DontAmend.com
37 Cities Across the Nation to Protest for Equal Marriage Rights at Post Offices on Tax Day!
 
TEXT:
*** PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!! *** PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!! ***
 
Protest on Thursday, April 15th
SEE THE END OF THIS MESSAGE
TO FIND INFO ABOUT THE PROTEST NEAREST YOU!
 
Stand up and send a clear message for equal rights: No Taxation With Discrimination!!
 
We are protesting on Tax Day because the government takes our tax money but then refuses to treat us as equals before the law.  It is an insult that politicians of either party could think its perfectly fine to take tax money from their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered constituents and then not treat us equally. The central issue is equality or discrimination. Taking our tax money just pours salt on the wound of discrimination.
 
We are protesting at post offices around the country to highlight the extra pain we feel on tax day when the federal government forces many of us in committed relationships to enter into a legal fiction of being single - when we are actually couples, many in long-term relationships.  We demand equal respect for our relationships, and are angry that the government which taxes us refuses to grant us the marriage rights that others take for granted.
 
Our families are treated differently under the law, when in reality we have many of the same responsibilities, but without any of the legal obligations or benefits. According to the US Census data, 33% of gay male couples and 42% of lesbian couples are raising children compared with 51% of straight couples raising children. We all love our children and want to protect them just the same as any family would -- yet the government refuses our children and our families the same legal protections and tax advantages provided children of straight couples and that is wrong.  Older same-sex couples are denied Social Security survivor's benefits if one partner dies. The surviving partner is also denied automatic inheritance rights, potentially leaving him or her penniless.
 
We demand nothing less than full and equal marriage rights. Some have suggested that we settle for "civil unions" or "domestic partnerships," but both of these measures fall far short of full equality. It is absurd in principle to attempt to erect a "separate but equal" marriage-like institution and segregate gays into it. Few would seriously suggest that women, or any racial or religious minority accept less than full legal equality; it is insulting that some think that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered people would or should settle for anything less. As a practical matter, given that thousands of federal and state laws use the word "marriage" to confer rights and responsibilities to couples, it would be a Herculean task to retrofit those thousands of laws to accommodate a "separate but equal" institution for gays, rather than simply grant equal access to the institution of marriage.
 
Please join the Tax Day protest nearest you and send a clear message to the politicians of both parties: No Taxation With Discrimination!
 
 
Book Alert: Fantastic reading on the subject of same gender marriage!
 
This week a new book WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE A DAMN ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE by Davina Kotulski, Ph.D., has been released that will help carry the message even further. Why You Should Give a Damn About Gay Marriage is a timely book that will help people understand the 1,138 federal ways and the hundreds of state ways that same-sex couples are relegated to a second-class citizenship. The book will open your eyes to the myriad of injustices that same-sex couples face like being denied the right to visit our partners in the hospital outside of California, even if we are registered California domestic partners, the extra fees we pay for our car insurance, rental cars, homeowners and health insurance. But, it is not just for California, but deals with federal rights.  It will anger you when you see how much money a same-sex survivor is denied by the Social Security Administration no matter how long they were partnered, but a newlywed of only one year and even a heterosexual divorced spouse can lay claim to these thousands of dollars. After going to the www.ssa.gov to find out how much your partner will be denied, you will be propelled to action and you will be qualified after reading this book to speak eloquently on the 1400+ rights and protections we are denied.

Outlook 12/12/03 writes "Kotulski's Why You Should Give a Damn About Gay Marriage, from Advocate Books, presents a staggeringly succinct argument that will open the eyes of even the staunchest foe of gay marriage."

Yes, the book addresses the 1,138 federal rights that come with marriage.

The book is available on-line at www.alyson.com, www.amazon.com, and your local bookstore.
We here at dontamend.com think this book is a great tool for activists, organizers,
and all people who believe in full civil rights for our community.
 
Here is the current list of cities planning actions on Tax Day, Thursday, April 15th:
 
Athens, GA
11 am
Main Post Office
115 E. Hancock Ave, Athens
Info:  OurHope@aol.com
 
Atlanta, GA
4:30 pm until dusk
Pharr Road Post Office, Atlanta
(near the intersection of Pharr Road and Piedmont Road)
Co-sponsored by DontAmend Atlanta and Marriage Equality Georgia
Info: atlantadontamend@aol.com
 
Austin, TX
Information forthcoming
Info: randall@lgrl.org
 
Bakersfield, CA
5 pm til ?
Main Post Office
3400 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA
Info: call 661-835-3545 or e-mail bakersfield@marriageequalityca.org
 

Bisbee, AZ
4 pm
Cooper Queen Station Post Office
Main Street, Bisbee, AZ
Info: jbengel80@yahoo.com
 
Boston, MA
5:30 pm
Fort Point Post Office (behind South Station)
Boston, MA
Info:  dontamendmass@cemarion.com
 
Charleston, WV
7-9 pm
Main Charleston Post Office
1002 Lee Street E.
(meet on the Washington Street side, on the corner of Dickinson & Washington Streets)
Cosponsored by Appalachian Metropolitan Community Church and West Virginia Foundation for Equality
Info: Earthleabear@yahoo.com or charlieboiwv@aol.com
 
Chicago, IL
5:30 pm
Main Post Office
433 W. Harrison Street (just west of the Chicago River)
Sponsored by Equal Marriage NOW!
Info: questions@equalmarriagenow.org or phone 773-243-2576
 
College Station, TX
4 pm
College Station Main Post Office
2130 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy S, College Station, TX
Info: faithbiwerks@yahoo.com
 
Davis, CA
11:30 am - 1 pm and 3 - 4 pm
Davis Post Office
(corner of Poleline and Fifth Streets)
Info:  yolo@MarriageEqualityCA.org
 
