GLAAD is on the ground at the #Unite4Marriage rally outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC this morning. The rally is in honor of the US Supreme Court hearing marriage equality cases, after which SCOTUS will make a decision about the constitutionality of state-wide same-sex marriage bans.
The rally is being held from 8:45 am to 1 pm, and will include speeches/participation from LGBT individuals, allies, religious/faith leaders, and other LGBT supporters.
“A majority of Americans agree that everyone should be able to marry the person they love,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Today’s hearings mark another important milestone in our country’s march to becoming a nation in which everyone is created equal. But as the pursuit of equal marriage rights crescendos, let us not forget that marriage equality is a benchmark, not a finish line – and our work to accelerate acceptance and end discrimination continues.”
Recent polling shows the 63% of Americans support marriage equality, with research predicting the more than 25 states will show supermajority support (above 60%) by 2016. Studies also show that LGBT acceptance increases rapidly in areas with marriage equality compared to areas that maintain marital discrimination.
The rally is a partnership between GLAAD, Marriage Equality USA, Freedom to Marry, Human Rights Campaign, Family Equality Council, National LGBTQ Task Force, GetEQUAL and Campaign for Southern Equality.
For more information and background on the cases before the Supreme Court, visit www.glaad.org/marriage. For more information about Unite for Marriage, visit here.
And take a look below for updates:
Religious leaders #Unite4Marriage, singing while processing to #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/Uga9ocNWOi
— Unite For Marriage (@March4M) April 28, 2015
The religious precession just took place and about 50 folks walked from the church to SCOTUS singing "This little light of mine" and it seemed as though the entire rally went silent to welcome the religious clergy, folks clapping and joining in song.
GLAAD's Alexandra Bolles with openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson.
Prayers for Freddie Gray at the #Unite4Marriage rally.
— Unite For Marriage (@March4M) April 28, 2015
View from the stage @ #Unite4Marriage rally at #SCOTUSpic.twitter.com/tAIZ6ZAtH9
— Unite For Marriage (@March4M) April 28, 2015
"I want this for my daughter & grandchildren." Arkansas Mom supporting her openly lesbian daughter. #unite4marriagepic.twitter.com/UcDHs4bHx3
— Unite For Marriage (@March4M) April 28, 2015
"We're not trying to take anything from anybody! God bless ALL families, that includes my family!" #Unite4Marriagepic.twitter.com/HRu0Gf4xZH
— Unite For Marriage (@March4M) April 28, 2015
Black & brown #LGBTQ people face violence from police every day. We need more than marriage! #SCOTUS#UNITE4MARRIAGEpic.twitter.com/4g3duITKpi
— The Task Force (@TheTaskForce) April 28, 2015
Imam Daayiee Abdullah: recently I married 2 gay interfaith, 1 Muslim, 1 Christian Bears! #SCOTUS#UNITE4MARRIAGEpic.twitter.com/RkjYaIlIxR
— The Task Force (@TheTaskForce) April 28, 2015
Stacey Long-Simmons: We got some other issues on our list. We want marriage and we need more! #SCOTUS#UNITE4MARRIAGEpic.twitter.com/WbWd1lBPuO
— The Task Force (@TheTaskForce) April 28, 2015
Candy Cintron & Lena Hernandez trade off speaking in Spanish & English. #LoveMustWin#Unite4Marriagepic.twitter.com/aXFum6rzBA
— freedomtomarry (@freedomtomarry) April 28, 2015
@SenatorKirk stopped by the #Unite4Marriage rally to share his full support for #MarriageEqualitypic.twitter.com/yoGh3a4WGB
— Unite For Marriage (@March4M) April 28, 2015
.@BishopGRobinson reminding crowd that ppl from all communities #faith support marriage #equality! #Unite4Marriagepic.twitter.com/mHMolMnSnq
— NCJW (@NCJW) April 28, 2015
Thousands chanting #LoveMustWin as the plaintiffs exit the #SCOTUS. #Unite4Marriagepic.twitter.com/SPlGZ114ON
— Seth Adam (@sethbadam) April 28, 2015
The hearing is over. Attorneys and plaintiffs exit SCOTUS. #LoveMustWinpic.twitter.com/n2kefd1zVK
— Samira (@samiraobeid) April 28, 2015
Filing out of #SCOTUS following oral arguments #Unite4Marriagepic.twitter.com/EEGHRA1Uq5
— Unite For Marriage (@March4M) April 28, 2015