc served as marriage director of Equality California
Equality California
Equality California or EQCA is a non-profit civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people in California.-Early history:...
, Solomon led the largest state effort in movement history to make the case for marriage equality through face-to-face conversations.
Thalia Zepatos, Director of Messaging and Field. Zepatos served as the Director of Organizing and Training at the Task Force and served as a consultant for the National Collaborative before joining Freedom to Marry. Zepatos is the co-author of Women for a Change: A Grassroots Guide to Activism and Politics.
Freedom to Marry in the media
Since its founding, Freedom to Marry and its senior staff have been a subject in the media, as both a topic for its advocacy and as a resource regarding marriage for same-sex couples.In the press:
The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, "Freedom to Marry Announces Expansion Plans," January 2011
The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, "Single-Sex Marriage: This house believes that gay marriage should be legal", January 2011
Pacific Daily News, "Civil rights attorney promotes gay marriage", December 2010
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, "Gains outweigh setback in landmark year for gay rights", December 2010
The Sunday Business Post, "A Very Civil Defense", December 2010
The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, "The Message from Iowa", November 2010
Fox News, "Judges Ouster Stirs Debate", November 2010
New Jersey Record, "Seizing the Moment", October 2010
Anderson Cooper 360, "Same-Sex Marriage Ban Overturned", August 2010
The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, "Freedom to Marry Announces Summer Tour", June 2010
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, "Ted Olson's Supreme Court Adventure", August 2009
See also
- LGBT rights in the United States
- List of LGBT rights organizations