LESBIAN COUPLE RIDES COAST-TO-COAST FOR EQUALITY

Two lesbian civil rights activists and life partners ride their bicycles from Florida to California to protest anti-gay marriage laws.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Carrie Stone, J.D., and Elisia Ross, R.N. are life partners and lesbian civil rights activists who are committed to LGBT equality. As parents and grandmothers they are extremely concerned about the recent attack on LGBT rights.

"We are a typical family," claims Ross, who adds, "We have three grown children and a grandson and we were just awarded the 'Incredible Parent award by 'And Baby Magazine!" Ross continues, "Carrie and I are so troubled by the degrading laws that hurt lesbian and gay families -- including our own -- that we decided to do something about it."

To protest existing and proposed laws prohibiting same-sex marriage, the couple recently completed (in early June) the first of three cross-country bicycle rides. The 1st Rainbow Ride Across America began on March 1st 2003 in Saint Augustine, Florida and ended on May 18th in San Diego California. On the ride, Stone and Ross barnstormed across the south to in towns and cities along the way.

"Where there are lies and distortions we tell the truth," Ross explains. Stone adds, "For example, the real motive behind anti-gay marriage laws is hatred, fear and ignorance. There is no rational basis for -- or a legitimate public interest in -- treating gay and lesbian Americans like second class citizens." Stone and Ross hope their campaign will help to rally the LGBT community and their allies to get involved in the struggle for equal rights.

LGBT citizens are the last group of minorities in America who continue to be targeted by unfair laws," says Stone. She adds, As long as the US government and institutions sanction unequal treatment of lesbian and gay citizens, we will continue to suffer harm in the workplace, in our communities and in the courts."

"In 1996 the Federal government passed (and Bill Clinton signed) the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman," explains Stone. Ross believes DOMA codifies discrimination against same-sex couples. She states that the General Accounting Office filed a report published in 1997 that lists 1,049 rights, benefits and responsibilities denied to us yet automatically guaranteed to heterosexual married couples."

According to Stone, since the federal DOMA was signed, thirty-seven states have passed their own version of DOMA, including the state of California. Stone and Ross are "insulted" by DOMA. "DOMA is bad enough," says Ross, "but same-sex marriage opponents are now threatening to add an anti-gay marriage amendment to the US Constitution!"

Stone believes the arguments used to deny equality to LGBT Americans are the "same old tired arguments used to justify discriminatory treatment of women and African Americans." She adds, "talking heads warn of the death of traditional family values and the erosion of the "moral fabric" of American society if same-sex partners are allowed equal marriage rights."

The couple predicts that "candidates and elected officials who stand for anti-gay marriage will find that ultimately their bigoted words will become their legacy." They say that statements used to justify anti-gay marriage laws are "offensive" and just like Strom Thurmond and George Wallace, their assertions will "haunt them throughout their lives and become another stain on American decency."