NOW TO CONGRESS: DARE TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY DEFENDING ALL MARRIAGES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MELINDA SHELTON, 767; DIANE MINOR, 773

WHO: NOW President Patricia Ireland and other top officers

WHAT: Will be available for comment on the anti-lesbian and gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the start of a related trial in Hawaii

WHEN: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

WHERE: At the Capitol prior to the 2 p.m. U.S. Senate vote on DOMA

At NOW's national headquarters all day

WHY:

To focus attention on the acute need to recognize the legitimacy of lesbian and gay relationships in the face of high-profile court rulings denying lesbian mothers custody, including one case granting custody to a father convicted of murdering his first wife.
To support an amendment guaranteeing constitutional equality for all women. Since the Hawaii Supreme Court based its decision on that state's Equal Rights Amendment, radical rights groups have vowed to repeal Hawaii's ERA and continue fighting any federal constitutional amendment guaranteeing women's equality.
To underscore NOW's commitment to lesbian and gay rights. NOW is the only feminist organization on the Freedom to Marry Coalition.