From: FORMBOSTON@aol.com Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 18:44:08 -0400 Subject: FORM--FLYER (NEW) "They are married to each other in their own eyes, in God's eyes, in the eyes of the church and community --in every eye but the law's." --Author Richard Mohr FORM Organizers: Jeff Nickel (Founder) Jeffrey Atwood John Burrows Deborah and Beth Dellapiana Ross Elliott Rebecca Gorlin and Kim Shaw Mary Ann Grim Joe Pereira-West Beverly Schwartz C.D. Shields Eden Stone Steve Vogelsang David Zanone The Forum on the Right to Marriage (FORM) began organizing early in 1994, prompted in part by a lack of effective action on the marriage issue by established gay rights organizations. However, we soon realized that even beyond this problem, there was a great need for the development of new groups whose sole focus would be the attainment of legally recognized marriage for same-sex couples. We will create a national network of FORM chapters, to begin preparing for the state-by-state struggles that will ensue in the not-too-distant future. We believe marriage will be a watershed issue for gay rights, and will bring benefits far beyond the scope of marriage itself. FORM's first general meeting was held in Boston on February 8th, 1995. The Baehr v. Lewin case in Hawaii is the primary reason why working toward marriage is so vital now. It's scheduled to be reheard on September 25th, 1995; a final ruling is not expected until early 1997. The burden of proof placed on the State of Hawaii to justify its discrimination against same-sex couples is so high, there's virtually no chance of it being met. The plaintiffs are overwhelmingly likely to win. By 1997, the State of Hawaii will probably begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The major question will then be: Will other states recognize Hawaii's gay marriages? Though some gay leaders have decided the best approach is to wait on Hawaii before filing other cases, we believe this is far from a settled issue. To paraphrase a famous economist, there are two kinds of gay leaders: Those who don't know what's going to happen, and those who don't know they don't know. We believe it is important to keep an open mind, and be very careful before condemning any efforts on behalf of same-sex marriage. In considering our strategy, we should remember that the Hawaii case itself came about completely outside of the purview of the established gay rights organizations; indeed, at the time, many actively opposed it. THE MARRIAGE RESOLUTION "Because marriage is a fundamental right under our Constitution, and because the Constitution guarantees equal protection of the law, RESOLVED, the State should permit gay and lesbian couples to marry and share fully and equally in the rights and responsibilities of marriage." This was developed by the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund as a tool for raising awareness of the marriage issue. We strongly urge everyone to get their community organizations and institutions to endorse it, and then notify either LAMBDA or FORM. "What is standing in the way?" --German gay activist Karl Ulrichs, 1869 FORM's plan: * Outreach to all fifty states. Assist local communities in organizing FORM chapters by providing materials, answering questions, and conducting training. * Speakers bureau. Outreach to "mainstream" as well as gay community organizations, larger events with well-known gay figures and others. * Media. Improve coverage of same-sex marriage, encourage positive editorials, and provide factual information and interviews as events occur nationwide. * Legislative action. Approach state legislators, ask that they not support "conservative" efforts to enact laws forbidding gay marriage, draft a bill specifically allowing for same-sex marriage. * Court challenges. Work with legal experts in the preparation of a marriage case, assist those bringing cases in other states with informational, legal, financial, and other help. * Public education. This is the most important area of our mission. Through as diverse means as possible, foster a discussion of marriage as a fundamental right, get the message of marriage rights across to all Americans; gay or straight, married or single. Give us your stories! FORM is collecting anecdotes by and about same-sex couples that illustrate the need for legal recognition of our relationships. Tragic or joyous, sad or wonderful, we want your experiences so that we can make the personal case for gay marriage. Send your stories to us by mailing a tape or typewritten material, or by e-mailing. Those who don't wish their real names used can so indicate. But please, send us your stories!!! FORM RESOURCES: (Available from FORM free of charge.) General Quotations Collection of marriage-related quotes Hawaii Explication Judicial breakdown of Baehr v. Lewin Law Review Summary Quotations and other material gathered from law review articles on or related to same-sex marriage Legal Summary Breakdown of constitutional and other legal factors involved in arguing a marriage case Marriage Law Chart State-by-state chart explaining the major statutory factors in bringing a marriage case Marriage Resources Bibliography of legal and general interest materials. Marriage Timeline Including court cases and other significant events. All FORM materials can be freely copied and distributed widely. Please, do! "History can be made." --Gunnar Myrdal, An American Dilemma HOW TO REACH FORM Mail: Forum on the Right to Marriage (FORM) 227 Chelsea Street East Boston, MA 02128 Phone: (617) 569-9733 Internet: E-Mail: FORMBOSTON@AOL.COM Worldwide Web (WWW): FORM materials available at: http://nether.net/~rod/html/sub/marriage.html -and- http:/www.eskimo.com/~demian/partners.html On America Online: Clubs and Interests/Gay and Lesbian Forum/Resource Library/New Titles and Free Uploading (These will