RIGHT TO MARRY: Past Archives
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Soulforce Q is proud to have completed the 2008 Right to Marry Arizona pilgrimage. After two successful marriage equality campaigns in New York State, the young adults of Soulforce Q brought their signature style of grassroots organizing to the Southwest. Right to Marry Arizona blended the excitement and innovation of a youth-led campaign with intergenerational activities that engaged all citizens.
VISIT THE RTM:AZ BLOG to read reports from the road and view photos.
LOCAL & NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE!
Check out the discussion after the Arizona Republic story on Sunday, August 17.
KPHX AM radio had Equality Walkers over for a chat on Saturday, August 16.
Darian was profiled in Atlanta’s Southern Voice on Friday, August 15.
CJ was profiled in the weekend edition of Tucson Weekly on Thursday, August 14.
FOX 10 News (Phoenix) did stories on Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10.
Nationally syndicated Detroit News columnist, Deb Price, covered it on July 14.
Arizona’s ECHO Magazine features the Right to Marry journey in its August issue.
The Advocate gave Equality Walkers a shout-out in its online edition.
MTV covered our Walk as part of its Choose or Lose Campaign.
Univision and NBC sent reporters to cover our journey. We’ll post links to these stories when/if they become available.
THE CAMPAIGN
In August 10th through August 16th, Soulforce Q team of Equality Walkers set out to engage Phoenix in supporting marriage equality. Arizona was the first state to defeat a constitutional anti-marriage amendment in 2006. It is on the ballots again this November. Domestic partnership benefits were recently offered to state employees. Arizona is also home to the 2008 Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain. Seven young adults and their supporters covered 96 miles on foot, the number of years Arizona has been a state without equal protection for its LGBT citizens, throughout the city. They stopped at city halls, local congregations, senior adult communities, and civic offices to share stories of those affected by the anti-marriage legislation. Inspired and informed by the multicultural traditions of freedom marches, prayer-walking and pilgrimage, the Equality Walkers traveled the following route.
Day 1: Sunday, August 10th – Surprise to Peoria Day 2: Monday, August 11th – Peoria to Avondale 5:00pm to 7:00pm – End of campaign rally & picnic in the Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix. |  |
MEET MEG & THE EQUALITY WALKERS
We are honored to introduce Meg Sneed, the inspiration and the driving force behind this campaign. Meg is a true Soulforce Q leader. She is one of the original Equality Riders, has organized the Right to Serve action in Phoenix and participated in the Right to Marry in New York. An amazing activist and person, she was recently nominated for Distinguished Service by a Woman Award by the Echo Magazine. Contact: meg@righttomarry.org
 | “Growing up in Arizona has shaped who I am. From Madison #1 to North High School, the most crucial years of my life were spent in the heart of Phoenix. It was here that I learned to ride a bike, waved to my parents on my first day of school, had my first kiss, and got my first job. I have fried an egg on the sidewalk. I cringe when I remember game six of the 1993 NBA finals. I am a Phoenician… Many times I boarded a plane in Sky Harbor airport to venture out on a Soulforce action. This time, equality is coming home. After 96 years of statehood, LGBT people can no longer be treated as second-class citizens. Arizona is better than that. I am ready for what so many people begin dreaming about as children. I envision a big wedding with my family and friends as witnesses to my lifetime commitment to one person in front of God. I am ready for my home state to recognize and honor it as well.” |
Meet all the Arizona Equality Walkers! Click here.
Soulforce Q is the young adult division of Soulforce, where we implement projects that empower youth to be leaders. In an effort to make activism accessible to all and put forth a diverse voice calling for equality, we cover all expenses attendant to our campaigns. We welcome all to participate and embrace diversity in age, creed, ethnicity, background, ability, gender idenity, sexual orientation, and educational status.
Links To More Information On Marriage Equality:
Equality Arizona: the statewide LGBT organization of Arizona
Freedom to Marry: a national organization on the forefront of marriage equality
Pride Agenda: the statewide LGBT organization of New York
2008 Right to Marry Campaign in New York State Archive