Julian Bond on the Loving Decision
Loving Anniversary Celebration
Click here to read the Loving v. Virginia decision.
A wide array of legal and civil rights groups have combined efforts to celebrate the Loving 40th Anniversary:
1. as a milestone in the fight against racial inequality,
2. for its importance in securing the freedom to marry as a civil right,
3. for its embodiment of the importance of social justice activism and independent courts, and
4. for its relevance to today's ongoing battles against unfair exclusion from marriage.
The celebration will consist of a series of five ads in Roll Call and The Politico starting on June 4th and running through the Anniversary on June 12th. Also, the organizations will hold a press conference and a reception on Capitol Hill to mark the decision's precise anniversary on June 12th.
Read more about the coverage of the event.
The Freedom to Marry celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Loving v. Virginia decision brought together major civil rights organizations and a number of special guests who represented the American family – today and tomorrow. Pictured left to right are Shannon Price Minter, National Center for Lesbian Rights; Rev. Irene Monroe, Faith in America; Lee Swislow, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders; Lisa Polyak; Gita Deane; Mitchell Gold, Faith in America Founde; H. Alexander Robinson, National Black Justice Coalition; Evan Wolfson, Freedom to Marry; Terrance Hunter Heath; From bottom left, special guests John Lewis; Dr. Estelle Lau; Stuart Gaffney and Taylor Erwin.
U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who introduced a resolution passed unanimously by the House of Representatives on June 11th to honor Loving vs. Virginia, speaks at the reception.
U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) speaks at the reception.
“Freedom to Marry” Coalition Members from left: Shannon Price Minter, National Center for Lesbian Rights; Evan Wolfson, Freedom to Marry; Rev. Irene Monroe, Faith in America; Mitchell Gold, Faith in America; H. Alexander Robinson, National Black Justice Coalition; Lee Swislow, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders; John Davidson, Lamda Legal.
Faith in America’s Founder Mitchell Gold, and Board Member, Rev. Irene Monroe, address the reception.