Supporters of equal marriage rights held nationwide rallies yesterday, a grass-roots effort organized by the social networking group Join the Impact. Northampton's event was coordinated by Kate Martini, whom you can see below in the video (blonde hair, red sweater). She did a wonderful job selecting a diverse group of speakers, gay and straight, who spoke from the heart about how the denial of anyone's civil rights affects us all. It was my privilege to be one of them.

Upbeat, empowering entertainment was provided by the rainbow-clad Raging Grannies, the OffBeat women's drumming circle, and the Amherst Unitarian Universalist choir. The Daily Hampshire Gazette newspaper estimated that 500 people attended.  


 


Below are some photos from yesterday's event. If you attended this rally, or a Join the Impact rally in another city, you're encouraged to upload your pictures and videos to the Join the Impact website.

Signs of the times:








This is the Justice of the Peace who performed the first same-sex weddings in Northampton after gay marriage was legalized in 2004:




Our first speaker, Lorelei Erisis:




Shannon Weber (in the middle) is a Mt. Holyoke student who married her wife (on the right) in California earlier this year:

Rev. Heath, a hospice chaplain, speaks about how her faith in a loving God inspires her support for equal rights:




Telling the story of my queer family:




Our local activist choir:






The OffBeat drummers start a rousing chant for justice (that's me waving the pride flag in the background):




The Amherst UU's lead us in the Holly Near song, "We Are a Gentle, Angry People":




The Rev. Tinker Donnelly from the Unity Church in Greenfield:




Our local MassEquality organizer, Jack Hornor:




Kate closes the rally with a joyful chorus of "Yes We Can!"