Section 2: Coalition Statements

A. General/legal allies

1. Phyllis G. Boslin (American Bar Association) - testimony before Congress opposing Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA)
2. Law professors’ letter to U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee opposing FMA
3. American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Approves Resolution on Same-Sex Marriages
4. Pro-Family Pediatricians sign-on letter against the FMA

B. Civil rights allies

1. “ACLU Praises Massachusetts for Marrying First Same-Sex Couples" - discusses the link between marriage and the civil rights struggle for racial and gender equality
2. “Are Gay Rights Civil Rights?” Julian Bond (NAACP Board Chair); Ebony Magazine
3. Friend-of-the-court brief in Massachusetts marriage case - Representative John Lewis, the ACLU, and leading civil rights organizations
4. Leadership Conference on Civil Rights' letter to Congress opposing FMA

C. African American leaders and organizations

1. Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee opposing FMA by Hillary Shelton, NAACP Washington bureau director
2. NAACP Board Chair Julian Bond's letter to Massachusetts State Senate opposing FMA and anti-gay state constitutional amendments
3. Human Rights Campaign poll on African-Americans and marriage equality
4. Letter to Congress opposing FMA and list of African-American leaders who support marriage equality - Keith Boykin and H. Alexander Robinson, President and Strategic Director, National Black Justice Coalition
5. National Black Justice Coalition media advisory about African American clergy opposing FMA
6. Representative John Lewis press release accompanying his Senate testimony opposing FMA
7. “At a Crossroads on Gay Unions,” Representative John Lewis; Boston Globe
8. “For Massachusetts, a Chance and a Choice,” Reverend Peter Gomes; Boston Globe
9. “Blacks Should Be Supportive of Gays’ Struggle,” Leonard Pitts, Jr.; Miami Herald
10. “State’s Black Legislators Do Us Proud,” Atlanta Journal Constitution editorial
11. "Black, Asian Clerics Unite to Support Gay Marriage" - North Gate News
12. "Black Clergy United to Publicly Support Gay Rights" - Southern Voice
13. NAACP Endorses Same-Sex Marriage Bill - Associated Press
14. Duck & Cover. Black Texas legislator Senfronia Thompson rips religious justification for homophobia - by Molly Ivins, syndicated columnist

D. Latina/o leaders and organizations

1. Hispanic Members of Congress - open letter to President Bush opposing FMA
2. National Hispanic Leadership Agenda - statement opposing FMA
3. National Council of La Raza - press release opposing FMA
4. Mexican American Legal Defense Fund - statement opposing FMA
5. Labor Council for Latin American Advancement - press release opposing FMA
6. LLEGO (former Latina/o LGBT organization) - press release opposing FMA
7. “Hispanos se oponen a enmienda que prohiba bodas homosexuals en EEUU,” Reforma

E. Asian American leaders and organizations

1. Asian Pacific American Coalition for Equality - press release and list of organizations opposing FMA
2. Japanese American Citizens League - statement opposing FMA
3. "Black, Asian Clerics Unite to Support Gay Marriage" - North Gate News

F. Women’s leaders and organizations

1. National women’s rights groups - letter to Congress and list of organizations opposing FMA
2. National Council of Jewish Women - letter to Congress opposing FMA
3. Planned Parenthood Federation of America - statement opposing FMA

G. Conservative allies

1. Conservative and Republican quotes opposing FMA
2. John Hanes (Wyoming State Senator, Chair of the Wyoming State Judiciary Committee) - testimony before Congress opposing FMA
3. “The Cody Statement: A Declaration of Uniting and Guiding Principles for the Republican Party in the 21st Century,” Republican Unity Coalition
4. “Missing the Point on Gays,” Alan Simpson (Retired Republican Senator); Washington Post
5. “Right’s Wrong Turn: Once in Power, U.S. Conservatives Failed to Place Freedom First,” Mickey Edwards (Former Republican Representative); Los Angeles Times
6. “The Bedroom Door,” William Safire; New York Times
7. “The Moral Case for Gay Marriage,” David Brooks; New York Times
8. Log Cabin Republicans (gay Republican group) - local contact list

H. Religious leaders and organizations

1. National religious groups’ letter to Congress opposing FMA
2. “Religious Leaders Assail Amendment on Gay Marriage,” New York Times
3. The Episcopal Church - statement opposing FMA and policy statements on LGBT issues
4. Rev. Robert M. Hardies, Unitarian Universalist Association - testimony before Congress opposing FMA
5. Unitarian Universalist Association - letter to Congress opposing FMA
6. Rev. Dr. Mari Castellanos, United Church of Christ - statement opposing FMA
7. Stan Hastey, Executive Director, The Alliance of Baptists - testimony before Congress opposing FMA
8. Rabbi Michael Namath, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism - testimony before Congress opposing FMA
9. Religious Institute on Sexual Minorities Support letter
10. "Black, Asian Clerics Unite to Support Gay Marriage" - North Gate News
11. "When Our Marriage Was Condemned" - Rev. F. Russell Baker, First Congregational Church
12. Clerics Support Nuptial Equality - The Journal News (New York)
13. United Church of Christ national synod calls for full marriage equality

I. Business leaders and organizations

1. Fortune 500 companies that offer domestic partner health benefits
2. "Discrimination Doesn't Pay: Why a Constitutional Ban on Gay Unions is Bad for Business"
3. "Making a business case for domestic partner benefits," Employee Benefits News

J. Labor leaders and organizations

1. AFL-CIO Resolution Affirming LGBT Rights and Opposition to Federal Marriage Amendment
2. “Marriage is a Worker’s Issue, ” Gay and Lesbian Advocates & Defenders fact sheet – details job benefits exclusive to marriage that same-sex couples are denied
3. State of the Workplace - report by Human Rights Campaign
4. United Farm Workers support of marriage for same-sex couples

K. American Indian

1. Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits