#equalinwv

[fairnesswv]

Do you agree with David & Jamie? Join them and donate to the EQUAL in WV Challenge! Click here:http://bit.ly/12ceZo6 Make your one-year pledge of $10 or more per month by July 31 and your first six payments will be matched dollar for dollar! Help Fairness meet the Equal in West Virginia Matching Challenge! ‪#‎fairnessworks‬ ‪#‎EQUALinWV‬

[fairnesswv]

FEATURE: Meet Jessica & Melody, a committed and loving West Virginian couple. Here’s their story: “Both from West Virginia originally, we have been together for nine years. During that time, we have worked together and played together, exploring the wonders of our state and of the world through literature and travel. We’ve lived in other countries, tried new recipes, mothered five cats, grown gardens, and welcomed nephews and nieces into the world together. Beyond our work as educators, we participate in the life of our community through our work as church organists at local churches. The Supreme Court’s ruling that DOMA is unconstitutional hasn’t changed much of anything for us personally. While we are happy for those for whom the demise of DOMA will make material and symbolic differences, we won’t marry until we can share Social Security benefits and tax benefits that marriage provides for opposite-sex couples. Otherwise, we don’t really have a reason to get married. A ceremony performed in another state (or this one) with or without legal weight where we live will not change the commitment we make to one another on a daily basis. We support the work of Fairness WV because we believe that legal reform is one important plank in a broader approach to social justice work. The future that we imagine is one in which our LGBT students feel valued in our state. We feel a very strong commitment to being in West Virginia and have chosen to remain in West Virginia because we feel a deep connection to the people, the land, and the history of our home, and because it allows us to be close to our family. That same connection to community is one that we want for our LGBT students who also want to continue living their lives in West Virginia.” Jessica and Melody both work at West Virginia Wesleyan College, where Jessica is Coordinator of Gender Studies and Melody is Director of the School of Fine Arts and Humanities and Professor of Music. Jessica is on the Board of Directors for Fairness WV. Support the work of Fairness West Virginia and all LGBT West Virginians by participating in the EQUAL in WV Matching Challenge! Click here: http://bit.ly/12ceZo6

[fairnesswv]

Visit this link to participate! http://bit.ly/12ceZo6 Make your one-year pledge of $10 or more per month by July 31 and your first six payments will be matched dollar for dollar! Help Fairness meet the Equal in West Virginia Matching Challenge! ‎#fairnessworks ‎#EqualinWV