New York–(ENEWSPF)–May 22, 2014. Today Mayor Karyn Hippen of Thompson, North Dakota, became the 400th mayor to join Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, a broad-based and nonpartisan group of mayors who believe that all people should be able to share in the love and commitment of marriage.
“I have always been a proponent of equal rights,” said Thompson Mayor Hippen. “When my oldest son came out to me, I never dreamed he would have to worry about social laws and obstacles standing in his way of future happiness, simply because society doesn’t approve of the person with whom he may fall in love. I pray that all three of my sons get the chance to get married and have a family. I am honored to sign my name to Mayors for the Freedom to Marry.”
Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, a project of the national group Freedom to Marry, launched in 2012 and now includes 400 mayors from 38 states across America who are making the case for marriage in their cities, with North Dakota the newest state to be represented. The effort is chaired by Kasim Reed of Atlanta; Julián Castro of San Antonio; Michael Nutter of Philadelphia; Annise Parker of Houston; Greg Stanton of Phoenix; Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles; and Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer of San Diego.
“We welcome with pride our 400th Mayor for the Freedom to Marry nationwide — and are especially happy that she is from North Dakota, a state that still discriminates against the loving and committed couples living there, unfairly excluding them from marriage,” said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry. “As the conversation about why marriage matters comes to every corner of the country, voices like Mayor Hippen’s talking about North Dakota families and values of fairness will help grow support for the freedom to marry in the heartland and create the climate to end the denial of marriage throughout America.”
The Mayors for the Freedom to Marry range from geographically diverse cities both large and small, in states with the freedom to marry, states that are considering marriage legislation this year, and states without any relationship recognition for same-sex couples. Marriage supporters can encourage their own mayors to join Mayors for the Freedom to Marry by sending and asking them to sign the official pledge.
Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.
Source: http://www.freedomtomarry.org
