Greater Boston PFLAG Launches Program with Courting Equality
Author Pat Gozemba looks on approvingly as PFLAG President Stan Griffith presents a copy of Courting Equality to Lexington, MA high school sophomore Carla Yengo-Kahn for her school’s Gay/Straight Alliance. Every high school in Massachusetts will be offered a copy of Courting Equality.
Celebrate Massachusetts historic same-sex marriage victory
with a copy of Courting Equality!
On June 14, 2007, the Massachusetts legislature once again voted to support LGBT equality , refusing to send to the ballot a constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage.
Courting Equality is the first book to tell the extraordinary story of this civil rights victory. With nearly 10,000 married same-sex couples, Massachusetts has successfully broken through the boundaries of an age-old institution. By sharing this book with friends and family you can ensure that an ever-growing number of people understand that same-sex marriage is about the same thing as heterosexual marriage–whom we choose to love and whom we call family.
See the Courting Equality Launch Party, May 16, 2007, Cambridge YMCA. This fabulous celebration with special guests attorney Mary Bonauto, Sen. Jarrett Barrios, Rep. Byron Rushing, Rep. Alice Wolf, and the Goodridge plaintiffs was recorded live by WGBH.
- “Marilyn Humphries’ photographs are a gift to us all. They provide moving and eloquent documentation of each stage in the struggle to end discrimination in the Massachusetts marriage statutes. Courting Equality bears witness to the determination, the love, and, ultimately, the jubilation of thousands of ordinary people who believed in an extraordinary dream.”
- - Rev. William Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
26 responses so far ↓
1 Karen Rudolph // Feb 22, 2007 at 12:42 am
I can’t wait to hold this book in my hands. Congratulations Pat, Karen and Marilyn.
2 Jimi Simmons // Feb 22, 2007 at 2:25 pm
The faces in these photographs speak to us about the need for equality. How can anyone look at these families and continue to deny them their civil rights.
3 steve galante // Feb 23, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Looks great! I am so proud of both of you! I think this is your best work yet! Thanks for all you do for all of us!
4 Nathan Leo Braulick // Mar 14, 2007 at 6:12 pm
This will surely be a seminal book about a radically transformative moment in the struggle for equality. It should be in every public and school library in the country; a poetic document of where it all began.
5 Tom Lang // Mar 14, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Marilyn, Pat and Karen,
Your hardwork for our community continues to not only be an inspiration to us all but it gives us the visual of hope that we can make this country and this world a better place for everyone.
Thank you
6 Barbara G. Taylor // Mar 15, 2007 at 9:52 am
Thank you, Pat, Karen and Marilyn! You’ve captured the opening moments of an important and historic cultural transformation. Your powerful words and photos will help the world to see and understand the human consequences of the continuing struggle for equality and social justice. Congratulations!
7 Marjorie Kelly // Mar 15, 2007 at 2:31 pm
This book is so timely and so needed. It is a gift to the entire community, and an inspiration that you’ve done it. Thanks so much. It will make a real difference in many lives.
8 Peg Elson // Mar 16, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Pat, Karen, and Marilyn,
How proud I am of you, Pat, my real life sister and Karen your spouse. Your writing is superb–thought provoking, witty, and informative and will ignite the fires of all those others seeking equality in their states. Marilyn, your photography is outstanding as usual; you bring the text to life! Congratulations on a work that will benefit so many.
9 Laurie Curran // Mar 17, 2007 at 9:01 pm
“To sit in silence when we should protest
makes cowards of men, ” said the poetess, Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Thank you Pat, Marilyn and Karen for telling this courageous story which will ring true for so many years to come.
BRAVO!
Laurie Curran
10 Lori Tishler // Mar 18, 2007 at 6:45 am
Jordan, Ellie, and I are delighted to see your book. Mazel tov! It’s an important story and even more important that this will just be normal for all our children.
11 Jake Wunsch // Mar 29, 2007 at 11:28 am
The single image on the top of this page (and cover of the book) is wonderfully moving in and of itself. Looking forward to seeing the whole book! Good luck.
12 Joseph Watson // Mar 29, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Looking forward to this book. The images on the gallery on these site are great, and I am sure the book is the same.
Good luck and Congrads!
