Rally to support marriage equality set for March 25

Members of LGBTQ — Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer — along with allies and friends, will gather at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 25, at Porterville City Hall to show support for marriage equality. The rally is in advance of the Supreme Court hearing arguments in two historic equality cases that examine whether gay and lesbian Americans should have the same opportunities as everyone else.

The rally is part of “United for Marriage: Light the Way to Justice” coalition — a group of LGBTQ and allied organizations rallying in Washington, D.C., and in communities all across the country.

The Supreme Court will be reviewing the court cases, ultimately determining if denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional.

“Now more than ever, it’s important for people who support the freedom to marry to come together and show their support,” said Melissa McMurrey, division leader for Gay Porterville.

“We’ll be coming out to raise our voices and send a clear signal that the nation is ready for marriage equality — the time is now. We are coming out in solidarity for equal rights.”

Light the Way to Justice will demonstrate the broad support for marriage equality in Porterville, McMurrey said.

The rally will feature local residents whom identify under the LGBTQ spectrum and many of the community’s allies. Speakers include Dr. Ann Marie Wagstaff, professor at Porterville College, Jamie Garza, former Marriage Equality Chapter leader, and McMurrey.

“In 2008, Porterville’s City Council became the only city in the state to officially endorse Proposition 8. This did not go unnoticed by the local LGBTQ community, who immediately began protesting the council’s blatant disregard for the rights of its LGBTQ citizens,” Garza said.

Support for marriage equality across demographics is at an all-time high, organizers reported. According to a March 2013 Quinnipiac poll, 54 percent of Americans support marriage equality. Another recent poll from Grove Insight determined 75 percent of Americans — including 56 percent of Republicans — view the freedom to marry the person they love as a constitutional right.

Light the Way to Justice is one of many events occurring across the U.S. Learn more about the rally by contacting melissa@gayporterville.com

Visit www.unitedformarriage.org for information on other events throughout the country.