Collection

Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry Papers

Span Dates: 2003-2007 and undated
Bulk Dates:
Volume: 8 boxes

Description

The collection includes documents and printed materials, photographs and digital media, and oversized newsprint. The materials cover topic areas such as administration, lobbying, religious services, constituent information, legislator information, and event planning including statements, press releases, event planning documents, declarations of support, materials on how congregations contact the public on controversial subjects, and administrative documents outlining the day to day administration of the coalition. Also included were numerous banners and signs used at various functions of the RCFM.

Hist/Bio Note

Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, RCFM was spawned from the Freedom to Marry Coalition of Massachusetts (FTMC-FreedomtoMarry.org) which had been engaged in grassroots education, advocacy and lobbying in support of civil marriage rights for same sex couples since 1993. The RCFM was formed by a group of clergy in 1997 supportive of gay marriage. It grew to include more than 700 clergy, congregations, and organizations from 23 faith traditions, including the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church, the Unitarian Universalist Association and Reform Judaism, and a few Catholics. It was active while the Goodridge freedom to marry case was being tried, through its favorable ruling in 2005,and through the anti-gay amendment banning same sex marriage was defeated. The organization officially disbanded in 2007.

Finding Aid

An online finding aid is available.
https://www.historyproject.org/sites/default/files/2019-03/27_religious-coalition-freedom-marry.pdf

Location

More information about this collection can be found by contacting the History Project, 29 Stanhope Street, Boston, MA 02116 Phone: 617.266.7733 info@historyproject.org
https://www.historyproject.org

Tags

Ecumenical | Marriage Equality | Boston | Massachusetts