Upcoming Supreme Court Marriage Equality Decision -- Rally at Maplewood Town Hall!

Within the next 3 weeks, the US Supreme Court is expected to decide whether the U.S. Constitution requires marriage equality for same sex couples to be recognized throughout the United States. Most prognosticators anticipate a victory for marriage equality, but the outcome is not guaranteed. In any case, whatever SCOTUS rules, it will be an historic occasion, and we will rally to celebrate (or share our disappoinment), and most importantly to discuss next steps for the LGBT equality movement.

On behalf of North Jersey Pride, I am organizing a gathering/rally on the steps of Maplewood Town Hall to celebrate (or commiserate) this historic ruling. The rally will commence at 6:30 PM on the day the decision is released by SCOTUS. My crystal ball says there is a 65% chance this will be on Monday, June 29th; a 20% chance for Monday, June 22; a 10% chance for Tuesday, June 30; and a 5% chance for some other date in the remaining weeks of June. The decision will be released at 10:00 AM on whatever date SCOTUS chooses, and the rally will take place that same evening.

The rally will be an opportunity to gather with friends, relatives, family, and supporters on the day of the next big milestone in a long, persistent 25+ year effort to achieve historic support and acceptance for relationship equality. Please plan to join us if you are available.

The rally will tentatively include music, speeches, entertainment, and refreshments (details TBD). As our keynote speaker, we are thrilled to have lined up national figure Sue Fulton. Sue and her wife Penny were the first same sex couple ever to be married in the Cadet Chapel at West Point following the fall of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. She also achieved many other firsts in her West Point education, her military career, and her LGBT advocacy efforts. She now serves as the first female leader of the governing body (Board of Vistors) at West Point. For more information, check out Sue's wikipedia entry. Come meet Sue and our other distinguished speakers on DoD (Day of Decision). Bring your friends and allies, and be a part of celebrating history in the making. The decision will be announced at 10:00 AM, so there will be 8+ hours notice before the start of the rally.

Sponsored by North Jersey Pride. Open to supporters of marriage equality throughout the tristate region.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/554193798055365/

Great idea, Steve! (Sue's last name is Fulton, not Felton). Their wedding was indeed historic and was performed by Maplewood's own Vanessa Rush Southern, former senior pastor at the Unitarian Church in Summit.

Sue is a terrific speaker (and singer) who brings wisdom, wit and a wealth of lifetime experience to the cause.

nakaille said:
(Sue's last name is Fulton, not Felton).

Thanks nakaille. I knew that but must have missed it in my proofreading. I have corrected it now.

The Rally now has a facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/476154429216942/

The #DecisionDay Rally will take place win or lose, rain or shine. If the weather is good, it will take place on the front steps of Maplewood Town Hall (574 Valley St). In the event of rain, the rally will be held in The Woodland (former Woman's Club), 60 Woodland Rd, Maplewood. Garden State Equality and ACLU-NJ have graciously joined the event as co-sponsors. Other #DecisionDay events will be taking place simultaneously around the country; a list of these events is available at http://www.uniteformarriage.org/.

Thanks Steve, looking forward to seeing you there. BTW, Rachel Maddow says the Supreme Court decisions this month are coming out on Mondays and Thursdays, not just Mondays, so we've got lots of dates to block off on the calendar!

I'm assuming South Oranginas are invited to this Maplewood event. Or are we hosting one of our own?

L I K E! Will be there! (and LL -- this is *North* Jersey Pride -- so of course we're all welcome, even those of us in SO!)

LL_ said:
I'm assuming South Oranginas are invited to this Maplewood event. Or are we hosting one of our own?

Of course! All marriage equality supporters from the tri-state region and beyond are invited and encouraged to attend! Village President Sheena Collum and Mayor Vic DeLuca will jointly welcome visitors to the rally. A list of rally sites around the country can be found at http://www.uniteformarriage.org/

Rally Updates: To encourage attendees to arrive early (and to allow time to find parking), there will be musical entertainment (and, hopefully, refreshments) starting at 6:00 PM to entertain and energize the crowd. The Rally will begin at 6:30 PM, as previously announced, with the National Anthem and a flag raising ceremony (American and Rainbow flags), followed by speakers and more musical entertainment.

