Media contact:
Jennifer Morris
Nyhus Communications
for Washington United for Marriage
washingtonunitedpress@nyhus.com
Office: 206-838-3474
Mobile: 202-213-2204
Fact Sheet: Washington United for Marriage
Overview: Washington United for Marriage is a coalition of organizations, congregations, unions, and
businesses working together to secure civil marriage for loving, committed gay and lesbian couples.
Website: http://washingtonunitedformarriage.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/washingtonunited
Twitter: http://twitter.com/WA4Marriage
History and structure:
Washington United for Marriage is a Political Action Committee (PAC) and a 501(c)(4) nonprofit
organization, formed in October 2011. The coalition has leading organizations, paid field staff and a
campaign manager.
States that currently have marriage equality:
In Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington, D.C., samesex couples can legally and receive state-level benefits. New Jersey, Maryland and Rhode Island do not
facilitate same-sex marriages, but do recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.
Coalition’s leading organizations:
The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization
devoted to protecting the civil liberties of all people in America and extending rights to groups that
historically have been denied equal treatment. The ACLU works through the courts, state and local
government and public education to advocate for fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people and is dedicated to securing the right for all people to marry the partner of their
choice.
Equal Rights Washington (ERW) is a statewide political advocacy organization that works to ensure and
promote dignity, safety, and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and families
in Washington State. ERW has a network of over 50,000 advocates statewide. Working in coalition we
have achieved a variety of major successes including the passage of the Anderson Murray Antidiscrimination Law, three domestic partnership laws, anti-bullying legislation and bills to protect
transgender Washingtonians.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to
end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and
equality for all. HRC seeks to improve the lives of LGBT Americans by advocating for equal rights and
benefits in the workplace, ensuring families are treated equally under the law and increasing public
support among all Americans through innovative advocacy, education and outreach programs. HRC
works to secure equal rights for LGBT individuals and families at the federal and state levels by lobbying
elected officials, mobilizing grassroots supporters, educating Americans, investing strategically to elect
fair-minded officials and partnering with other LGBT organizations.
Legal Voice is a non-profit women’s rights organization that pursues justice for all women and girls in
the northwest through ground-breaking litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, and
educational tools to help individuals understand their legal rights. Legal Voice operates from the
conviction that all women and girls have these five fundamental rights: to decide when and how to form
and maintain their families; to equal treatment and to be free from discrimination; to be safe wherever
they are; to economic equality and independence; and to be healthy and active.
Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization educating
Alaska, Idaho, and Washington State residents and policy-makers about reproductive health issues.
Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest lobbies, educates, and participates in limited electoral activities to
advance Planned Parenthood's mission.
Leadership from coalition organizations:
Jennifer Shaw joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington as the Legislative Director in
2004 and became the organization’s Deputy Director in 2008. Her work includes coordinating the ACLU’s
state and local policy advocacy efforts. From 2006-2009 she worked with coalition partners to expand
the rights of gay and lesbian couples through state legislation and successfully defended those rights
through a referendum campaign. Before joining the ACLU, Shaw was a trial attorney with the firm of
Aoki & Sakamoto. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Seattle University School of
Law.
Rod Hearne leads Equal Rights Washington in the role of Executive Director after several years of board
service. His experience spans the fields of technology, biotech, education and politics. Hearne has been
important to a number of statewide organizing efforts, including Washington Stonewall Democrats and
Fighting for a Marriage Majority. Additionally, he has been active in supporting the campaigns of a
number of regional public officials in a variety of capacities.
Josh Friedes is a long time marriage equality advocate. In 1998 he became the chair of the Freedom to
Marry Coalition of Massachusetts and served as its senior staff person from 2000-2005. In 2003 Friedes
became the founding chair of the MassEquality Education Fund and served on the Founding Board of
MassEquality, which successfully turned back an attempt to repeal marriage in Massachusetts. Friedes
joined Equal Rights Washington in 2006. Friedes took a leave of absence in 2009 to serve as campaign
manager of the successful Approve 71 campaign which affirmed Washington’s domestic partnership
law. After serving in the Peace Corps as a forester in the Philippines, he earned a law degree from the
University of Colorado. He currently serves as the Marriage Equality Director for Equal Rights
Washington.
