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UU Ministers Join Marriage Equality Caravan to Mobilize Support for Equal Rights

Riding with the Rev. -- John Millspaugh; Read the blog from aboard the National Marriage Equality Express Caravan Rev. Helen Carroll's blog Rev. John Millspaugh's blog Rev. Helen Carroll's blog Rev. John Millspaugh's blog
Rev. Lindi Ramsden of the UU Legislative Ministry on the UULM with John Millspaugh and Helen Carroll in Sacramento, CA
Rev. Lindi Ramsden of the UU Legislative Ministry with John Millspaugh and Helen Carroll in Sacramento, CA
Caravan ministers John Millspaugh and Helen Carroll at the Reno, NV, rally
Caravan ministers John Millspaugh and Helen Carroll at the Reno, NV, rally

(Boston , October 4, 2004) Two Unitarian Universalist ministers are riding on the Marriage Equality Express Caravan from California to Washington, DC, to rally support for marriage equality prior to the November elections. John Millspaugh and Helen Carroll boarded the bus with 46 other riders on October 4th in Oakland, CA, and are due to arrive in the nation's capital for a rally on October 11th. Both ministers are keeping weblogs of the trip, and the San Francisco Chronicle will be running periodic updates of the cross-country journey.

According to its website, the National Marriage Equality Express Caravan aims to focus attention on proposed amendments to write discrimination into both state constitutions and the U.S. Constitution, and "to demand a repeal of anti-gay measures like the Defense of Marriage Act and Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Additionally, the Caravan will demonstrate in support of Freedom to Marry actions in across the United States, and rally attention toward the passage of the Permanent Partners Immigration Act and the Federal Employees Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. The caravan's journey will take a week, arriving in Washington DC on October 11, National Coming Out Day. The UU Legislative Ministry of California Remote Link is a co-sponsor of the marriage caravan.

Millspaugh, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of South County in Mission Viejo, California, Remote Link holds masters degrees from both the Harvard Divinity School and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Active in social justice circles for many years, he has focused particularly on the issues of childhood poverty, women's rights, gay and lesbian issues, and modern slavery. Millspaugh says of his participation in the caravan, Remote Link "I am part of this caravan because of my basic belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every human individual, and my commitment to treat others as I would be treated. I'm part of this caravan because I am morally obliged to act upon the truth I perceive: that diversity is part of the plan of the universe, and that beneath all human diversity, what unites us is more important than what divides us."

The Rev. Helen Carroll, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Luis Obispo County Remote Link in central California, holds a master's degree from the Episcopal Divinity School and continued her graduate education with course work at the Harvard Divinity School and Andover Newton Theological School. Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, she was introduced to social justice work during the struggle for civil rights. Understanding that oppression against anyone is oppression against all of us, she also worked for voter registration and women's rights. As she prepared to board the marriage equality caravan Carroll said, Remote Link "I believe it is our moral and ethical responsibility to practice and promote justice, equity and compassion in our relations with one another. And I believe that being different is one of the gifts that make humanity rich and complex. Beneath the differences, we share a common humanity. Beneath the differences, we share in the same mystery of Life and Love."

The Caravan left Oakland and Sacramento, California on October 4, stopping first in Reno, Nevada. Additional stops include Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming (including a barbeque at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne); Denver, Colorado; St. Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Columbus and Akron, Ohio (including a book signing/potluck at the First UU Church in Columbus and a book signing and discussion at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Washington, DC.

In Washington on October 11 from 1:00-4:00 PM, participants will rally for marriage equality at Upper Senate Park at Louisiana and Capitol Streets, 1 block from the U.S. Capitol. Scheduled speakers at the rally will include Diana Lin, the Multnomah (Oregon) county clerk who issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples in OR; Chrissy Gephardt, lesbian daughter of U.S. Congressman and former Presidental candidate Dick Gephardt; Sylvia Rhue of the National Black Justice Coalition and the California Freedom to Marry Coalition; and attorney Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who serves as lead attorney in the California Freedom to Marry lawsuit.

For further information:

Read the blogs of UU Ministers on the caravan:

Media coverage:

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