MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA 2013 PRESS RELEASES Communications Team: Stuart Gaffney Communications Director John Lewis Legal & Policy Director John Mattras News Manager Thom Watson Social Media Manager MEUSA CELEBRATES UTAH COURT RULING IN FAVOR OF THE FREEDOM TO MARRY - Press Release, 20 December 2013 "This has been a banner year for marriage equality across the nation, and 2013 is not over yet. Today's ruling in Utah shows that the momentum for marriage equality is truly unstoppable. As we head towards 2014 we are seeing that every state has an equal opportunity to join the 17 plus marriage equality states ... and counting!" MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA APPLAUDS NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT DECISION FOR THE FREEDOM TO MARRY - Press Release 19 December 2013 "...What a wonderful reminder that as we celebrate love and marriage in more states than ever before, in the end the marriage cases are about so much more than marriage - they are about our full humanity." A VIRAL VIDEO ABOUT MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO PREMIERE DECEMBER VIA YOUTUBE, The MEUSA-sanctioned Public Service Announcement will feature several “celesbian” cameos - Press Release from Melke PR 16 November 2013 "Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA), the largest grassroots organization in the United States working towards legal recognition of same-sex marriage in all fifty states, partnered with Melke to Executive Produce this project. Melke brings experience in LGBT media and music-centric projects to the table. Currently they represent Jen Foster; they are producing Nicole Conn’s next film; and Melke and Co-Producer WingSpan Pictures, have partnered with GLSEN to produce the feature length Love Is All You Need, in support of anti-bullying." MEUSA HAILS THE PASSAGE OF HISTORIC HAWAIIAN MARRIAGE BILL, Second Marriage Equality Victory this Month - Press Release 12 November 2013 "The momentum for marriage equality feels unstoppable, but it is only a reality today in Hawai’i because of the thousands and thousands of grassroots conversations the people who live in Hawai’i have been having for so many years about the importance of love and marriage. One year ago at this time, there were 7 states with the freedom to marry, and today there are 16. Marriage Equality USA and our project, the National Equality Action Team (NEAT), will continue to have heartfelt conversations around the country until we have the freedom to marry nationwide.” Senator Kahale, an indigenous native of Hawai'i, stated unequivocally during today's hearing, "Same-sex relationships are part of the very fabric of native Hawaiian culture." He concluded his remarks with, "Aloha was meant to describe openness and caring for each other. It is time for Aloha for all." COALITION WORK RESULTS IN ILLINOIS MARRIAGE EQUALITY VICTORY! - Press Release 5 November 2013 "Over the last several weeks, the love and commitment of our NEAT volunteers and partners across the country gave voice to the support for loving and committed couples in Illinois. We join Illinois in celebrating this victory for love, fairness and for all families!" CLEAR YOUR CALENDAR FOR WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6! HOLLYWOOD IS CALLING! - E-blast to Greater Los Angeles MEUSA Members 4 November 2013 "SHE4MARRIAGE and Marriage Equality USA are working together to shoot a soon-to-be-viral PSA video about marriage equality. We need both volunteers to work on, and extras to appear in, the video which will be shot in West Hollywood on Weds., Nov. 6!" CELEBRATED GUESTS TO ATTEND SHE4ME VIDEO SHOOT THIS WEDNESDAY AT ANDAZ WEST HOLLYWOOD – PSA DIRECTED BY NICOLE CONN FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA - Media Advisory 4 November 2013 "SHE4MarriageEquality will shoot the high-end video clip to the song SHE produced by L.A. based K. Rocco Shields, WingSpan Films, Sue Melke and Nicole Conn this Wednesday, November 6 at Andaz West Hollywood. The song, written and performed by Jen Foster and rearranged into an orchestral dance mix by music producer Eve Nelson, is expected to become a dance anthem as soon as the PSA premieres. The video features cast appearances by Jen Foster and award winning actors Barbara Niven, Nicole Pacent, Gabrielle Christian, and Mike C. Manning. The November 6 shoot will be attended by additional guests who will be making cameo appearances in the video as attendees at a mock wedding. The celebrated guests include Rebecca Staab, Traci Dinwiddie, Guinevere Turner, Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Mary Wells, Jennie McNulty, John W. McLaughlin, Cathy DeBouno, Haviland Stillwell, Steve Tyler, Bonnie Somerville, and Jessica Graham. Greater Los Angeles area Marriage Equality USA members will be serving as extras in the video." ACCLAIMED LESBIAN FILMMAKER NICOLE CONN TO DIRECT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA AT ANDAZ WEST HOLLYWOOD - Media Advisory, 28 October 2013 "Music and video projects like this have the power to impact millions of viewers by showing the love and commitment that is celebrated and protected by passing civil marriage equality for LGBTQ families. We at MEUSA are thrilled to be a part of the SHE4MarriageEquality project!" MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA CHEERS NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT’S DECISION - Press Release 18 October 2013 “Today’s decision provides