Praise: Audra McDonald on Obama and Marriage Equality

While the hyperbole of "superhero" is at first hear a bit extreme, Ms. McDonald may be entirely accurate. If President Obama's words stop a teen in North Carolina from committing suicide, he is a superhero. Saving a life is what heroes do. Thank you, Ms. McDonald. Your prescience may also be saving lives.

Thank you, Freedom to Marry, for sharing this video.

FollowUp 1: Mayors for Marriage Equality

Last week Freedom to Marry posted another video of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry.  The mayors have increased their number to one hundred and seventy-four, almost double from a month ago.



The mayors who have signed on are from thirty-two states and the District of Columbia, so far.  They welcome mayors from more cities and towns at the above link.

Thanks to Joe My God for the heads up.

21 January 2012:  Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.

Praise: Mayors for Marriage Equality

Freedom to Marry is one of the national organization calling for equality.  The United States Conference of Mayors has joined with Freedom to Marry to produce the following.



With one hundred mayors currently signed on, the statement reads.

As mayors of great American cities, we proudly stand together in support of the freedom of same-sex couples to marry. We personally know many gay and lesbian people living in our cities who are in committed, loving relationships, who are active participants in the civic life of our communities, and who deserve to be able to marry the person with whom they share their life.    

We are proud that at its 2009 annual meeting, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously approved a resolution stating that: “The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and the recognition and extension of full equal rights to such unions, including family and medical leave, tax equity, and insurance and retirement benefits, and opposes the enshrinement of discrimination in the federal or state constitutions.”    

Our cities derive great strength from their diversity, and gay and lesbian families are a crucial part. Studies have shown what we know through our hands-on experience—that cities that celebrate and cultivate diversity are the places where creativity and ideas thrive. They are the places where today’s entrepreneurs are most likely to choose to build the businesses of tomorrow. Allowing same-sex couples the right to marry enhances our ability to build this kind of environment, which is good for all of us.       

We stand for the freedom to marry because it enhances the economic competitiveness of our communities, improves the lives of families that call our cities home, and is simply the right thing to do.  We look forward to working to build an America where all people can share in the love and commitment of marriage with the person with whom they share their life.

Thank you! The movement for equality is in all states, in all communities, and is right for all of our cities and towns.

Thanks to Joe My God for the heads up.

29 February 2012:  FollowUp 1.