H.E.R.O. RIGHT TO MARRY WALK: ARIZONA 2012

Each summer a group of core Equality Walkers walks a mile for every year Arizona has been a state without full legal recognition of its LGBTQ citizens. The Equality Walkers utilize these miles to speak to police, city managers, faith communities, elected officials and individuals in diverse districts.

In 2008 the Equality Walkers completed 96 miles through western Maricopa County, in order to raise awareness about Proposition 102.In 2009 the Equality Walkers completed 97 miles through eastern Maricopa County focusing their outreach to diverse faith communities. In 2010 the Equality Walkers completed 98 miles through Northern Arizona walking through some of the most rural cities in the State and putting faces and stories to the issue of Marriage Equality. In 2011 the Equality Walkers completed 99 miles in the extreme heat and desert of Southern Arizona.

And in 2012, the Equality Walkers will embark on the biggest journey yet, 100 miles across Arizona on foot, with the hot August sun beating down. For the first time the campaign will have three simultaneously campaigns, allowing the walkers to cover the entire state of Arizona to have an open dialogue around Marriage Equality and all issues affecting the LGBTQ community.

The Central Route will be lead by Director Meg Sneed, and Route Lead Dr. Mandee Rowley, who are engaged to be married and met on the 2010 Right to Marry.  Central Arizona cities are Avondale, Chandler, El Mirage, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson, and Yougtown.

The Northern Route will be lead by Director Jimmy Gruender, and Route Lead Paul Roark, partners of 18 years. Northern Arizona cities Fountain Hills, Pine, Show Low, Snowflake, Window Rock/Fort Defiance, Rock Point, Page, Tuba City/Moenkopi,  Grand Canyon National Park, Williams, Flagstaff, Cottonwood, Prescott Valley Wickenburg, Anthem, Cave Creek.

The Southern Route will be lead by Director Karon Bohlender, Route Lead Sister Marie Elle E’Phant. Bohlender joined the Right to Marry Walk in 2011 as a walker in Southern Arizona. Southern Arizona cities are  Florence, Queen Creek, Buckeye, Gila Bend, Yuma, Ajo ,Marana, Oro Valley, Tucson, Green Valley, Sahuarita ,Douglas, Willcox , Benson  ,Globe, Superi

So please consider sponsoring the 2011 Right to Marry: Arizona, so that we can further our message of marriage equality for all of Arizona Citizens.

“With each step we take we will plant seeds that will grow in others and will be harvested as our society comes to understand the value of affirming the loving, covenanted relationships of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members.” Meg Sneed

Quotes From The Road

"The church was only a few short miles to the Phoenix City Hall where we were greeted by water fountains and another symbolic statue of family. The presence of these statues at almost every city hall we've visited so far reminds us how important this walk is. It reminds us that we are not walking just for our selves, but for the many Arizona families which are not yet fully recognized, supported and protected. It is my hope that someday soon they too can be memorialized by a bronze statue of their own at a city hall in Arizona." CJ Minott  2008 Equality Walker

"One unlikely ally, an older trucker in line at a gas station summed it up best: "It don't matter what I think about the gay thing, but it's nobody's business deciding who should be marrying who. What's next? Congress gonna pick my wife, too?"" Alexey Bulokov 2008 Equality Walker

"It’s funny, because as the walking gets harder, the talking gets easier. This non-confrontational-lets-discuss-our-viewpoints-calmly- idea has taught me a great deal. Physically, standing is harder, but overall, standing up for my belief that inequality is wrong has gotten a whole lot easier.” Tracy Pedrotti (Straight Ally) 2009 Equality Walker

"Community needs intersected at every turn today. The workers setting pavement in Tempe, waved as we passed each other with mutual smiles in the heat. The man with no home who sat outside the door to the bathroom we used at mile seven, smiled as he let us in. What could be shared if everyday could be spent walking and talking?" Melissa Halverson Co-Director 2009