13 Martha // Mar 29, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Marilyn’s photos say it all - you won’t need to translate this for international distribution….the humanity of these photographs will resonate across
borders and boundaries of all kinds.
Congratulations on getting this important work out to ease the path for others to follow what is genuine in their hearts.
14 Donald Dal Maso // Apr 9, 2007 at 5:35 am
Marilyn Humphries is one of the most gifted people that we know personally. Her photographs are filled with truth and life. At a time when every reasonable American is asking how we can fight the powerful corporate and reactionary forces that have dominated our nation for years, Marilyn and her co-authors have demonstrated that the power of humanity and human connections is the key. Congratulations on a wonderful achievement–all the people mentioned and photographed in the book are now part of our lives.
Donald Dal Maso (writing also for my wife June DeCamp)
15 John Hosty // Apr 20, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I am so excited to see this book in full! This is a priceless contribution to the gay community, and no doubt will make even the coldest heart think about equality in a new light. Thank you so much for putting this together.
16 Michelle Galante Duason // Apr 27, 2007 at 5:52 am
Cannot wait to see the program. My brother, Steve and his partner Bill are the couple raising their 5!!! children - and doing a phenomenal job!!!
17 Barbara W. Gerber // Apr 27, 2007 at 4:06 pm
I would like to put in an order for this book. Do I have to wait until after the 16th of May? BWG
18 Jarrett Barrios // May 8, 2007 at 7:16 pm
How marvelous! Congratulations Pat, Marilyn and company! See you at the Cambridge YWCA.
19 Matthew Ehrlich // May 10, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Congratulations! I wish very much that Ashby and I could attend (especially since we live right around the corner in Charlestown!) but I’ll be at my brother’s graduation in MO. Best wishes for the event! Can’t wait to pick up my copy…
20 D Peterson // May 18, 2007 at 1:51 am
I got my copy at the May 16 event in Cambridge. The event itself was amazing — all that positive energy in the room! ANd the book is phenomenal; there’s something about seeing so many photos, all together in one book, that helps me reach a deeper understanding of how much we as a community have achieved, how far we have come. And how much effort it has taken.
21 Jennie // May 20, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Good job! Your site is great!
22 Lynette Cash // May 20, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Pat, thanks for telling me about this. Congrats
to you, Karen and Marilyn. I can’t wait to see and read it and see Marilyn Pics. I have seen a lot of women joined in Civil Union. I hope someday all the states will recognize same sex marriage.
23 Jane Spickett // Jun 19, 2007 at 11:30 am
How often do I know before the event that my heart will break open?! I know from my own work how words and images combine to heal people and relationships. Your book is a testament to courage, dignity, faith and hard work. May it make easier the work still to do.I am ordering now!! Thank you!
24 Lynne Hutton-Williams // Jul 4, 2007 at 3:16 am
Pat, Karen and Marilyn you have accomplished something wonderful with your book “Courting Equality”. We can now read an historically accurate, beautifully photographed and documented book, about America’s shameful negligence and predjudice toward US Gays & lesbians desiring the same constitutional rights as everybody else. Congratulations, the book is fabulous and you are all wonderful!
25 Michael Benefiel // Oct 12, 2007 at 2:39 pm
My congratulations to all who helped bring this gift into existence — not least to the designer of this website, which allows us to learn from others.
We will celebrate this creative work tonight here in Silver Spring, Maryland, and we invite all our friends and well-wishers in Massachusetts to “hold us in the light” as we continue the fight in Maryland. Our high court voted last month in favor of straight privilege and continuing injustice, by a 4 to 3 majority. This reversed a favorable lower court ruling in Baltimore, which would have issued marriage licenses and allowed all Maryland citizens to marry. That means the fight for relationship rights moves to our legislature during the general assembly of 2008. I hope we can find resources to put a copy of “Courting Equality” into the hands of every Maryland state Senator and Delegate.
26 Lev Desmarais // Nov 29, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Thank you for helping to document a truly historic event. My mother let me know about this site. I had just sent her some pictures of my church’s participation in a Dallas area Pride parade. Every year I meet more people who are happy to welcome gay, lesbian and transgender people into their lives. Keep up the fight for true equality. I have seen significant progress in my short time on this planet.
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