Freedom to Marry Announces Summer Tour

When the National Organization for Marriage officials launched a tour to build opposition to marriage equality, they did not expect a countermovement to hit the road as well.

Freedom to Marry will energize its local and state supporters across the country for a summer tour promoting gay marriage. The organization hopes to maintain NOM's idea about making the summer about promoting marriage but wants to change the conservative perception of what marriage has to be.

"I would call it seizing the opportunity to show them what being for gay marriage really looks like," Freedom to Marry executive director Evan Wolfson told The Advocate Thursday. "We want to help explain why marriage matters and the importance of rejecting that kind of discriminatory agenda that NOM will be pushing."

And similar to opposing groups, Freedom to Marry will spread its resources among states with and without marriage equality.

"We're working with partner organizations in several states and in our national capital," Wolfson said. "Even in states where we've won marriage equality, we have couples, we have voices. My job is to get all of those places in a national effort. We're looking for volunteers, and we have terrific partners in equality organizations in the states."

The tour will consist of rallies and events where speakers and LGBT families are encouraged to attend and speak out in 17 states and Washington, D.C., in July and August.

"We're encouraging others to join the campaign to get the truth out about love, commitment, and the freedom to marry," Wolfson said.