Americans Want Marriage Equality: Pass The Respect for Marriage Act
“When We Rally Our Individual Voices into One United Roar, There Is Nothing We Cannot Accomplish.” –Joni Madison, Human Rights Campaign Interim President
QUICK READ:
Quick read: The vast majority of Americans support marriage equality. The codification of marriage equality protections as the law of the land is within our reach. We passed The Respect for Marriage Act in the House with bipartisan support. Now let’s rally 60 votes in the Senate.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Over 70% of Americans support marriage equality. Too bad our Members of Congress and Supreme Court do not reflect the American public.
The Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) is a straightforward 500-word piece of legislation that would codify federal marriage equality and guarantee public acts, records and proceedings be recognized nationally. RMA would secure the rights and benefits of marriages and repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act allowing states and the federal government to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages.
“[W]e are so close to codifying marriage equality as the law of our land — so close to ensuring that everyone will have the freedom to love who they love without fear that their right to do so may be taken away in the future” said Joni Madison, HRC Interim President.
RMA would ensure federal protection of all legal state marriages. Protection would apply not only to same-sex couples but also to any couple regardless of race, ethnicity and national origin.
Recently, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) co-authored a Washington Post editorial urging their Senate colleagues to reproduce the unexpected bipartisan support RMA received from the House in the Senate this month.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
After Dobbs, it is more important than ever for Congress to protect our civil liberties and make marriage equality the law of the land. I support The Respect for Marriage Act.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
After Dobbs, it is more important than ever for Congress to protect our civil liberties and make marriage equality the law of the land. I support The Respect for Marriage Act.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
It is important to me that Congress make marriage equality the law of the land. I support The Respect for Marriage Act.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
After Dobbs, it is more important than ever for Congress to protect our civil liberties and make marriage equality the law of the land. I support The Respect for Marriage Act.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
It is important to me that Congress make marriage equality the law of the land. I support The Respect for Marriage Act.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
After Dobbs, it is more important than ever for Congress to protect our civil liberties and make marriage equality the law of the land. I support The Respect for Marriage Act.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
After Dobbs, it is more important than ever for Congress to protect our civil liberties and make marriage equality the law of the land. I support The Respect for Marriage Act.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
After Dobbs, it is more important than ever for Congress to protect our civil liberties and make marriage equality the law of the land. I support The Respect for Marriage Act.
ACTION THREE: Good Trouble.
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Get involved with Extinction Rebellion or another group working for climate change. For more information, click here.
Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday. (DELAYED THIS AUGUST. WATCH THE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES.)
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Work to protect democracy in the House by electing Democrats Val Hoyle in District 4, Jamie McLeod-Skinner in District 5, and Andrea Salinas in Oregon’s new Congressional District 6.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon.
