They run the gamut... from young to old, straight to gay, with and without kids, every level of education and financial security.
Each is an American who believes in equality.
Each is willing to work towards it with whatever they have to give.
Each is just an ordinary person willing to make an extraordinary change in the world...
you should join us!
OUTspoken For Marriage
in 2005 after moving to beautiful Buffalo, NY
from the deserts of Arizona.
They are just 2 chubby grandmas that think that it is possible to make great change for the better in a great county.
"You should find the best playmate you ever had and marry them because if you are not having fun, then you are not doing life right!!!"
They have carried this philosophy into the marriage equality work.
It truly IS fun. It is not without its challenges. They are lucky to have the love and support of their adult children
and 12 grandkids. ( ! )
And just as lucky to know the people below.....
they got involved for the first time just a year ago and are a force to be reckoned with.
They are both professors at local Universities.
Both are Marriage Ambassadors.
We lovingly refer to them as The Professor and her Maryanne!
He brings some amazing talents to the organization.
He is one of the funniest people you will ever meet.
He is a Marriage Ambassador.
a job he did very well and loved.
He has been involved in LGBT issues since he went to work for the Crime Victims Board.
He is an accomplished writer and a dedicated baseball fan.
Bruce is a Marriage Ambassador.
OUTspoken's Youth Activist of the Year for 2006.
He is the youngest Marriage Ambassador in New York, having gotten involved when he was just 14.
He is an aggressive blogger and pulls no punches when it comes to politics!
He is one of the strongest young men we have ever met... someone is going to be very lucky when they marry him!
She is a remarkable woman and mother.
She joined PFLAG to support her daughters rights and has become a leader in local activism.
Where 'Queen Wendy' is the party is!!
She is a Marriage Ambassador.
was the first city employee to openly transition from male to female.
She was a founder of the local chapters of Spectrum and NYTRO.
She was chosen to be the Grand Marshall for the Pride Parade of 2007
and raised the Pride Flag in Niagara Square in front of City Hall for the
first time ever in Buffalo!!!
We are proud of her and appreciate the effort that she gives us.
He has attended E&J and lobbied the assembly for marriage.
Always there to help, he is an asset to the group.
Len is a Marriage Ambassador.
Sam attends culinary school and is truly talented and Amy works very hard to keep her in school.
These two are 50 gallons of raw energy!
Both are Marriage Ambassadors.
She is a mother herself and does not want her children to deal with the inequities that exist in today's world.
She and her children marched in the Buffalo Pride Parade carrying signs and banners calling for
"Marriage Equality NOW!"
She had never been involved in politics until after the death of her wife.
Joan credits her with teaching her to stand up for herself and "be who she really is".
Joan attended a Marriage Ambassador Training in 2006 and has been a fixture since.
Lynn, known as the digital diva, has handled all the media for our events.
They been involved with the Buffalo Brunch Committee for several years.
Lynn and Cathy are Marriage Ambassadors.
He has been to E & J Day and lobbied with us.
He recently took the training again, just to freshen up and get ready for the push on the Senate.
We value his commitment!
who got involved to support their daughter
and fight for her right to marry her partner of many years.
John & Diane recently traveled to California
so that John could walk her down the aisle at her wedding!
John is straight forward but Diane is very quiet... until she talks about this issue... we all lovingly know her as "the mouse that roared"!
They have attended E&J, lobbied and are active Marriage Ambassadors.
Nathan, also known as 'Gladys Over', hosts, or hostesses, a monthly bingo at St. John's Grace Episcopal Church in Buffalo with all the proceeds going to HIV/AIDS charities.
But as busy as these two are, they still help with the struggle for Marriage Equality in New York.
Both recently became Marriage Ambassadors.
pictured here moments after their wedding,
have recently joined with us in the fight to have their marriage recognized by the State of New York.
Everyone should be in love like these two are!
Chuck is great at keeping an elected official on track...
regardless of how hard they try to pull him off!!!
They are a blessing to our team!
Chuck has gone to E&J day with us and both Chuck and Michael are Marriage Ambassadors.
He has brought great ideas and a gift of organization that is greatly appreciated. Forthright. No nonsense. That is Paul.
He has been involved in LGBT issues for many years and has been passionate about GLYS (Gay & Lesbian Youth Services).
Paul was the recipient of the Buffalo Brunch's Community Service Award at the 11th Annual Buffalo Brunch!
The Reverend Doctor Barbara Hulsing, pictured here with her husband,
leads the Good Shepherd Community of Faith in South Buffalo. (Sundays at 10:30 am)
She is a member of Pride in the Pulpit and is member of
the Council for the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists!
Rev. Dr. Hulsing attended one of the very first Marriage Ambassador Trainings and has been a very public supporter of LGBT equality, attending E&J Day, speaking at rallies, lobbying, and taking a stand to make her congregation welcoming and affirming. You will feel that spirit when you attend the church.
She recently performed the first marriage of a same sex couple in the history of her church.
when she passed a small group of people rallying for
Marriage Equality and stopped to listen...
she was hooked!!
Rayana is working for a degree in Human Resources Management and is currently interning at AIDS Community Services.
She is a Marriage Ambassador.
They participated in the Family Album Project and attended a recent Marriage Ambassador Training where they became Ambassadors.
They are action... pure and simple.
They will help make it happen.
shepherds the Buffalo Community of the Holy Spirit at the Pride Center of WNY
every Saturday at 4pm
She is a member of Pride in the Pulpit and has another congregation that she runs full time.
She has attended E&J Day, participated in the Family Album Project with her entire family, actively lobbies and is a Marriage Ambassador.
Whew!!!
He hasn't done a Buffalo w-w-w-w-winter yet.... he escaped back to the California sunshine momentarily and has rejoined us!!!
Robert is a Marriage Ambassador.
(pictured together here at E&J Day in May 2007, Brian is on the left and Joe is on the right)
Joe succumbed to cancer in August 2007.
It has been a terrible loss to all of us. Brian has not abandoned the fight and he had a very good mentor in Joe.
Joe was a character that bit into an issue and didn't let go. He changed Buffalo and New York... before his death he said his only regret was that he didn't get to finish this fight.
Brian will carry on.
We are grateful to have him, he is a good man and understands first-hand
how necessary equal marriage rights are.
