FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 13, 2011 Media Contact: Michael Diviesti, michael@getequaltx.

org, 512-694-3394 Mass Same-Sex Marriage and Commitment Ceremonies to Take Place in Austin Same-Sex Wedding and Commitment Ceremonies Processional from Republic Square Park to the Capitol AUSTIN, TX -- Tuesday, October 11, was National Coming Out Day -- a day that highlights the progress made by LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Americans and the inequality that remains. To mark the occasion, and to highlight one of the many ways in which LGBT Texans are still lacking equal civil rights, cities throughout the state of Texas are performing mass wedding ceremonies for those same-sex couples who would legally marry if they could. In Austin on Saturday, Oct. 15, couples will begin the processional on horse drawn carriage at Republic Square Park and end at the State Capitol where a mass wedding will be held. "Among the many areas where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons are discriminated against by our government, marriage is one of them," says Michael Diviesti, Texas State Lead Organizer for GetEQUAL. "We are taking this opportunity to celebrate the loving relationships and families that are negatively impacted by Texas's ban on marriage for committed same-sex couples and our country's Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). We are asking anyone who believes in equal civil rights to come and show your support". The wedding will be officiated by Rev. Meg Barnhouse, minister of The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin. WHAT: "Coming Out for Marriage Equality" WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 TIME: 5:00pm CST WHERE: Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX, and the State Capitol Building

Our culture has long celebrated marriage as part of the foundation of a stable society. Marriage is about love and commitment, and LGBT citizens want the same rights to express their commitment to a life partner that heterosexual citizens enjoy. The Unitarian Universalists have long been advocates for civil rights, and we see this as a continuation of that struggle for equality, said Rev. Barnhouse. Similar marriage equality events are taking place at the same time in San Antonio, Houston, Brownsville, Dallas, Corpus Christi, Huntsville, Austin and Harlingen. All who support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and families are encouraged to attend. GetEQUAL is a national, direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. Emphasizing direct action and people power, the mission of GetEQUAL is to empower the LGBT community and its allies to take action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information on GetEQUAL, please visit: http://www.getequal.org. You can follow GetEQUAL on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/getequal, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GetEQUAL, or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/getequal. GetEQUAL Texas is a chapter of GetEQUAL, and can be found on the web at http://www.getequaltx.org, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GetEQUAL.TX, and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/getequal_tx. ###