ACLU Launches Online Toolkit for Activists Fighting for Marriage for Same-Sex Couples

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK – Today, the American Civil Liberties Union launched Fighting For Marriage, an online resource designed to give local activists the tools to defeat proposals that would amend state constitutions so that same-sex couples could never be legally recognized. The toolkit, available at www.aclu.org/getequal, provides practical advice and resources designed to make the case for, and counter arguments against, marriage equality.

“The constitutional amendments proposed in 11 states this November are aimed at preventing legal recognition of same-sex couples for good, before people even have an opportunity to think the issue through,” said Matt Coles, Director of the ACLU’s Lesbian and Gay Rights Project. “Once Americans have a chance to see how these amendments would harm families, the country will reject them. That’s why it’s up to all of us to help show America that same-sex couples make the same commitments to each other that heterosexual couples do, and suffer terribly when society treats them as if they were strangers.”

The online resource provides all the tools necessary to run a persuasive grassroots campaign in support of marriage equality and to block attempts to make same-sex couples legal strangers. Some of the resources included in the toolkit are:

• Talking points in support of marriage equality and against anti-gay relationship amendments;
• Successful lobbying strategies;
• Arguments for countering opponents’ rhetoric;
• Resources to aid in building local coalitions to defeat anti-gay amendments;
• Ideas for community mobilization; and
• Helpful advice on how same-sex couples can protect their relationships.

“The past year has been a watershed for marriage for lesbian and gay couples. It’s not surprising that we’re seeing such resistance now,” added Coles. “But Americans believe in fairness above all else. To win these fights, we must show America the truth about same-sex couples. Every conversation has the potential to change minds and win votes.”

The 11 states with anti-gay relationship amendments on the ballot this fall are Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah. While the sponsors of these amendments have largely claimed that they are necessary to protect “traditional” marriage, the amendments in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah could potentially ban any type of same-sex relationship recognition including civil unions and domestic partnerships.