Marriage Equality Rally Planned For Valentine's
ALBUQUERQUE, NM ̶ On Valentine’s Day, February 14, members of the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex) community and supporters will hold a rally to promote legalizing same-sex marriage. This rally will not only draw attention to marriage inequality between heterosexual and LGBTQI Americans, but it will also raise awareness about the harms and the impact that the inability to marry causes LGBTQI families. The All Families Matter Rally will take place at Civic Plaza in Albuquerque from 12:00 to 1:00 PM.
"The state of New Mexico has been quiet about equal rights for gay Americans for a long time, either from fear or complacency, which is understandable considering what couples around here have to go through. However, right now politicians are trying to enact legislation that would strip married gay couples of the few existing benefits and protections they have right now, by not recognizing valid marriages performed in other states. This is designed solely with the intent to hurt good New Mexico residents and their families. I saw the harm a constitutional ban on marriage equality did in Texas, and I don’t want that for New Mexico. It's time for us to stand up and be counted. It’s time to stand up for our love and for equality. We owe it to future generations," said Lofn Gilbreath, a rally participant and organizer.
“Whether we are married, domestic partners, in a civil union, or legal strangers under our particular state's law, all same-sex couples are denied the 1,138 federal rights of marriage,” said Robin McGehee, director of GetEQUAL. “GetEQUAL is joining Marriage Equality USA to urge President Obama, Congress, and all states with discriminatory laws on their books to stand for justice and equality for all people, as the Constitution requires, and work together to uphold the American tradition of fairness and equality by ending marriage discrimination.”
Founded in 2000, Marriage Equality USA is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to secure legally-recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation
GetEQUAL is a national, direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. Emphasizing direct action and people power, the mission of GetEQUAL is to empower the LGBT community and its allies to take action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way.
