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Michael Giltz


Marriage Equality: A Catchy Song & Coffee Trump That Chicken Sandwich

Posted: 08/07/2012 11:44 am

Marriage equality continues to move forward despite the bungled fast food controversy about Chick-Fil-A sending money as a corporation to pray-the-gay-away groups and other anti-gay organizations fostering hate and antipathy towards gay Americans.

Michelangelo Signorile has a typically insightful post discussing how the right re-framed the debate over Chick-Fil-A, why this is dangerous and how those fighting for basic civil rights can do a better job in the future. (You know it's dangerous when Jon Stewart gets it wrong; he's the voice of smart, savvy, independents and liberals.) Some of the responses have been tepid: Someone somewhere launched a Kiss-In.

And now Equally Wed has hastily declared today National Marriage Equality Day and encouraged people to head to Starbucks and make a purchase to show support for a business that respects its employees and customers, whatever their religious beliefs of sexual orientation. Perhaps someone on the right will respond with a call to head to Cracker Barrel or Denny's (yes, I know, both companies want to put their ugly pasts behind them) and then someone on the left will respond by saying Happy Meals should be renamed Gay Meals and then we can all go to Disney World. Just on different days.

But far more substantive and important events show the march towards equality may be rocky and uphill but that it continues. Jack Markell, the governor of Delaware, says he expects legislation to extend the basic civil right of marriage to pass in the coming year and he'll help lead the way.

Others continue the fight in ways large and small. Artist Arro Verse penned a new marriage equality anthem called "Marry Me" and it's gone up on YouTube today.

She's working with The Marry Me Movement, a group launching a campaign to fund a documentary film about the fight for marriage equality. They're planning a series of softball games to raise funds and awareness and plan to both make the film and raise funds to support other nonprofits fighting for LGBT rights.


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