Connecticut’s Marriage Equality Story to be Preserved at Yale

[CTyankee]

Just got the email today from "Love Makes a Family," an equal marriage rights organization I have supported.

Love Makes a Family deeds its historical materials to the Yale University Library

Hartford—Love Makes a Family, a coalition of individuals and organizations that has been the leading voice in the campaign for marriage equality in Connecticut since 2000, has donated its records to the Yale University Library. Having accomplished its core mission of winning the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Connecticut, the group is ceasing operations on November 13, 2009.

The Love Makes a Family records include correspondence, planning and legal documents, photographs, minutes of meetings, reports, website content, publications, financial documents, press releases, and research and subject files. The materials will be available in Manuscripts and Archives in Sterling Memorial Library in New Haven, where they will be part of a growing collection of primary source material documenting gender and sexuality at the local, national, and international levels.

Carol Buckheit, Executive Director of Love Makes a Family, said, “Yale’s world class library system will allow generations of people to access and learn from Love Make’s a Family’s work to win marriage equality in Connecticut. We are extremely gratified that our civil rights legacy will be preserved for all time.”

“Love Makes a Family has been a key agent of change in local and national lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights,” noted Christine Weideman, Director of Manuscripts and Archives. “Their records will provide valuable insight into the same-sex marriage movement and will be of essential value to scholars, students, and activists. We are honored to be entrusted with their preservation.”

Manuscripts and Archives, a department of Yale University Library, is a major center for historical inquiry and also serves as the documentary memory of Yale University. The Yale University Library supports all areas of current and historical lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender scholarship at Yale.

Records designated by Love Makes a Family as open to research will be available by spring, 2010.

For more information about the records, contact Mary Caldera in Manuscripts and Archives at [phone] or [e-mail].

Hooray for Yale! Hooray for LMAF and its magnificent work on behalf of the citizens of CT!

[Altoid_Cyclist]

1. Once again, I have to say how much I miss living in CT.

Education, tolerance and compassion that are rare where I live.

I'm going to marry someone from CT in my next life.
Hey; I can dream can't I.....

[CTyankee]

2. I am particularly pleased that they did not try to keep the group together just

"because." Some very good people have, in other worthwhile nonprofits, hated to give it up and wanted it morphed into something that preserves it. This group is wise. Core mission accomplished but a lot more work to be done nationally or helping out other states w/their expertise and advice.

LMAF has good, good people and I am proud to have been one of its supporters...

[Altoid_Cyclist]

3. Well done!

As they say, Every great journey starts with one small step.
It will take years to get enough states and enough individuals to realize that everyone is equal and deserves equal rights but someday I believe that it will happen.

There will always be holdouts, but I think that things are starting to head in the right direction. People with experience in this area (such as LMAF) can help show the way to the less enlightened.

[CTyankee]

4. I am so hopeful for gay folks in other states!

I still think we are the future...I'm straight but I feel this is the future and I hope for equal rights for EVERYONE...

And yes, I am so happy to live in such an enlightened state!

[Altoid_Cyclist]

5. I just wish that my oldest brother wouldn't have had to put with what he did during his life.

My Dad took a job with the USDA and was transferred to PA while my oldest brother was in his senior year of high school.

He stayed in Middletown until school was done but then moved here.
I will always wonder if he would have been happier if he had stayed in CT since this area is still very much against gay rights to this day.
Well, actually, they aren't against gay rights so much as they just flat out display their hatred and intolerance of gays.

He was happier once he moved to Pittsburgh, but he was still afraid to bring any of his friends back to this area because he knew what the general attitude was like. I didn't get to meet any of his friends until he was dying from Alzheimers or some form of Dementia and I went to Pittsburgh to help them pack up his belongings.

A lifetime spent as a successful CPA and helping anyone that he thought needed help, and he was still afraid to bring anyone here to meet his family.

My brother deserved a lot better than what he received from the local morons. Once again, thank you and the people of LMAF for doing such good work.

[CTyankee]

6. Oh, I am so sorry to hear about your brother!

No one should have to go through that!

So many stories of people tormented, either emotionally or physically, because of their sexual nature. It is horrible.

I am straight, but I hear these stories and I am so sad and humbled. I am glad I was able to help, if only a little, to LMAF's success in CT.