tremendous momentum at a key moment in our movement. Meanwhile, Marriage Equality USA and our project, the National Equality Action Team (NEAT), are working every day to make the freedom to marry a reality in New Jersey, Hawaii, Illinois, and nationwide." MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA THRILLED TO PARTNER WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY 4 PENNSYLVANIA - Press Release 18 October 2013 “The core of MEUSA is to empower local communities to advocate on their own behalf to win the freedom to marry. Partnering with an outstanding grassroots partner like ME4PA is a perfect way to combine the resources and expertise of both groups to bring equality to LGBT families as soon as possible.” MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA ANNOUNCES NIGHT OF ACTION FOR THE FREEDOM TO MARRY IN HAWAII - Press Release 17 October 2013 "Just as loving, committed couples' genders should not restrict their freedom to marry; neither should their state of residence. The rest of the country, particularly National Equality Action Team (NEAT) partners and volunteers on the West Coast, who are in a better position to phone bank for Hawaii, stands with Hawaii in their historic bid for marriage equality." MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA LAUNCHES THE NATIONAL EQUALITY ACTION TEAM - Press Release 3 October 2013 "The National Equality Action Team is unique in that it gives passionate marriage equality advocates across the country -- especially those in marriage equality states who want to pay it forward -- a chance to play an important role in our national movement to win the freedom to marry." MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA APPLAUDS NEW JERSEY COURT DECISION IN FAVOR OF THE FREEDOM TO MARRY - Press Release 27 September 2013 "It's a brand new day since the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark marriage decisions in June. While today's decision may be appealed, it shows the accelerating pace of progress towards the day when all New Jersey couples are treated equally under the law." MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA LAUNCHES BLOG SITE Latest MEUSA Developments & Perspectives - Media Advisory 4 September, 2013 "The MEUSA blog, at http://marriageequalityusa.wordpress.com, will keep readers informed of the latest Marriage Equality USA efforts around the country, as well as provide in depth analysis of developments in the movement for full marriage equality." MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA APPLAUDS CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT’S DISMISSAL OF PROP. 8 LAWSUIT Ruling Means Same-Sex Couples in California Can Continue To Say “I Do” - Press Release 14 August 2013 “Today’s decision finally marks the end of years of litigation by the Prop. 8 proponents to deny the freedom to marry to lesbian and gay couples in California. Today’s decision reaffirms that all loving, committed couples, regardless of their sexual orientation, have the freedom to marry in every county across the state." SENATOR RICARDO LARA AND MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI PARTICIPATED IN HONORING CONTROLLER RON GALPERIN AND OTHERS AT MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA LOS ANGELES AWARDS RECEPTION - Press Release 10 August 2013 "It is a great honor to receive an award from Marriage Equality USA, which has been integral in the fight to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all. I am deeply humbled and grateful," said Controller Ron Galperin. "We have much to celebrate in the progress we've achieved for marriage equality and for recognizing the rights of everyone, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. I am particularly proud of Los Angeles' long history of leadership in LGBT rights. There is still much work to be done, however, to overcome discrimination and intolerance -- in California, nationally and internationally. I salute Marriage Equality USA for its great achievements and for its ongoing work and resolve." MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA STANDS BY U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION RESTORING THE FREEDOM TO MARRY IN CALIFORNIA - Press Release 20 July 2013 "The State of California has unambiguously instructed all 58 counties to abide by the Supreme Court decision. In the face of these last baseless attempts by a few to deny the freedom to marry for all Californians, we expect all counties to follow the law and abide by the direction of the California Attorney General to continue to perform marriages for all California couples without interference or delay." MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA LOS ANGELES AWARDS RECEPTION TO HONOR HEROES OF THE MOVEMENT - Media Advisory 2013-07-15 "We are gathering to acknowledge the leaders who are going the distance to make sure the Constitution's fundamental guarantees of freedom and fairness apply to all Americans," said Jane Wishon, Marriage Equality USA Board President. “It feels wonderful to celebrate knowing that loving, committed same-sex couples are once again getting legally married every day in all 58 counties of our Golden State.” MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF THE FREEDOM TO MARRY IN CALIFORNIA - Press Release 2013-06-26 “The return of the freedom to marry in California, the most populous state in our nation, marks a turning point in our efforts to secure the freedom to marry for all Americans.