Twice a year New York City is host to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and this year some HRC volunteers added something new to the runway: marriage equality. Jo Doyle, Cicely Wootan, Jesse Cammack, Liz Raftery, and I braved the weather and the tough critics at New York’s Fashion Week to raise awareness of a pending vote on marriage equality in the New York State Senate. Thousands of people pour in and out of the tents at Bryant Park to see the latest collections and on their way in and out we gave them an accessory with a message and a chance to take action.
As our volunteers stood on the street asking everyone a simple question, “do you support same-sex marriage for NY State” each person got a button to wear that says: ‘I Support Same Sex Marriage; Urge your Senator to support Marriage Equality Bill S:4401′, along with the opportunity to write their state senator in support of marriage equality.
At the beginning of the day it was raining and several volunteers were not able to make it. Our gang of five was unsure of what impact we would have on such a massive event. However, by the end of the day, people who were working inside doing hair and make-up came out to ask if they could have a button and fill out a post card. We were reminded that it only takes a small committed few to make difference.
New Yorkers know that Governor Paterson is committed to seeing a vote on marriage equality in Sept. Together, over the past few months, we have made over 77,000 phone calls and collected over 5,500 letters to state senators from constituents in support of marriage equality, but we need your help to cross the finish line.
Over the next three weeks we need you to volunteer to help us and our allies make sure that the marriage equality bill passes! If you can volunteer, please contact Anthony Hayes at Anthony.Hayes@hrc.org.
And if you live in New York, contact your Senator and tell him/her to vote YES on marriage equality bill S:4401.
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