Philadelphia Candlelight Vigil on Eve of Supreme Court DOMA hearing

Monday March 25
5pm-7pm James A Byrne US District Court
7th & Market Sts, Philadelphia
Dress for the weather, WEAR RED! We'll have glow sticks for the first 150 people. Bring pride gear, and make your own sign in support of full federal equality for LGBT people, and an end to DOMA!

United for Marriage: Light the Way to Justice! http://www.lighttojustice.org/

Master of Ceremonies: Reverend Jeffrey H Jordan of Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia

Our amazing speakers are local grassroots activists and LGBT leaders!

Wendy Michele Forbes, Vice Chair, Philadelphia Family Pride
Janice Rael, Delaware Valley Americans United for Separation of Church and State (DVAU)
Jay Lassiter, Garden State Equality activist and blogger
Reverend Jeffrey H Jordan, Metropolitan Community Church
Holly Alden, Chairperson, LGBTQ Welcoming Committee of Mainline Unitarian Church
Brian Green, Safeguards LGBT Health Resource Center
Mark Segal, Philadelphia Gay News (PGN)
Gloria Casarez, City of Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs
Special Guest: PA State Representative Brian Sims
Closing Reflections by Rev Jeffrey Jordan
Thank you by Wendy Forbes and Janice Rael

Endorsing Organizations (please sign on!):

Delaware Valley Americans United for Separation of Church and State, http://dvau.org/

Equality Pennsylvania, http://equalitypa.org/

Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania, http://www.me4pa.org/ (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.me4pa.org%2F&h=QAQEZ_whRAQE37cbcd8WLgfUSsZlqtAWPDbKn0GlL7GI6YA&s=1)
Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia, http://www.mccphiladelphia.com/
Philadelphia Family Pride, http://www.phillyfamilypride.org/
Philly Gay Lawyer, http://www.phillygaylawyer.com/
SafeGuards LGBT Health Resource Center, http://www.safeguards.org/
Southern New Jersey Gay Pride, http://www.snjgaypride.org/ (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snjgaypride.org%2F&h=YAQGh1exAAQGjzvGs5OqLUeEfoupGzm7ExRE5ClMfdavuEg&s=1)

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/3/e/6/event_207017382.jpeg

This event is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the need for full federal equality for lesbian, gay, bi, and trans (LGBT) people. The March 25 date was chosen because it is the evening before the Supreme Court hearings on the so-called "Defense of Marriage" or "DOMA" case. We oppose DOMA and seek full equality for all LGBT people, in marriage, in housing, in employment, in taxation, in every aspect of civil life. We will not let the Religious Right dictate US policy that affects our lives!

United for Marriage: Light the Way to Justice! http://www.lighttojustice.org/

What's The Idea?

On March 26-27, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States of America (SCOTUS) will be listening to oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8 (Prop 8). DOMA states that marriage is between one man and one woman and allows states not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in jurisdictions where it is legal; Prop 8 reversed the ability for same-sex couples in California to legally marry. But now it is our time to show that the United States is a place of equality and justice for all.

Our goal is to empower communities to plan, organize and take action during this time to both bear witness to OUR right to the pursuit of happiness, and continue to educate and advocate with those who are not yet supportive of the fundamental right for EVERYONE to marry the person they love. Celebrate this historic event and take action, NOW!

This is not just one march, fight or a demonstration - this is a peaceful display of solidarity and a stand for LOVE, not hate across the nation. Organize a rally, hold an interfaith service with open and affirming clergy, schedule a meeting with your elected officials - help show our desire to be equal under the law. History is in the making and it is time to bring America into the 21st century. Let's give people hope and create change by using the voice of the people! We're calling on the veterans of our movement for social justice -- back to the days of Martin Luther King Jr, Harvey Milk, Cesar Chavez, Alice Paul and many other allies and advocates -- who have fought to create change through action. This is a grassroots movement. Will you join us?

Who's Behind It?
The idea began as an organic post on Facebook among a few GetEQUAL organizers and a series of planning meetings inside Marriage Equality USA. Once we realized we were both planning for this, we partnered up into what has now burgeoned into a large grassroots effort. It is now an organized, yet organic, effort to harness the power of grassroots passion into a national call to action and to peaceful demonstration for equality!

Philadelphia contact: Janice Rael, Vice-President, Delaware Valley Americans United for Separation of Church and State, vice@dvau.org or http://dvau.org/