Lacey All works at Starbucks Coffee Co. and has held a variety of positions within Starbucks, including
roles within the retail, operations and partner resources organizations. All currently leads the strategic
initiatives team, which is responsible for strategic workforce planning, global employer brand and
channels and early career talent functions.
Outside of work All is passionately committed to her work with the LGBT community. Lacey is a former
member of the Board of Directors of the Seattle LGBT center, helped to form the Seattle Out & Equal
chapter, serves as the founding president of the Starbucks Pride Alliance Partner Network at Starbucks
Coffee Company and sits on the Foundation and National Board of Directors for the Human Rights
Campaign. All’s work with the Human Rights Campaign centers on board development, major gift and
event fundraising and workplace advocacy and equality work. All lives in Seattle and is a Louisiana
native.
Dana Laurent has been running advocacy, political and consumer campaigns for over a decade. As the
Political Director for Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest, the advocacy and political arm for Planned
Parenthood in Washington, Idaho, and Alaska, Laurent is responsible for developing and managing state
and federal campaigns for grassroots lobbying, civic engagement, and public education efforts , as well
as electoral and ballot measure campaigns on behalf of PPVNW.
Laurent was part of the steering committee for Approve Referendum 71, advised the campaign on field
and voter contact efforts, and ran Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest’s campaign to Approve
Referendum 71. PPVNW was proud to be a partner in the Approve Referendum 71 campaign, lending
staff facility support, making over 100,000 phone calls and directly contacting over 60,000 voters across
the state to ensure all of Washington’s families are treated equally.
Supporting Organizations:
Anti-Defamation League
Faith Action Network
Fuse
Ingersoll Gender Center
Legal Lambda
Main Street Alliance
National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce
Oasis Youth Center
One America
Pride Foundation
QLaw: The GLBT Bar Association of Washington
SEIU 775
Shalom United Church of Christ
The Inland Northwest LGBT Center
UFCW 21
Washington Bus
Entre Hermanos
Freedom to Marry
Greater Seattle Business Assocation
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
LifeLong AIDS Alliance
Mid-Columbia Pride
PFLAG - Washington Council
Odyssey Youth Center
Out and Equal
PFLAG - Washington Council
SEIU Washington State Council
Senior Services
Spokane Progress
The Rainbow Center
VISTA Youth Center
Washington state community meetings for marriage equality:
Tacoma:
Wednesday, November 9
6:30 to 8 p.m.
First United Methodist Church of Tacoma
621 Tacoma Ave.
South Tacoma, WA 98402
Contact: Michael Martin,
Michael.Martin@HRC.org
Puyallup:
Monday, November 14
6:30 to 8 p.m.
First Christian Church of Puyallup
623 9th Avenue Southwest
Puyallup, WA 98371
Contact: Michael Martin,
Michael.Martin@HRC.org
Lakewood:
Tuesday, November 15
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Clover Park Tech College; Rotunda of Building 3
4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW
Lakewood , WA 98499
Contact: Michael Martin,
Michael.Martin@HRC.org
Gig Harbor:
Thursday, November 17
6:30 to 8 p.m.
United Methodist Church
7400 Pioneer Way
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Contact: Michael Marti,n
Michael.Martin@HRC.org
Vancouver:
Thursday, November 17
6 to 8 p.m.
YWCA Clark County3609 Main St.
Vancouver, WA 98663
Contact: Adrian Matanza,
Adrian.Matanza@HRC.org
Seattle:
Sunday, November 20
3 to 8 p.m.
Saint Marks Cathedral Bloedel Hall
1245 10th Ave E.
Seattle, WA 98102
Contact: Molly Griffard,
Molly.Griffard@HRC.org
Bellevue:
Monday, November 21
7 to 9 p.m.
East Shore Unitarian Church
12700 Southeast 32nd St.
Bellevue, WA 98005
Contact: Joy Kang, Joy.Kang@HRC.org
Tri-Cities:
Monday, November 21
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Shalom United Church of Christ
505 McMurray St.
Richland, WA 99354
Contact: Farand Gunnels,
Farand@pridefoundation.org
Spokane:
Tuesday, November 22
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Spokane Falls Community College; Bldg. 24, Rm.
110
3410 W Fort George Wright Drive
Contact Farand@pridefoundation.org
Bellingham:
Tuesday, November 29
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Fairhaven College Auditorium
516 High St.
Contact: Molly.Griffard@HRC.org