About NMB

Mission:

National Marriage Boycott is a youth-led grassroots movement determined to create a world where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can live with dignity and security.

As a coalition of allies and LGBTQ people, we usher in a national culture of acceptance by pledging not to marry until there is full federal marriage equality. Members wear an Equality Ring as a public symbol of this pledge.

Inspiration:

The federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) denies 1,137 federal rights to same-sex couples, including partner benefits such as Social Security and sponsorship for bi-national couples.
This lack of legal equality, in addition to lack of societal acceptance, contributes to an increased rate of suicide among youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. These youth are up to four times as likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers.

Theory of Change:

A 'national culture of acceptance' means winning both full legal equality and full social equality. Therefore, National Marriage Boycott has two strategies:

* Youth-led grassroots organizing advances legal equality by advocating for equal rights, developing skillful leaders in the LGBT rights movement, and utilizing the Equality Ring as a conversation-starter about anti-LGBT discrimination.

* The Equality Ring advances social equality by creating a sense of security for LGBTQ individuals around each ring wearer, particularly in schools. In addition, the Equality Ring empowers allies to be more open and vocal about their support for LGBT rights, and especially empowers youth to be more vocal and confident about their ally, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity.

History:

Students at Stanford University organized the National Marriage Boycott in response to the passage of Proposition 8 and the election of President Obama. These students, who had put tremendous energy into organizing a No On 8 Campaign at Stanford, wanted to create an active and visible way for equality-minded Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, to show their support for equal marriage rights. Thus they created the National Marriage Boycott, in which participants vow to boycott marriage until there is full federal marriage equality.

How do I boycott? (what if I am already married?)

1. Sign the pledge to boycott marriage.

2. Get an Equality Ring to publicly show your support.

3. Help repeal the Defense of Marriage Act through direct action.

4. Organize with a local group to advocate for full federal equality.

No existing group at your school or in your area? Start a new group.

You can organize a new group anywhere: at your school, work, church, or anywhere else. Once you organize a group, you can distribute rings and recruit new members by working closely with Sarah, our National Branch Manager. Email her at sarah@nationalmarriageboycott.com.

Questions? Visit the FAQ's page or email info@nationalmarriageboycott.com.

Read more about National Marriage Boycott:

• "An Interview With Alexis Ortega, A Director of the National Marriage Boycott" in the Huffington Post.
• "Students Say No to Marriage Until Defense of Marriage Act Eliminated" on Change.org.

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