Members of the Touring Companies of WICKED to Raise Awareness About the Case for Marriage Equality

Broadway Impact, an organization of theater artists and fans mobilized in support of marriage equality, has teamed up with members of the North American Touring Companies of WICKED to help show theatre-goers in Seattle and Baltimore that marriage equality is about simple fairness. With the support of Washington United for Marriage in Seattle, and Marylanders for Marriage Equality in Baltimore, members of the WICKED cast and crew have volunteered to hand out flyers and talk to patrons immediately following performances in both cities in order to raise awareness about the case for full marriage equality.

Washington and Maryland, as well as Maine and Minnesota, are the four states facing marriage-related ballot initiatives in the upcoming November election.

Broadway Impact believes in equal rights for all, and strongly supports WICKED’s theme of acceptance and the musical’s message that people should not be judged on first impressions, and that in these divisive times we must come together to support one another’s rights throughout the country and around the world. Whether you’re gay, straight, or somewhere in between, Broadway Impact believes that you should be able to marry the person you love.

Since 2008, Broadway Impact has amassed a history of accomplishments: The grassroots organization produced a 3,000 piece letter writing campaign and made over 16,000 phone calls in support of the New York marriage equality bill, and produced a major 2009 Times Square Equality rally and transported 1,400 New Yorkers on chartered buses to the national equality march in Washington D. C.

Currently, with their partners the American Foundation for Equal Rights, Broadway Impact is producing and licensing 8, a new play by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk, J. Edgar), that demystifies the debate around marriage equality by chronicling the landmark trial of Perry v. Schwarzenegger. 8 had its much-heralded Broadway world premiere on September 19, 2011, at the sold-out Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City and its West Coast premiere reading at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Saturday, March 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. The West Coast premiere reading of 8featured an all-star cast led by Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Martin Sheen. The benefit reading was directed by AFER Founding Board Member Rob Reiner, and raised more than $2 million dollars. 8 has now been performed over 300 times at universities, community and regional theatres worldwide, including 37 productions in the four states that are facing marriage ballot initiatives this November.

Broadway Impact strongly believes theater has the power to change hearts and minds. Whether it’s on a Broadway stage, a college campus or at a community theater, Broadway Impact wants to raise awareness about the case for full federal marriage equality from coast to coast.

WICKED is playing The Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore through Sunday, November 4, and The Paramount Theatre in Seattle through Saturday, November 17.

About Washington United for Marriage:
Washington United for Marriage is a coalition of more than 500 organizations, congregations, unions, and businesses working together in coalition to defend civil marriage for loving, committed same-sex couples. We believe marriage and family are about love and commitment, working together, bettering the community, raising children, and growing old together. We believe in a Washington that supports strong families and values freedom and equality. And we believe that marriage matters. Washington United for Marriage is a Political Action Committee (PAC) and a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, formed in October 2011. The coalition is lead by a Governance Board of 11 individuals representing 9 organizations.

About Marylanders for Marriage Equality:
Marylanders for Marriage Equality is the campaign working to defend marriage equality at the ballot box this November. We work closely with a diverse, broad-based coalition of faith leaders, community partners, local businesses, labor, elected officials and tens of thousands of grassroots supporters all fighting for fairness. Gay and lesbian couples share the same values of love, commitment and strong families–they should have the same opportunity to get a marriage license. We pledge to run a civil and respectful campaign – one that elevates the basic values of equality, fairness, love, and strong families. We also expect our supporters to treat everyone as they would want to be treated. Our coalition partners include NAACP Baltimore, 1199 SEIU, ACLU Of Maryland, Equality Maryland and the Human Rights Campaign.

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