2014 Marriage Lobby Day
Citizen Information Packet
A
P
ROJECT OF THE
N
ATIONAL
O
RGANIZATION FOR
M
ARRIAGE
2029 K Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
(888) 894-6304 www.NationForMarriage.org
Contact
@
NationForMarriage.org
Dear Marriage Advocate, Thank you for your willingness to participate in the
National Organization for Marriage’s National Marriage Lobby Day
on June 19th! Whether you’re participating in your local community, or in our nation’s capital following the 2014 March for Marriage, we need your help at this critical time and are glad to have you on board! There are two messages we urge everyone to keep in mind when speaking with your elected officials on Lobby Day. First, remember that marriage is an election issue. Tell your Senator and Representative,
“If you stand with us on marriage, we will stand with you. If you are attacked politically or personally for standing for Marriage, you can count on us to defend you and defend Marriage. But if you side with those who say we have no right to speak—who liken support for Marriage to hate and bigotry—you cannot represent us, and we will work for your defeat at the polls!”
In this packet, you’ll find lots of information needed to make your participation in the
2014 National Marriage Lobby Day
a success.
But the most important key to success is YOU. You can be proud that you are using your personal power and rights as a citizen doing something of lasting importance for your families, your communities and our country.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any further assistance by emailing
lobbyday@nationformarriage.org
. Thank you once again, and many blessings in your endeavors!
Gratefully,
The 2014 Marriage Lobby Day Team
Contents of this packet:
L
OBBY
D
AY OVERVIEW
.
S
CHEDULE AND LOCATION INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS COMING TO
W
ASHINGTON
,
D.C.
T
ONE AND APPROACH DURING YOUR MEETINGS
.
“W
HY ARE WE HERE TODAY
?”
I
NFORMATION ON SPECIFIC LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS
.
T
HANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US TO DEFEND
M
ARRIAGE AND THE
F
AITH
C
OMMUNITIES THAT SUSTAIN IT
!
2014 Marriage Lobby Day Citizen Information Packet
Page 2
Overview of 2014 National Marriage Lobby Day
The 2014 National Marriage Lobby Day is a unique opportunity for citizen marriage advocates nationwide to voice their concerns about marriage to their elected officials. In this key election year, we will notify those serving in public office that marriage is a key issue that decides voters’ minds and may decide entire elections.
This packet is intended to help you to participate effectively and successfully in this critically important event.
Schedule & Location Information for D.C. Attendees
On June 19, 2014 the second annual March for Marriage will be held on the Capitol Grounds. Lobby Day attendees are encouraged to participate in this event, and proceed directly to their lobbying activities following the March.
M
ARCH FOR
M
ARRIAGE
E
VENTS
S
CHEDULE
1.
10:30 AM –
Begin gathering at Area One for the rally program.
2.
11:00 AM –
Rally program begins.
3.
1:00 PM –
End of rally; March to Supreme Court commences.
4.
2:00 PM –
March arrives at Supreme Court and Marchers disperse.
5.
2:30 PM –
Participants in Lobby Day report to gathering location
and are escorted to meetings with their legislators.
M
AP OF
K
EY
L
OCATIONS
Notes:
The rally stage will be facing away from the Capitol building, toward the West. The crowd will gather in
Area One
facing East toward the Capitol.
The rally site will include portable bathroom facilities.
The March will not continue all the way around the Capitol building, but will disperse from in front of the Supreme Court (as marked by the X).
Lobby Day participants with gather in front of the Library of Congress next to Supreme Court.
2014 Marriage Lobby Day Citizen Information Packet
Page 3
A Word about Tone and Approach During Meetings
While you are meeting with your Representative, Senator, or their staffs please
maintain a positive tone.
It is your right to share your views and beliefs; but avoid any angry, aggressive, or insulting language or remarks.
Remember especially
: we are not asking Congress to “
ban
same sex marriage.” We are asking Congress to use their power to
protect
marriage—and to protect our rights as citizens of the United States to freedom of speech and freedom of association, which enable us to speak and act on our belief in marriage, in private and in the public square.
Why Are We Here Today?
The Obama administration and some federal judges have begun to treat our simple belief in marriage as the union of one man and one woman as though it were a crime. They have done, and will continue to do, everything in their power to eradicated our beliefs from every corner of the public square in America.
No one deserves to be treated this way, and we will not stand for it—not now, not ever.
Marriage—and our right to speak and act openly on behalf of marriage in the public square—is an election issue. We are here to send the message to those elected to represent us:
“If you stand with us on marriage, we will stand with you. If you are attacked politically or personally for standing for Marriage, you can count on us to defend you and defend Marriage. If, however, a Representative or Senator chooses to side with those who say we have no right to speak, who liken support for Marriage to hate, that person cannot represent us and we will work for their defeat at the polls.”
The people of this country stand for marriage, and they are watching to see whether our leaders will stand with us or against us on this most essential matter.