Some reflections on the Supreme Court’s Decision for full marriage equality nationwide:
Following the Supreme Court’s decision today in Obergefell v. Hodges, Tim Gill, founder and co-chair of the Gill Foundation, released the following statement:
“We should all pause today to celebrate the hard work and persistence that led to this victory, and then get right back to work. This victory was won because couples shared their stories of love and commitment, advocates battled tirelessly state by state, and donors generously funded a well-conceived plan. Together, we achieved one of the most dramatic shifts in public opinion in our lifetimes. A substantial majority of the American people now recognize LGBT people as family, neighbors, and co-workers who share the same values. And now we need to build on our momentum for the next challenge. In 33 states, LGBT people can be fired, denied housing, or refused service at businesses simply because of who we are or who we love. We must capture the energy of this moment and redouble our effort to secure state and federal protections so that no LGBT person ever has to live in fear of discrimination.”
Funders for LGBTQ Issues reflected on the foresight of funders in funding for marriage equality in 1989, and how since then funding for civil unions and marriage equality surpassed $100 million.
“From the foresight demonstrated by the Mertz Gilmore Foundation’s 1989 grant to the Domestic Partners Project, to the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund’s historic seed grant to Evan Wolfson that led to the creation of Freedom to Marry, to the critical support provided by Civil Marriage Collaborative’s grantmaking of nearly $20 million, I’ve been incredibly moved by the ways our members have led on this important issue.”
However, as many also acknowledge, the work is far from being done. From Stonewall Community Foundation’s response: “ The LGBTQ community is diverse and microcosmic, and so our agenda is not simple or singular. Lots of causes matter to us. Increasing access to health insurance and housing. Ending detention and deportations. Stopping the cycle of youth and adult homelessness. Getting our people jobs and workplace protections. Eliminating hate violence and state violence. And on the list goes.”
This post from AAPIP is a great reminder that “No one is free until we are all free”, especially in reflecting on how important it is that social movements need to be intersectional in its political analysis around race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, and religion.
Today, there is a lot to celebrate for diversity, equity and inclusion, but tomorrow, the work goes on.
Tags: action, marriage equality, policies and practices
