Freedom to Marry, Religious Institute to Host National Weekend of Prayer

Faith events from April 24-26 will highlight support for same-sex couples' right to marry

New York- April 24, 2015 — With the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear oral arguments in marriage cases on Tuesday April 28, Freedom to Marry in partnership with the Religious Institute and 18 other religious organizations is hosting the National Weekend of Prayer for the Freedom to Marry. Nearly 300 congregations representing 20 different denominations in 46 states across the country will come together in prayer services and at vigils to pray that the values of love and the Golden Rule prevail over fear and discrimination.

"Support for the freedom to marry is at an all-time high nationwide, with more and more people of faith as well as mainstream denominations embracing the freedom to marry and celebrating couples' commitment," said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry. "Heartfelt conversations, soul-searching, and reflection on key values such as the Golden Rule of treating others as you would want to be treated have moved millions of Americans into the majority for marriage that has created the climate for the courts, and now the Supreme Court, to end marriage discrimination in the law. It is time for the freedom to marry for all, leaving no state and no family out."

"People across the country are coming together in support of love and family next week, and praying for the Supreme Court to recognize what our faiths affirm: that everyone should have the rights and responsibilities of marriage, no matter who they love, and that where there is love, the sacred is in our midst," said Rev. Debra Haffner, president of the Religious Institute.

The National Weekend of Prayer for the Freedom to Marry is part of many multi-faith events happening in Washington, DC and across the country prior to oral arguments. DC-based events include a Weekend of Prayer Multi-Faith Service at the National City Christian Church in Washington, DC on April 26 at 5:00pm. Media interested in attending can RSVP to angela@freedomtomarry.org.

Last month, Freedom to Marry, in collaboration with the Religious Institute, dedicated its organizing team to helping secure nearly 2000 faith leaders from all 50 states in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in support of marriage cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In total, between 20,000 and 30,000 congregants will be praying for the freedom to marry this weekend. For a full list of participating congregations around the country, visit http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/national-weekend-of-prayer-participating-congregations.

Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.

The Religious Institute is a national multifaith organization that advocates for sexual health, education and justice in America's faith communities and society.