Marriage Equality

PFAW Memo: Election Results, the Far Right, and Fighting Back

Tuesday's electoral returns offered a mixed bag of results. A few bright spots managed to appear among some disappointing defeats, and politicians from both parties should consider them carefully before making rash, and perhaps costly, conclusions.

Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009: Written Testimony of Peter Mongomery, Senior Fellow, People For the American Way

Written Testimony of Peter Montgomery, Senior Fellow, People For the American Way on behalf of the Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009.

Cosponsors of H.R.3567

List of cosponsors for H.R.3567, the Respect for Marriage Act of 2009

Peter Montgomery's Testimony on Behalf of Marriage Equality in DC

Peter Montgomery, Senior Fellow at People For the American Way, testifies on behalf of marriage equality in the District of Columbia.

Rev. Samuel Statement on Marriage Hearing

Today, the DC City Council will hear public testimony on legislation that would allow same sex couples to be legally married in the District. Reverend Kenneth Samuel, Senior Fellow at People For the American Way and a member of PFAW's African American Ministers In Action program, said, "I'm proud that our nation's capitol is poised to give equal marriage rights to all the citizens of the District, and I want to thank the council members who are standing up for the rights of all people."

An Open Letter to Progressive Allies from People for the American Way on the Importance of Defeating Question 1 in Maine

An open letter from People for the American Way President Michael B. Keegan on the importance of Defeating question 1 in Maine

Bishop Harry Jackson Worried That Right Wing Racism Hurts His Anti-Gay Crusade

Bishop Harry Jackson, who is leading a campaign to prevent same-sex couples in the District of Columbia from being able to legally marry, is employing increasingly divisive rhetoric designed to push a wedge between the District’s African Americans and supporters of gay rights in the city.

Department of Justice Brief Defends DOMA in Marriage Case

The Department of Justice today filed a brief defending the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) in the case Gill v. Office of Personnel Management. People For the American Way president Michael B. Keegan said, “I’m disappointed that the Department of Justice once again chose to defend a law which, by the Department’s own admission, discriminates against gay and lesbian Americans. In Massachusetts and other states, there are now two groups of legally married couples: one group which gets all the federal benefits that come with marriage, and another group which receives nothing. That situation is intolerable. The administration missed an important opportunity to make clear that discrimination against LGBT people is unacceptable.

Outside Religious Right Groups Targeting Marriage Equality in Maine With a Prop 8-Style Campaign Based on Lies and Big Money

Religious Right Targets Maine & Marriage Equality with Money, Anti-Gay Swat Teams and Reprise of Prop-8’s False Fearmongering Strategies

National Religious Right organizations that bankrolled the effort to put Proposition 1 on the ballot in Maine descended on the state this past weekend with a SWAT team of anti-gay leaders and veterans of last year’s Prop 8 battle in California.

Legislation to Dump DOMA Introduced in Congress

Legislation to repeal the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) was introduced in the House of Representatives today by Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York.

Brief Highlights Need for DOMA Repeal

While the DOJ's latest brief in the Smelt v. United States case reaffirms President Obama's pledge to repeal DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act), it's still disappointing that the Administration continues to defend the law in court.

Massachusetts Sues U.S. over DOMA

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts yesterday filed suit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA.) The suit challenges Section 3 of the act, which prevents same-sex couples legally married in Massachusetts from accessing federal benefits and protections automatically granted to others couples.

An Open Letter to President Obama from People For the American Way

Today, PFAW President Michael B. Keegan issued an open letter to President Obama urging him to use his influence to advance the cause of LGBT equality and make good on his promises to help end discriminatory policies such as DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Presidential Memorandum: "A Very Small Step in the Right Direction"

In reponse to President Obama signing a memorandum granting a limited number of benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees and reiterating his pledge to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan said,

Rev. Byron Williams on Prop 8 and Marriage Equality on CNN's Campbell Brown

Rev. Byron Williams spoke about Prop 8 and marriage equality on May 27th 2009, on Campbell Brown's show on CNN. Williams is a member of African American Ministers In Action (AAMIA).

PFAW Foundation Statement on the California Supreme Court's Decision to Uphold Prop 8

Today, the California Supreme Court denied a court challenge to Proposition 8 and allowed a bare majority of voters to place the controversial language in the State Constitution. The language bars civil marriage for same-sex couples in California, despite the fact that the Supreme Court found marriage to be a "fundamental right" just last year. The Court also upheld the unions of 18,000 same-sex couples who wed before Proposition 8 took effect.

NOM Board Member Advocates Criminalization of Homosexuality, Overthrow of Government

People For the American Way calls on the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) to repudiate the bizarre and troubling remarks made by its board member Orson Scott Card, who has advocated for criminalizing sex between same-sex adults and for overthrowing the government if same-sex marriage were permitted.

Harry Jackson: Point Man for the Wedge Strategy

A report by People for the American Way Foundation examining the political activities of Bishop Harry Jackson, who has emerged as the leading African American voice of the Religious Right political movement.

Point Man for the Wedge Strategy: New Report Examines Political Activities of Bishop Harry Jackson, Face of the Religious Right's Outreach to African Americans

Bishop Harry Jackson, who has emerged as the leading African American voice of the Religious Right political movement, is waging a campaign in the District of Columbia against marriage equality. This report follows Jackson's years on the national political scene since he announced that God told him to campaign for George W. Bush's reelection in 2004.

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