Straight Couple Brings National Gay Rights Vigil to Salem, MA

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Aaron Toleos, (978) 821-4620, aaron@toleos.com

Straight Couple Brings National Gay Rights Vigil to Salem, MA

SALEM, MA, October 8, 2007 -- Aaron and Susan Toleos, a straight couple from Boxford, MA, will be spending their ninth wedding anniversary wrapping up plans for a gay rights vigil they have organized for the following day, Thursday, October 11 at the historic First Church in Salem from 6 to 8pm. Their event is part of a national campaign called "Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights" that has straight people leading similar vigils in thirty cities and twenty-six states across America during the second week in October.

"My wife and I have been humbled by the courage of the lgbt community as they have fought to protect themselves and their children over the last few years," said Mr. Toleos.  "This vigil is a way for the straight community to show its support as the struggle for full equality continues."

Although the main audience is straight people, organizers hope that many members of the lgbt community will attend to stand by their straight allies as they "come out" in support of equal rights for all Americans.

As people arrive in the first hour, there will be entertainment, a video display, and a book signing by the authors of "Courting Equality: A Documentary History of America's First Legal Same-Sex Marriages." The formal part of the program will kick-off at 7pm with the lighting of candles and remarks by gay rights leaders and state legislators.

The First Church in Salem is located at 316 Essex Street in Salem, MA.  It is near downtown Salem and a short walk from the train station. There is usually plenty of on-street parking in this area.

Coffee, juice, and snacks will be available throughout the vigil. Bring the kids!

More information is available at www.SevenStraightNights.org where you can also make a donation. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, contact Aaron Toleos at (978) 821-4620 or aaron@toleos.com.

###

FYI - Tom will be speaking at this event...

Hope to see you all there.

Aaron Toleos

Comments

[John]

I'll be there.

This is a huge thing that is really important especially in states where bigot petition drives are currently ongoing.

If we get enough straight people to speak out, then the chances of such petitions succeeding is diminished.

[sean]

How did Tyler Dawbin steal Aaron Toleos' wife and kids?

[Jane Know]

Thank you, Aaron and Susan. Your support means a great deal. I wish I could be there (but I live in Chicago).

[John]

Slightly off topic, but Fannie's Room has a truly outstanding post on why bigots can't recognize their bigotry, and how the law is used to perpetuate inequality.

"In short, society at large doesn't yet get how "marriage defense" is discriminatory to gay people. To them, their abstract and intangible goal of "saving children/defending marriage/preventing the collapse of civilization" by advocating for constitutional amendments to define marriage, advocating for DOMA, and celebrating judicial opinions that deny marital benefits to same-sex families looks natural and ordinary to them. Sexual prejudice is so ingrained in our culture that some of these people refuse to see, or are unable to see, their thoughts and actions for what they are. Bigotry."

Whole thing here:

http://fanniesroom.blogspot.com/2007/10/critical-queer-theory_10.html

[John Hosty-Grinnell]

Incidentally, I shot some video of this event, so if anyone wants to twist Aaron's arm maybe we could get him to share it. ;)

[Stan]

Thanks Aaron and Susan. I've been a supporter of Soulforce for a long time. I appreciate your support for them and all of us in the LGBT community.