Ohio Mayors Join Freedom to Marry Campaign

Ohio Mayors Join Freedom to Marry Campaign For immediate release January 31, 2012

For more information contact: Ed Mullen, Executive Director (614) 224-0400 (614) 607-3067 Zac Branstool, Director of Communications (614) 224-0400 (614) 507-2656

Columbus, OH -- Six Ohio Mayors are among a growing list of local officials who have joined Freedom to Marry’s “Mayors for the Freedom to Marry” campaign, which supports marriage equality for same-sex couples.

The Ohio Mayors who have signed the pledge to date are:

Frank Jackson of Cleveland Mark Mallory of Cincinnati Don Plusquellic of Akron Edward Kelly of Cleveland Heights David Berger of Lima Sara Drew of Stow At the 80th annual U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. this month, a bipartisan group of Mayors from around the country announced their support for the Freedom to Marry campaign. The group includes Mayors from large and small cities and towns alike, each with diverse backgrounds and constituencies.

Mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York, Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and Annise Parker of Houston were some of the big city Mayors from around the country supporting the initiative.

The group released the following statement that read in part:

“As mayors of great American cities, we proudly stand together in support of the freedom of same-sex couples to marry. We personally know many gay and lesbian people living in our cities who are in committed, loving relationships, who are active participants in the civic life of our communities, and who deserve to be able to marry the person with whom they share their life...Our cities derive great strength from their diversity, and gay and lesbian families are a crucial part. Studies have shown what we know through our hands-on experience—that cities that celebrate and cultivate diversity are the places where creativity and ideas thrive.”

Equality Ohio will continue working with local communities to encourage their Mayors to sign the Freedom to Marry pledge. To encourage your Mayor to sign on to the Freedom to Marry campaign go to http://www.freedomtomarry.org/

Equality Ohio advocates and educates to achieve fair treatment and equal opportunity for all Ohioans regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Equality Ohio envisions an Ohio where everyone feels at home.