Celebrate Love at the SF Gay and Lesbian Wedding Expo
August 15, 2004 from 11am until 5pm at the Westin St. Francis Hotel

By Sarah Benoit at RainbowWeddingNetwork.com

In the past fifty years there have been many battles for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender rights fought on the soil of the USA. The legal, emotional, and spiritual battle at the forefront right now is one that creates passionate and personal responses from all sides. The GLBT community has struggled long and hard to have love of all kinds simply considered socially acceptable. Now the community challenges American society to take it one step further, to insist on the legal recognition of alternative marriages by both federal and state governments. This fight may be a long haul as the Bush Administration attempts to close the gap between church and state more and more each day, but it is a worthwhile one.

In 1999, after the internet explosion in the mid nineties, Cindy Sproul and Marianne Puechl had seen so many gay and lesbian couples plan commitment ceremonies and weddings they gave birth to an incredible idea, the Rainbow Wedding Network (www.RainbowWeddingNetwork.com)! This network is a national online wedding gift registry site where couples can go to register as “partner and partner” and get connected to screened, gay-friendly businesses all over the United States and Canada. The extensive directories list service providers ready to help with any aspect of the event from wedding pre-planning to the ceremony, the reception, the honeymoon, gifts, and even buying a first or new home. Over 4500 businesses are currently members of the Rainbow Wedding Network, and the site's resources continue to grow each day. As GLBT marriage rights became a hotter and more controversial topic the creative wheels of these two women began to turn again.

In 2003 the founders of Rainbow Wedding Network organized a grass roots campaign called “Same Love, Same Rights.” This campaign included the production of Gay and Lesbian Wedding Expos, under the “Same Love, Same Rights” banner name. The first Expo took place in Minneapolis, MN in November of 2003 and was a great success. Nicky Clark of Blaine, MN was there preparing for her upcoming wedding. “I attended the Minneapolis Gay and Lesbian Wedding Expo and was amazed at how many people were there planning a wedding like ours” Clark said. “Attending this expo made me feel better about planning our lesbian wedding” she added, “knowing there were gay-owned/operated, gay-friendly vendors honored to be part of OUR special day. The settings were beautiful and everyone was so friendly.”

The political climate in Massachusetts in May 2004 facilitated another huge success for the campaign. The “Same Love, Same Rights” Expo took Cambridge by storm. Fashion shows, DJs, food and live music attracted hundreds, not only to network with gay friendly businesses but also to show support for the legal, political and cultural cause, one that many consider a human rights issue. Joanne Laipson, representative of OutVite.com, a sponsor and vendor of both Rainbow Wedding Network and the “Same Love, Same Rights” Cambridge Expo had this to say in a recent letter, “…thank you for the excellent event. It was incredibly well organized and executed." Laipson also wrote, “In addition, the traffic that passed by our booth was extremely well qualified and I fully anticipate many future sales. I was also pleased to see the press attention and attendance - it served us well."

California has become one of the main stages in the debate over GLBT marriage rights. After the incredible events staged by Mayor Gavin Newsom in San Francisco the community has become even more focused and determined to make a long lasting impact on the hearts and minds of all Americans. “In response to recent legislation and new political and cultural dialogue” Cindy Sproul says, “Marianne and I now stand even more committed to helping the GLBT and GLBT-friendly community mobilize and raise dollars to insure the equality for all citizens.” “Our philosophy is based on seeking equal marriage rights for all adult citizens of this country” Marianne Puechl stated. “Simply put,” Puechl continued, “we endorse the right of each individual to marry the person of their choice.”

Rainbow Wedding Network and the “Same Love, Same Rights” campaign invite each and every one of you to join them on August 15, 2004 from 11am until 5pm at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square for the first San Francisco “Same Love, Same Rights“ Gay and Lesbian Wedding Expo. This event is free to the public and combines celebration with political statement on an issue that matters to the entire GLBT community. For more information about how to get involved please contact Sarah Benoit at rwnsarah@bellsouth.net or toll free at 866-251-1564. As Puechl and Sproul so beautifully state, “GLBT, straight, married or single-discrimination affects us all. Equality is a matter for all of us.”

Sarah Benoit
1-866-251-1564
rwnsarah@bellsouth.net
www.RainbowWeddingNetwork.com