soon be moved to the Legal Issues folder.) Sign up for FORM's e-mail list by e-mailing us at the above address. To continue and greatly expand the work of this organization, funds, as well as your time and energy, are urgently needed. We are one of the very first organizations in the country whose sole focus is same-sex marriage. And we are the only one covering all fifty states! As many commentators have noted, national discussion of gay marriage following a final Hawaii ruling will dwarf the controversy and scope of the gays in the military debate of 1993. That time, we weren't ready. This time, we must be. And with your help, we can be. Far from fearing this coming American dialogue, we welcome it. Only an open discussion of the nature of our love and our relationships--the core, after all, of what it means to be a gay person--holds the promise of, at last, making gay women and men full participants in every aspect of American life. We have begun this work, and as we hope our continued efforts will prove, we will finish it. FORM is a nonprofit organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (No. 498962.) ============================== ______________________________ ============================== The Forum On the Right to Marriage Working to Make Marriage a Reality for the Gay Community It's Time. Please help us to begin building the framework for legalizing same-sex marriage. Because our work will involve influencing public opinion through the legislative, judicial, and other political processes, contributions to FORM will, unfortunately, not be tax-deductible. Instead, we hope that you will be able to help because you believe we are an organization making tangible efforts, leading directly to the attainment of a most basic human right; the right to marry the person we love. Eventually, gay marriage must happen. But eventually could be a long time. Or, with your help, it could be sooner than we imagine. Please help.  Yes, I believe in equal marriage rights.  Add me to your mailing list: __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________  I can help with a donation of: $10 $25 $50 $100  other (Please make checks payable to: Forum on the Right to Marriage (FORM), Inc.)  I'm interested in becoming a FORM organizer.  Questions/Comments: __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ We hope that you will become involved in FORM. But the most important thing, in whatever aspect of gay rights we may be involved in, is that we as gay people share with those around us the truth of our lives. FORM's activities can serve only as an adjunct to individual gay men, women, and young people willing to reach out and change the hearts and minds of the American people. Thanks for your interest and your continued assistance in helping to make marriage a reality for the gay community. Please help us to begin building the framework for legalizing same-sex marriage. Because our work will involve influencing public opinion through the legislative, judicial, and other political processes, contributions to FORM will, unfortunately, not be tax-deductible. Instead, we hope that you will be able to help because you believe we are an organization making tangible efforts, leading directly to the attainment of a most basic human right; the right to marry the person we love. Eventually, gay marriage must happen. But eventually could be a long time. Or, with your help, it could be sooner than we imagine. Please help.  Yes, I believe in equal marriage rights.  Add me to your mailing list: __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________  I can help with a donation of: $10 $25 $50 $100  other (Please make checks payable to: Forum on the Right to Marriage (FORM), Inc.)  I'm interested in becoming a FORM organizer.  Questions/Comments: __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ We hope that you will become involved in FORM. But the most important thing, in whatever aspect of gay rights we may be involved in, is that we as gay people share with those around us the truth of our lives. FORM's activities can serve only as an adjunct to individual gay men, women, and young people willing to reach out and change the hearts and minds of the American people. Thanks for your interest and your continued assistance in helping to make marriage a reality for the gay community. Please help us to begin building the framework for legalizing same-sex marriage. Because our work will involve influencing public opinion through the legislative, judicial, and other political processes, contributions to FORM will, unfortunately, not be tax-deductible. Instead, we hope that you will be able to help because you believe we are an organization making tangible efforts, leading directly to the attainment of a most basic human right; the right to marry the person we love. Eventually, gay marriage must happen. But eventually could be a long time. Or, with your help, it could be sooner than we imagine. Please help.  Yes, I believe in equal marriage rights.  Add me to your mailing list: __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________  I can help with a donation of: $10 $25 $50 $100  other (Please make checks payable to: Forum on the Right to Marriage (FORM), Inc.)  I'm interested in becoming a FORM organizer.  Questions/Comments: __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ We hope that you will become involved in FORM. But the most important thing, in whatever aspect of gay rights we may be involved in, is that we as gay people share with those around us the truth of our lives. FORM's activities can serve only as an adjunct to individual gay men, women, and young people willing to reach out and change the hearts and minds of the American people. Thanks for your interest and your continued assistance in helping to make marriage a reality for the gay community.