News Releases

April 8 Teach in on Same-Sex Marriage at USM

April 1, 2004

The University of Southern Maine is sponsoring a teach-in about the campaign for same-sex marriage. Panels and round-table discussions will present a broad spectrum of viewpoints, from the youth of OUTRIGHT to a round-table discussion about the religious views of marriage with members of various faith communities in southern Maine. Keynote speaker will be Mary Bonauto, civil rights project director, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), who has been active in the fight to legalize same-sex marriages in Massachusetts. She has the unique distinction of being the only attorney in the history of Lawyers Weekly to be named Lawyer of the Year twice.

The teach-in, organized by the USM Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity, will take place on Thursday, April 8, beginning at 9 a.m., with a panel in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and straight people discuss the meaning of marriage for themselves and their families. Other panels and round tables during the day will address the historical background, legal issues, and religious perspectives surrounding same-sex marriage. An informal discussion by and for youth, will be moderated by a member of OUTRIGHT.

Mary Bonauto's keynote address will take place from 12:30-2:00 p.m. in Luther Bonney Auditorium on the USM Portland campus. All other events will be held in USM's Woodbury Campus Center, also on the Portland campus. The teach-in is free and open to the public.

Following is the schedule of panels and round tables for the day:

9-10:15 a.m.: "Voices of Our Families" - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and straight community members talk about marriage, themselves, and their families.
Location: Rooms ABC, Woodbury Campus Center.

10:30-11:45 a.m.: "Marriage: A Historical Perspective" - The history of marriage, the relevance of the struggle to legalize interracial marriage in the 1950s and '60s, and strategies from the USM library staff on how to learn more about this issue.
Location: Woodbury Campus Center Amphitheater.

12-12:30 p.m.: Break

12:30-2 p.m.: Keynote address: Mary L. Bonauto, GLAD.
Location: Luther Bonney Auditorium.

2:15-3:30 p.m.: Concurrent Round Tables

Round Table 1 - Follow-up to Mary Bonauto's talk.
Location: USM Women's Center, Woodbury Campus Center

Round Table 2 - Religious perspectives. Presented by members of various faith communities in Southern Maine.
Location: Woodbury Campus Center Amphitheater

Round Table 3 - Youth perspectives. Why should young people be interested in the issue of same-sex marriage? Facilitated by a member of OUTRIGHT, Portland's support organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning people ages 22 and under.
Location: Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity, Woodbury Campus Center

3:45-5 p.m.: Community speakout.
Location: Woodbury Campus Center Amphitheater.

Editor's Note: For more information, contact Michelle Brodsky, coordinator, Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity, at 780-5767 or mbrodsky@usm.maine.edu.

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