BY BTL STAFF
A Marriage Equality Candlelight Vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 27 on the Michigan Capitol steps, located at 100 N. Capitol Ave. in Lansing. It will be an opportunity to reflect and celebrate on how far the LGBT community has come in securing the freedom to marry, as well as what still remains to be done. RSVP at: {URL http://action.marriagemi.org
All across the state, supporters of same-sex marriage, legal scholars, community members, faith leaders and movement leaders will join together in celebration of the historic trial to be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding same-sex marriage.
Beginning on Friday, April 24, faith leaders and advocates have called for a National Weekend of Prayer for the Freedom to Marry. During that weekend, as marriage supporters gather in Washington, D.C. for the hearing, Freedom to Marry, the Religious Institute and many partners are organizing supportive congregations across the country to include in their regular services a prayer or moment of intention for the success of the cause and for same-sex families everywhere.
To sign up, visit: http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/faith-leaders-will-you-join-us-for-prayer-weekend
Day Before Trial
Beginning at 10 a.m. on April 27, Clergy in Michigan will begin marriage equality training in preparation for a decision this summer. They will gather at the Edgewood United Church, UCC, located at 469 N. Hagadorn Road in East Lansing. Registration for the event is $10 and includes lunch and four hours of faith-based wedding officiant skill training in support of an affirmative decision from the courts. Visit the following link to register: http://www.MichUCC.org
A Marriage Equality Candlelight Vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 27 on the Michigan Capitol steps, located at 100 N. Capitol Ave. in Lansing. It will be an opportunity to reflect and celebrate on how far the LGBT community has come in securing the freedom to marry, as well as what still remains to be done. RSVP at: http://action.marriagemi.org/page/s/vigil
Day Of The Trial
Beginning at 11:30 a.m. on April 28, the Flint UU Congregation will host a Marriage Equality Rally in honor of the historic day and will march through the streets of Flint to show their support. The group will begin at the Genesee County Courthouse and walk down the side of Saginaw Street. Participants are encouraged to carry banners and placards with them as they march. The courthouse is located at 900 S. Saginaw St. in Flint.
The ACLU will hold a debriefing conference call at 4 p.m. April 28 after the high court hears the case. Join legal experts from the ACLU of Michigan to hear what happened and what to expect next. Sign up now to receive the information directly: http://marriageMI.org/Debrief
In downtown Ann Arbor, /aut/BAR will host a discussion with local legal experts and advocacy leaders beginning at 5:30 p.m. Join the conversation and celebrate the historic day that the U.S. Supreme Court heard same-sex marriage arguments. /aut/BAR is located at 315 Braun Ct.
A national community call will be held at 9 p.m. April 28 and will include panelists: Kathleen Perrin, director of Equality Case Files; Larry Dupuis, legal director of the ACLU of Wisconsin; and host John Lewis, director of legal and policy from Marriage Equality USA. The call will be moderated by Brian Silva, executive director of Marriage Equality USA. Gain access to the teleconference by going to https://docs.google.com/a/pridesource.com/forms/d/1_ZgjKwNHWqH1bbLQCN8GxDnihnES7Imv4Nu1ujUEnME/viewform.
Ferndale's Affirmations encourages folks to gather at the center as the arguments are heard on April 28. They plan to live-stream SCOTUSblog on Twitter, along with any news stations getting live coverage. Affirmations' new executive director, Darrious Hillmon, will be available for interviews; staff plans to be on-site to answer any questions.
Audio recordings will be available after 2 p.m. on April 28 and transcripts of the arguments heard by SCOTUS will be available to the public on May 1, and can be found here: http://www.supremecourt.gov/