Duluth, MN
5:30 pm
Duluth Main Post Office
2800 W. Michigan Street
Info: anichols@d.umn.edu
 
Fredricksburg, VA
5-7 pm
Fredricksburg Main Post Office
600 Princess Anne Street
Fredricksburg, VA
Info: lgreen555@aol.com
 
Ft. Worth, TX
6 pm
Jack D. Watson Post Office
4600 Mark IV Parkway
Fort Worth
(exit Loop 820 at Mark IV Parkway, and drive south about half a mile)
Info:  JamesCoates@sbcglobal.net
 
Houston, TX
6 pm
6 pm at the Main Post Office
401 Franklin Street (@ Bagby), Downtown Houston
Info: houstondontamend@aol.com
 
Indianapolis, IN
5-7 pm
Indianapolis Main Post Office
125 W. South Street, Indianapolis
(southwest corner of South Street & S. Capitol Ave)
Info: Indy@DontAmend.com
 
Kansas City, MO
5:30 pm
Main Post Office
315 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO
Info: dontamendKC@hotmail.com
 
Long Beach, CA
5:30 pm
Post Office
2300 Redondo Avenue, Long Beach, CA
(between Pacific Coast Highway and Willow Street)
Info:  daveys35@aol.com
 
Los Angeles
5:30 pm
15701 Sherman Way & Haskell (off the 405 freeway)
Contact: Robin Tyler, National Co Chair, rtdontamend@aol.com
Co-sponsored by DontAmend.com, Metropolitan Community Churches, Marriage Equality California (MECA), California Freedom to Marry, Southern California Women for Understanding
 
Louisville, KY
5:30-7:30 pm and 9:30-11:30 pm
Louisville Main Post Office
1420 Gardiner Lane, Louisville, KY
Sponsored by the Justice Ministry of the Metropolitan Community Church Louisville
Info: MCCLJustice@aol.com or MCCLville@aol.com
 
New York, NY
6 pm
Steps of James A. Farley Post Office
421 Eighth Avenue
(between 31st & 32nd Streets)
Info: rzacchi@marriageequalityny.org
 
Northern Los Angeles County
5:30 pm
43824 20th Street West  (corner of 20th & J-12)
Lancaster, CA Post Office
Info: AntelopeValley@DontAmend.com
 
Oakland, CA
5:30 pm
Post Office at 1675 7th Street
Oakland, CA
(right off the West Oakland Bart Station)
Info:  mmckay@marriageequalityca.org
 
Odessa, TX (GWB Country!)
4 pm
Main Post Office
200 N. Main Street
Odessa, TX
Info: Aguyinodessa@hotmail.com
 
Oklahoma City, OK
5 - 6:30 pm
Across the street from the Main Post Office
S 5th and Harvey, Oklahoma City
Info: jcraig23@cox.net
Co-sponsored by the Interfaith Diversity & Equality Association and The Peace House
 
Palm Springs, CA
6 pm, meet at the Desert Pride Center
March starts at 6:30 PM
March from the Pride Center to Village Fest
Bring banners, signs and your best loud voice!
Info: info@equal-protection.org and www.equal-protection.org


Philadelphia, PA
5:30 pm
30th Street Station Post Office
(2970 Market St)
Phlildelphia, PA
Info:  dontamendphilly@hotmail.com
 
Reno, NV
5:30 pm
Main Post Office
2000 Vassar Street, Reno, NV
Info: Angela34Brooks@hotmail.com
 
Sacramento, CA
9 pm - 12 midnight
LOCATION CHANGE!!!!
WEST SACRAMENTO - 3775 Industrial Blvd
Info: sacramento@marriageequalityca.org
 
San Diego, CA
San Diegans Against Marriage Discrimination, The San Diego LGBT Community Center and Equality California are hosting a press conference at 10:30 PM at the Midway Post Office (Midway Drive in Point Loma). Info: AJ Davis 619.692.2077, ext 212 or adavis@thecentersd.org.
 
San Francisco, CA
9 pm-11:30 pm
San Francisco Main Post Office
1300 Evans Street (off 3rd St, near Candlestick Park)
Sponsored by Marriage Equality California
Info: molly@eqca.org
 
San Gabriel Valley, CA
5:30 pm until ?
City of Industry Post Office
15421 E. Gale Avenue
City of Industry, CA
Info: teeslady@hotmail.com
 
San Jose, CA
5:15 pm
Post Office - Willow Glen
1750 Meridian Avenue, San Jose
Info: mara@maramcwilliams.com
 
Santa Barbara, CA
4-5 pm
Main Post Office
836 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara
Sponsored by the Pacific Pride Foundation
Info: janet@pacificpridefoundation.org
 
Sarasota, FL
4:30 - 7:30 pm
Main Post Office
1661 Ringling Blvd
Sponsored by the United Federation of Metropolitan Community Churches
Info: Trinity1SRQ@aol.com
 
Seattle, WA
5:30 pm, Main Seattle Post Office
301 Union Street (3rd Ave & Union)
Downtown Seattle
Info: SeaWADontAmend@aol.com
 
Spokane, WA
5:30 pm
The Garland Post Office
1903 W. Garland, Spokane
Info:  Ballantz@cs.com
 
Tampa Bay, FL
5:30 pm
Main Tampa Bay Post Office
(located at the airport)
Tampa, FL
Info: dontamend@tampabay.rr.com
 
… AND GET READY FOR THE BIG PROTESTS ON OR JUST BEFORE MONDAY, MAY 17TH!!
 
As DontAmend.com announced several months ago, we are working with groups and individuals around the country to celebrate May 17th, the first day that Massachusetts will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples!!  If you would like to organize a rally in your town on or just before May 17th, please write to RTDontAmend@aol.com
 
We CAN win equal marriage rights if we organize NOW!!!