"I will keep walking and bleed, sweat, and cry with my friends until Arizona recognizes what amazing people are not just waking with me but all over the United States.” Toni Loafman (Straight Ally) 2010 Equality Walker

"May I say the standard...."I have gay friends" but after this week I have NEW FRIENDS that I love, respect, and hold close to my heart. I so love my daughter for being who she is and for inviting me into her spectacular life." Diane Soumis (Supportive Mom) 2010 Equality Walker

"It continues to inspire me as we hear the stories of the members of these communities, sharing their struggles and their triumphs. For so many of them, they can’t believe that people are walking through their hometown waving rainbow flags, while they are being harassed in stores and bullied in schools. I started on this walk, thinking I was just walking to support my sister, and as I walk, I realize I’m walking for everyone in LGBT community because they are somebody, and they deserve equality, and they need to know that they are loved and supported."  Abby Sneed (Straight Ally) 2011 Equality Walker

"We didn't make it very far into Pima before the end of our route but we did pass a school that was letting out just as we were walking by. As one of my fellow walkers, Chris, put it, 'hopefully at least one kid saw us and felt a little bit of hope.' And one of the other walkers, Billy, was asked by a kid of about 13/14 years what we were doing. Billy tried to explain generically and quickly that we were walking 99 miles for LGBT rights. The kid said, 'oh like gay rights?' And Billy said 'Yea, that's basically it' and the kid said 'I think what you guys are doing is cool.' Not something you might expect to hear from a young teenager in a small town with his friends standing nearby by, but there it was. Proving once again, that that kind of interaction can happen when and where you least expect it." Emily McLinden 2011 Equality Walker

“I can tell you right now…this is the craziest, hardest, most physically challenging thing I have done or ever will do. But I can tell you right now, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I truly believe our efforts are planting many seeds of change. In fact, we got an email from a walker’s friend today saying that after 13 years of trying to convince her mom that the LGBT community deserved equal marriage rights that her mom’s opinion finally changed because of what we were doing!” Marlee Tyler 2011 Equality Walker

Right to Marry: Arizona

Sponsorship Levels:

Presenting Sponsor- $10,000

1) Naming Rights for the walk (example Frito Lay presents Right to Marry: Arizona)                                                                        2) Acknowledgment as a Presenting Sponsor on the Right to Marry Website

3) Logo link on the Right to Marry Website
4) Acknowledgment in all Right to Marry Promotional Materials
5) Your Logo on Equality Walker T-Shirts

6) Thank you acknowledgment and logo link for a year on the H.E.R.O. website as a Presenting Sponsor of Right to Marry

7) Speaker & Table at the Final Rally

8) Name on all Press Releases, and Media Contacts

Platinum Sponsor -$5,000
1) Acknowledgment as a Platinum Level Sponsor on the Right to Marry Website

2) Logo link on the Right to Marry Website
3) Acknowledgment in all Right to Marry Promotional Materials
4) Thank you acknowledgment and logo link for a year on the H.E.R.O. website as a Platinum sponsor of Right to Marry

5) Speaker & Table at the Final Rally

6) Your Logo on Equality Walker T-Shirts

Gold Sponsor - $2,500
1) Acknowledgment as a Gold Level Sponsor on the Right to Marry Website

2) Logo link on the Right to Marry Website
3) Acknowledgment in all Right to Marry Promotional Materials
4) Thank you acknowledgment and logo link for a year on the H.E.R.O. website as a Gold Sponsor of Right to Marry

5) Speaker & Table at the Final Rally

Route Sponsor Northern, Southern or Central - $1,000
1) Acknowledgment as a Route Sponsor on the Right to Marry Website

2) Logo link on the Right to Marry Website

3) Acknowledgment in all Right to Marry Promotional Materials

4) Speaker & Table at the Final Rally

Day Sponsor - $500.00
1) Acknowledgment on Right to Marry Website
2) Acknowledgment in all Right to Marry Promotional Materials

TO BECOME A SPONSE PLEASE EMAIL MEG@RIGHTTOMARRY.ORG