Mayors Join Campaign for Marriage Equality

Freedom to Marry on Friday formally launched a campaign that includes 80 mayors from across the country who have pledged to push marriage equality for same-sex couples.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; New York City Michael Bloomberg; Houston Mayor Annise Parker; San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders; Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Tacoma, Wash., Mayor Marilyn Strickland; Boston Mayor Thomas Menino; Portland, Ore., Mayor Sam Adams; Glendale, Calif., Mayor Laura Friedman and Key West, Fla., Mayor Craig Cates are among those who have joined Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Many of them appeared at a press conference during the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C.

"Each of these mayors has committed himself or herself to the cause and to working with Freedom to Marry to ensure that loving and committed same-sex couples throughout America can marry the person they love and avail themselves of the crucial protections that their families need that only come along with marriage," said Freedom to Marry National Campaign Director Marc Solomon.

Villaraigosa, who chairs the campaign and is president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, pointed out that the issue has directly impacted members of his own family.

"I've seen the many faces of those hurt by DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) and Proposition 8 in California," said Villaraigosa. "They are members of my own family. They're our nation's own children who face daily bullying and violence because of who they are or who people think they are. They're the couples the joyous marriages I've had the honor of presiding over, whose special day was shared by friends and families before their rights were stripped away."

Parker spoke about the difficulties she and her partner experienced when adopting their three children. The couple also faced a series of insurance, custody and educational hurdles with which they wouldn't have had to deal if they were able to get married in Texas.

"One simple thing would have made a tremendous difference in the lives of my family and truly the lives of millions of Americans, and that is access to the rights and privileges of marriage," said Parker.

A Gallup poll in May found that 53 percent of Americans now support marriage for gays and lesbians. The Williams Institute estimated before New York's marriage equality law took effect in July that nuptials for gays and lesbians could pump up to $102 million into the state's sluggish economy.

"Every wedding is a celebration that generates money for our restaurants, banquet halls, caterers and other small businesses," said Bloomberg, who noted 700 same-sex couples get married each month at New York City Clerk's offices across the five boroughs. "With many couples and guests traveling to New York City from other states and countries, our hotels and tourist attractions benefit as well."

The mayors' announcement comes less than two weeks after Washington state lawmakers introduced a marriage equality bill. Governor Chris Gregoire and several Republican legislators have backed the measure, which reportedly only needs one more vote to pass.

"To all my senators who are watching; please stand up, please do the right thing and please pass marriage equality in Washington State," said Strickland.

New Jersey lawmakers earlier this month also introduced a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the Garden State. Maryland legislators are expected to debate the issue in the coming months, while Maine voters will consider a ballot initiative in November that would overturn a ban on marriage for same-sex couples they approved in 2009.

New Hampshire lawmakers have postponed a vote on a bill that would repeal the state's marriage equality law until at least February, while Minnesota voters in November will consider a constitutional amendment that would ban marriage for same-sex couples. North Carolinians will vote on a similar ballot measure in May.

A Public Policy Polling survey last month found that 58 percent of North Carolina voters support the proposed amendment. The same PPP poll found that 56 percent of voters back either marriage or civil unions for same sex-couples.

"We have extraordinary momentum in North Carolina to be the first state in the country to actually turn back one of these hateful and discriminatory amendments," Chapel Hill, N.C., Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt told EDGE after the press conference. He is among the four mayors from the Tarheel State who have joined the coalition.

"It's events like this that demonstrate this broad level of support across the country for marriage equality will actually enhance that momentum," said Kleinschmidt.