about us

The Foundation for Family and Marriage Equality was organized in 2002 to promote equality for families headed by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and queer couples. These families do not receive the same legal protections for themselves and their children as do other families. Our mission is to:

  • provide education on GLBTQ marriage and family issues and
  • organize public demonstrations to create higher visibility for this cause.
The culmination of each year's events is during National Freedom to Marry Week. The week is scheduled between President Lincoln's birthday and Valentine's Day to join the concepts of love and equality. National Freedom to Marry Day is on February 12 every year. For more information on the specific events scheduled for this year, please visit our calendar.

our history

2002:
In December of 2002, Houston attorney Jerry Simoneaux and his partner Christopher Bown had the idea to hold a mass same-sex marriage ceremony to celebrate National Freedom to Marry Day.

2003:
On February 12, 2003, more than 60 same-sex couples and 400 guests attended the wedding at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church. Leading the celebration were clergy from MCC, Methodist, Unitarian, and Jewish faiths. The event was interrupted briefly by a bomb-threat. Only three people left when Rev. Johnson gave the news. Rev. Dr. Don Sinclair, a retired Methodist minister, said, “If I have to die, I can think of no place I’d rather be than with you here tonight.”

2004:
In February of 2004, Jerry and Christopher worked with the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby to have 16 couples go to the Harris County Clerk’s office to demand a marriage license. The couples arrived with sunflowers for the clerk because, as one person said, “sunflowers always turn to face the sun.” The couples approached the clerk, who was surrounded by news cameras from all over the nation. Some couples could barely choke the words through their tears, “we’d like to apply for a marriage license.” The clerk respectfully responded, “I am sorry, but the State of Texas does not permit me to give marriage licenses to same-sex couples.” After being turned down, the couples put sunflowers in a vase on the clerk’s desk. Later than evening, the couples joined about thirty other couples for the second annual Freedom to Marry Day wedding celebration.

2005 - 2007:
The 2005, 2006 and 2007 events included a week of events and seminars culminated with beautiful wedding celebrations with more than 20 clergy from various faiths performed in the most complex and symbolically rich ceremony ever for over 50 couples. Beautiful receptions followed with music, dancing, and special wedding cakes by Stephen Bratsen.

The Foundation for Marriage and Family Equality, Inc.
A registered non-profit corporation, 501(c)(3) status pending