Even in difficult times, we must pause to celebrate how far we have come and make plans for the future. Please join us in Bangor on December 15 at 6:00 PM at the Bangor Public Library to celebrate five heroes of the marriage equality campaign, welcome new Board members to the ACLU of MAINE, and discuss the ACLU of MAINE’s agenda for the coming year.
The Maine Civil Liberties Union will proudly present the 2009 Roger Baldwin Award to Rita Clifford & Sara Jane Elliot of South Portland, Jim Bishop & Steve Ryan of Bar Mills, and Senator Dennis Damon of Hancock for their extraordinary contributions to marriage equality in Maine at the 2009 ACLU of MAINE Annual Meeting & Celebration on December 15 at 6:00 PM at the Bangor Public Library in Bangor.
Hundreds of heroes from every county in the state spoke at rallies, testified in front of the legislature, appeared on television and engaged in conversations with friends and family to advance marriage equality in Maine. Of these, our Baldwin honorees took a public stand from the very beginning.
In 2006, we began our campaign for marriage equality with a video, “The Way Life Should Be: Marriage in Maine,” featuring the stories of three couples who wanted to get married. Rita Clifford & Sara Jane Elliot and Jim Bishop & Steve Ryan, shared their stories in the video and continued to volunteer their stories and their time every step of the way from 2006 to the present. They testified at the public hearing, lobbied in Augusta, volunteered on the referendum campaign, and starred in the campaign’s television commercials.
They set an example in personal courage and effective advocacy for all of us.
Senator Dennis Damon stepped forward at a critical moment to be the lead sponsor of Maine’s marriage equality legislation.
The ACLU of MAINE is proud to honor these five people who epitomize leadership. They gave public voice to what so many of us continue to hope. They helped change hearts and minds.
When: Tuesday, December 15 from 6pm-8pm
Where: Bangor Public Library
145 Harlow Street
Bangor
Who: All supporters of civil liberties in Maine are welcome!
Host: Maine Civil Liberties Union
RSVP: Preferred but not necessary. Click here to RSVP: http://mclu.org/?q=node/393/edit
Questions? Please call Edward Reilly at 774-5444