This week a little different kind of Out Spotlight.
"In November 2004, Austin resident Anne S. Wynne was shocked when eleven states voted to add discrimination to their state constitutions by prohibiting same-gender couples from marrying. She wondered, "Where were the people who think like my husband and me?" She wanted to get involved, but couldn't find the right spot for her:"a straight married mother of three was"outraged by discrimination based simply on who a person chooses to love. So she founded Atticus Circle, named after Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird"
The Atticus Circle was created because discrimination exists. Same gender couples and their children are being systematically denied the protections and responsibilities afforded to other families. There are over three million gay or lesbian people living in the United States in committed relationships in the same residence.
Atticus Circle educates and mobilizes fair-minded straight people to advance equal rights for LGBT partners, parents, and their children. Their focus is on education and policy development.
They provide information about the rights of parents and partners denied on the basis of sexual orientation. Their goal to create cultural and attitudinal change by helping people understand the unique challenges and discrimination same gender couples and their families face, and by encouraging acceptance of all families and partnerships. And they conduct research, publish materials, and work with businesses and policy institutions to develop ideas and policies that foster equal rights for same gender partners and their families.
Atticus Circle has launched several campaigns and programs to get their message out.
They have partnered with The Gay? Fine By Me T-Shirt Project after meeting in Austin in 2006, and realized they had similar goals, and went on to establish Campus Circle, bringing LGBT and straight people together to stand up for equal rights on high school and college campuses.
They are partnering with Soulforce to introduce “Sundays of Solidarity” (SOS), a new program which will replace their previous campaign “Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights.” Their goal is to foster discussions between members of a faith community and equality activists."Between May 17th and June 28th, 2009, LGBT and allied people across the country will attend worship services at a homophobic church of their choice wearing a lapel button that reads “gay? fine by me,” or for less formal churches, a t-shirt with the same message."
Their upcoming campaign is All Mother's Day/All Father's Day "to ensure that every parent in America receives the recognition, basic rights, and “the pursuit of happiness” he or she is promised."
(From Atticus Circle)
Our All Mothers’ Day /All Fathers’ Day” campaigns work like this:
- Sign Up: Beginning April 17th, we will allow participants to sign up for this event on our website. After we process your paperwork, you will receive two emails. One will have our “All Mothers’ Day/All Fathers’ Day Toolkit” attached. The other will be a sample of the e-card you will send to your friends, family, co-workers, etc.
The toolkit includes:
- Directions on creating a Hallmark E-card to be emailed to a straight friend, colleague, etc.
- 6 images which will be used in your e-card
- 2 Greeting card templates to be printed and mailed to your congressperson
- Find out which congresspersons are representing your district, and their contact information.
- Go to a grocery store, and pick up an envelope for your card. The envelope should be 6” by 6”.
- Create an e-card for a straight friend, colleague, family member alerting them to LGBT issues and asking him/her to support full equality for all Americans. E-cards should be sent on Mother’s Day, May 10th. Father’s Day E-cards must be sent on June 21st.
- Mail your cards to your congressperson. Mother’s Day cards should be sent by May 5th. Father’s Day cards should be sent by June 14th.
Sign up for All Mother's Day/All Father's Day
Anne's leadership in the quest for equality was recognized in the 2005 campaign against the Texas Marriage Discrimination amendment, a measure that embedded discrimination against GLBT Texans in the state's constitution. She testified in the Texas Legislature against the proposed constitutional amendment and served as a spokesperson for the coalition of more than 150 organizations and thousands of individuals working to defeat the Texas Marriage Discrimination amendment.