Following the rally, there will be more music, and then an after-party at Coda Kitchen and Bar in Maplewood Village.

North Jersey Pride co-sponsors now include our distinguished friends at Garden State Equality, Lambda Legal, ACLU-NJ, and Human Rights Campaign.

As FC says, the Supreme Court is expected to hand out decisions on Mondays and Thursdays through the end of June, and could add additional weekdays at their discretion. There are 11 decisions remaining to be handed down this session, and three remaining decision dates. My personal guess as to the most likely dates for announcing the marriage equality cases (Obergefell v Hodges), in order, are Monday, June 29; Thursday, June 25; and Monday, June 22. But the Rally is ready to go whatever date the court settles on. See you there!

Complete Rally details and related information, updated daily, can be found at the North Jersey Pride facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/554193798055365/

Not today.

But maybe today.

Nope. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe Monday.

The waiting is almost over.

Court ruled in favor of same sex marriage. Scalia's head will explode

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html?module=Notification&version=BreakingNews®ion=FixedTop&action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=36477253&pgtype=Homepage&_r=0

ml1 said:
Court ruled in favor of same sex marriage. Scalia's head will explode
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html?module=Notification&version=BreakingNews®ion=FixedTop&action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=36477253&pgtype=Homepage&_r=0

Couldn't happen to a douchy-er dude! Hopefully it will happen in time to celebrate that tonight, as well! I forsee a LOT of binge drinking by Fox News and conservatives this weekend, in between their furtive, DL hookups with same sex individuals.

Indeed, Scalia's head did explode. He said the ruling is a "threat to democracy." I couldn't find any quotes from Clarence Thomas, the mute. Wedding planners start your engines!!!

Here is an amazing true life love story that I saw on Lawrence O'Donnell show last night.

http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/gay-couple-who-were--father-----son--marry-471558211632

DottyParker said:
Indeed, Scalia's head did explode. He said the ruling is a "threat to democracy." I couldn't find any quotes from Clarence Thomas, the mute. Wedding planners start your engines!!!

I remember my high school history teacher explaining to us how homosexuality brought on the downfall of the Roman Empire.

Is it tonight? At 6?

Yup! Party starts at 6!

https://www.facebook.com/events/554193798055365/

JOIN US for this HISTORIC statewide celebration, right here in Maplewood!

Maplewood Town Hall Steps, 574 Valley St; come early to find parking; hundreds expected.

Party, with DJ, starts at 6:00 (limited refreshments available starting at 6:00)

Rally/Speeches start at 6:30 PM

Bring your home made signs, rainbow flags, Pride T-shirts, noise makers, and enthusiasm!

All supporters of marriage equality welcome, especially including our wonderful neighbors and allies.

More details here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/554193798055365/

After party at Coda (cash bar).

Presented by North Jersey Pride; co-sponsored by Garden State Equality, ACLU-NJ, Lambda Legal, HRC

I'll be there in spirit! What a great day!

It was a lovely celebration with friends, neighbors and allies! Thank you MaplewoodSteve, CJ "Pride", folks from Lambda Legal, Garden State Equality, ACLU and all the others who put so much time and effort into the cause and into this particular event. Sue Fulton was a wonderful choice for guest speaker! She really touched all the bases, including ongoing civil rights struggles around the country. Rev Kev from Unity Church in Newark was great as well. I was once again so proud to be a resident of our Two Towns! Thanks also to Sheena Collum, Vic DeLuca, Ray Lesniak, and especially to Jessie Petrow-Cohen, a voice of the future!

I am so grateful to be alive at this moment in history!

Cathy Bataille, proud wife of Kimi Nakata and proud mother of Julia Nakata Bataille - a legal family in all 50 states at last!

spontaneous said:

DottyParker said:
Indeed, Scalia's head did explode. He said the ruling is a "threat to democracy." I couldn't find any quotes from Clarence Thomas, the mute. Wedding planners start your engines!!!

I remember my high school history teacher explaining to us how homosexuality brought on the downfall of the Roman Empire.

My father used to say that too, about the Roman Empire. Perhaps he had the same teacher.

Any chance of another celebration demonstration in case we could not make the "planned impromptu" demonstration?

The NYC Pride parade tomorrow is sure to be a celebration of this