Marriage Equality Caravan

UU Clergy Hop on Board the Equality Express
& Send Daily Blogs from the Road

Rev. John's blog
Rev. Helen's blog

From October 4-11, 2004, 46 riders traveled in a cross-country tour to Washington D.C. with 10 city stops to promote marriage equality. UU clergy, Rev. Helen Carroll, and Rev. John Millspaugh are joining same-sex couples with voided marriage licenses, parents who want their children to have the right to marry, a woman who lost her home to taxes after her partner died, and a member of the armed forces who is forfeiting her pension by coming out. Together they are bringing the stories of loving same-sex couples and their struggle for civil rights to America. For more info and a schedule.

Read reflections from the Reverend Bloggers on the Bus

Riding with the Rev. - Helen Carroll

And so we begin...

(October 4, 2004 - Day One) I love California – the mist and fog hanging heavy over the coast, the rugged, rocky interior with pine and redwood, spruce and fir; and the rich fertile valleys. Today I traveled across this, my adopted state, with forty-four caravan riders on the first day of an eight-day journey to witness for marriage equality.

We are a motley crew- as diverse as the countryside. Among us are a kick boxer, lawyer, chiropractor, soldier, and teacher. We are gay and straight, retired and working, mothers, sisters, brothers and fathers. We are a postcard for the rich diversity of human experience. And we travel together to speak with a single voice in cities and towns from here to Washington, D.C. Read more...

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Revs. Helen Carroll
and John Millspaugh

Riding with the Rev. - John Milspaugh

The Focus of Intense Hatred

(October 1, 2004 - Two Days Before Departure) Yesterday started well enough. Then a supportive Unitarian Universalist minister asked if I had a support system in place for my imminent departure on the Marriage Equality Express Caravan. I said “Sure. Why?”

She said, “Rev. Millspaugh, you are about to become the focus of intense hatred.” I had not thought about the upcoming eight days in those terms, but she may be right. Of course, she was also reminding me of my privilege: I get to choose when to put myself on the line. Our current society puts the lives of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people on the line every day, through social discrimination, religious condemnation, and legal sanction. The same is true for the young children of those couples. I am a straight minister, respected in my community; I am rarely in the position that these families face every day. Read more...

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Fresno UU couple join the Caravan,
risk military retirement to stand up for honor and love.
Meet Jaqueline and Bev.

Meet other Marriage Equality Express Riders

marriageequalityca.org/events/2004/national-rally/riders/index.php

Other Stories from the Road

Come out for Marriage Equality on National Coming Out Day
Rally, October 11th, in Washington DC
National Marriage Equality movement speakers, musicians….and you!
marriageequalityca.org/events/2004/national-rally/Media Coverage

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All links below are for external sites: some may require a username/password others may archive articles after a period of time.

• 10/05/06 - San Francisco Chronicle: Same-sex couples, supporters embark on bus trip across country (by Rona Marech)
• 10/03/04 - The Orange County Register: Pastor sees mission on road to capital (by Jenifer B. McKim)
• 9/30/04 - Associated Press : Gay marriage advocates take stories on road from Calif. to D.C. (by Lisa Leff)

Unitarian Universalist Association
Support for Marriage Equality
http://www.uua.org/news/2004/freedomtomarry/index.html

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