STAND FOR MARRIAGE
Oral arguments have concluded for two historic marriage equality cases at the Supreme Court. Visit HRC's Marriage Center for continued updates on marriage recognition across the country.
Slideshow: HRC Logo Memes
View some of the many variations on HRC’s Flickr page.
Scenes from the End of Oral Arguments in DOMA case
(c) Judy Rolfe/ HRC
Edie Windsor greeted the crowd gathered outside the Supreme Court immediately following oral arguments.
(c) Judy Rolfe/ HRC
HRC President Chad Griffin spotted exiting the Supreme Court earlier this afternoon.
(c) Judy Rolfe/HRC
ACLU President Anthony Romero kisses Edie Windsor as Roberta Kaplan addresses the media.
If the Struggles are so Different, Then Why Does NOM Want to ‘Drive a Wedge’?
Post submitted by Jeremy Hooper
There are many ways to discredit Rev. Bill Owens’ attempts to deny a link
between African-American and LGBT struggles. But first, let’s take a look
at what he, NOM’s named religious liaison, said at yesterday’s rally in DC:
Okay, so let’s first examine the obvious. Bill Owens is trying to make it
sound like homosexuality is a choice which could never be compared to skin color. Not a surprise that he would do this, since he is someone who has compared homosexuality to bestiality and pedophilia.
Only thing? No credible body of science backs the idea that homosexuality is a “choice.” Even more than that, the vast majority of LGBT people (i.e. the people who actually know what it feels like to be LGB or T) dispute the idea of “choosing” their sexual orientations or gender identities. So on its very face, Owens’ obvious attempt fails to carry water.
Then there are the attempt to turn differences into hard breaks. Look,
all of us recognize that there are differences between the two struggles.
However, the differences do not negate the similarities. There are
sweepingly obvious similarities between issues like interracial marriage
and marriage equality for same-sex couples. It is just silly to deny this.
But for the sake of a larger point, let’s overlook even those two truths
for one second. Perhaps the most damning aspect‹one that both belies
Owens’ attempt and connects this whole thing squarely back to NOM‹can be found in those heinous strategy documents that we all saw one year ago this week.
Just to remind you of those documents’ single worst revelation:
This proves, without a scintilla of doubt, that NOM sees a direct and
compelling political connection between blacks and gays. Even if NOM
staffers do not support the idea of inborn homosexuality (and judging by
their past comments, it’s likely that they don’t), NOM undeniably sees a strategic reason to “drive a wedge.” By so cynically (and disgustingly) admitting the intention to “fan hostilities” between blacks and gays, NOM itself made the connection that Mr. Owens took to the stage to both break and denounce.
I would suggest that it’s highly logical for NOM Watchers like us to assume that what Mr. Owens did there on the stage yesterday afternoon is further fulfillment of this same NOM strategy to “drive a wedge” (whether Owens himself realizes it or not). With organizations like the NAACP, civil rights heroes like John Lewis, and even on-air reporters starting to call out people like Maggie Gallagher on the overlaps between their current work and past fights over interracial marriage, the public is catching on to these connections between two minority populations’ struggles over that which has kept them down.
Rather than run away, egg-faced from the shocking documents we all saw one year ago this week, NOM is doubling down on its divisive tactics.
We will not let them get away with it.
DOMA Oral Arguments Audio Released
Listen to the audio from today’s oral arguments in the Windsor v. United States here.
The transcript of the arguments is available here.
Top 10 Best HRC Logo Remixes
Post submitted by Maureen McCarty
On Monday we asked you to update your profile pictures with the ubiquitous HRC equality logo washed in red, and we’re overwhelmed with the response.
As it is wont to do, the Internet has taken our logo and remixed it time and time again.
Here are the HRC Digital Media team’s top 10 favorite memes.
10.) First you made our logo sizzle for equality.
9.) Then you added some butter.
8.) And served up a grilled cheese.
7.) Then vampires jumped into the mix. Vampire marriage lasts for all eternity. Might as well be to the person you love.
6.) And Rafiki got in on the action.
5.) Even Yoda made an appearance. Support equal marriage he will.
4. ) And the people sang.
3.) All this talk of love is enough to convince even the most cantankerous.
2.) Remixing makes us hungry so the Internet brought us a sweet slice of equality.
1.) Queen Bey heard our calls and so decreed, “If you like it, you should be able to put a ring on it.”
Now, we wait for SCOTUS to finish oral arguments in Windsor v. United States. Keep the momentum (and remixes going.)
If you haven’t changed your profile picture yet, what are you waiting for?
Edie Windsor leaving the court this afternoon after oral argument had concluded. Edie is the plaintiff in United States v. Windsor, which argues the constitutionality of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). She is accompanied by her lawyers from the ACLU.
#UnitedforMarriage
