RAISING $ FOR MARRIAGE

Our Lucky 13th Marriage Equality bus leaves on Friday August 30th and we have another 12 couples along with their family and friends--heading toward Iowa to get legally married. When we return to St. Louis that evening, we will have transported a total of 700 people; marrying over 140+ same-sex couples to date.

Wow, now those are some lucky people!

What our couples pay for:
- $50 contribution toward their bus seats
- $35 Iowa State Marriage License
- food expenses

What your contribution pays for:
Your gift helps defray the costs of chartering a bus to Iowa City from St. Louis (rental is over $1600). Other expenses are donated by our friends in Iowa or from our community in St. Louis. For example, every Marriage Equality Bus has a professional wedding photographer who generously donates her services. We've also had wedding cakes, flowers and clergy members donate their typical wedding fees. It's estimated over $5,000 of in-kind services are donated for each bus.

LUCKY 13!

13 BUSES OF LOVE:
OUR THIRTEENTH MARRIAGE EQUALITY BUS LEAVES AUGUST 30.

Join Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender couples as they board the thirteenth "Show Me Marriage Equality Bus" bound for Iowa on Friday August 30, 2013.

The bus will depart from St. Louis around 5am and arrives in Iowa before lunch. Couples will obtain marriage licenses and move to a local opening and affirming church for the actual wedding ceremonies. A celebration and small reception takes place around 3pm in Iowa City.

The "Show Me Marriage Equality Bus" will depart from Iowa around 5pm, so that we can all return to St. Louis by 10pm.

Everyone is invited to see us depart in the morning and congratulate us when the bus returns home. (Maybe even throw some rice at the recent married couples or write "just married" on our car back windows.)

Because marriage equality should be affordable to everyone, we like to keep all of our costs low for the couples participating. Please consider making a contribution to help defray the cost of the bus to our couples.

Make a donation online here:
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/5ZOCb?

You may email showmenohate@gmail.com for directions on how to make a contribution.

We could also use your help to find more couples. There are still seats available on this August love bus to Iowa.

If you know any that are in a committed loving relationship, please have them email us at ShowMeNoHate@gmail.com or drop us a message on Facebook.

MARRIAGE BUS 11

Show Me Marriage Equality Bus number 11 is bound for Iowa and it departs from St. Louis on Friday March 16th. 


Good News: There is still room to get on our bus. We are still holding space for loving same-sex couples who want to get legally married. Marriage in Iowa is better than Civil Unions passed in Illinois. Obtaining a Marriage License from Iowa is accepted as a Civil Union in Illinois and as a marriage in the 8 other states that recognize same-sex marriage; however, obtaining a Civil Union in Illinois is ONLY recognized by Illinois. Send email to ShowMeNoHate@gmail.com for more information. 


Because marriage equality should be affordable to everyone, we like to keep all of our costs low for the couples participating. Please consider making a contribution to help cover the cost of the bus.

Make sure you visit our Facebook page!

MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND

Original article can be read here 

Written by Mollie Reilly

WASHINGTON -- The legalization of marriage equality in Iowa created a miniature economic stimulus, according to a new study.

A study by the California-based Williams Institute found that wedding arrangements and tourism by same-sex couples and their wedding guests added between $12 and $13 million to the Iowa economy in 2009 and 2010. The study released Wednesday also reported that the increased spending on weddings likely added between $850,000 and $930,000 in tax revenue.

According to the Iowa data, there were at least 2,099 same-sex weddings in the year following the decision to legalize marriage equality in April 2009. Of these couples, over half came from other states to wed in Iowa. The study estimates that out-of-state couples account for about $2.2 million of the spending.

"The Williams Institute report demonstrates once again that marriage equality has had, and continues to have, only a positive impact on our state," Troy Price, executive director of the pro-marriage equality group One Iowa, said in a statement.

"Our opponents continue to try and take away marriage equality and erase the financial impact that marriage has on our communities and our state," Price continued. "But it begs the question -- at a time when people are looking for work and every Iowan is hoping for stronger economic growth, why would we pass a discriminatory constitutional amendment that would hurt not only loving and committed gay and lesbian couples, but our fragile economy as well?"

The new report was issued at request of Iowa State Sen. Matt McCoy (D), who was formerly on the board of One Iowa. Same-sex marriage in Iowa was legalized in April 2009, when the state's Supreme Court found a law limiting marriage to a man and a woman to be unconstitutional.

The new law has been a frequent target of conservative groups. In February, the Iowa House of Representatives advanced a bill that would create a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. State Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal (D) has said that he will block further debate on the issue.

In response to claims that the ruling would destroy traditional marriage, IowaWatch.org conducted a study in 2010 exploring gay marriages in the state. The study found that same-sex marriages bore many resemblances to heterosexual ones, and that the year after gay marriage was legalized, Iowa had its lowest divorce rates in decades.

Iowa's same-sex marriage rights have also come up in the GOP presidential primary as candidates prepare for the state's caucuses next month. In an interview with Fox News, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) stated that Iowa citizens did not want same-sex marriage.

"Marriage, historically, for all human history has been between a man and a woman. It hasn't been the same-sex marriage," she said. "And remember that in Iowa, it was judges that made the decision -- not the legislature, which are the people's representatives, and certainly, not the people."

Several candidates, including Bachmann, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), have signed a pledge against same-sex marriage written by the Family Leader, a conservative Iowa group that opposes gay marriage.

The Family Leader did not return a request for comment.

ALL BOARDING - NEXT STOP IOWA!

The 10th Show Me Marriage Equality Bus bound for Iowa, departs from St. Louis on Friday August 26th.

Good News: There is still room to get on our bus! We are still holding space for loving same-sex couples who want to get legally married. Marriage in Iowa is better than recently Civil Unions passed in Illinois. Obtaining a Marriage License from Iowa is accepted as a Civil Union in Illinois and as a marriage in the 6 other states that recognize same-sex marriage; however, obtaining a Civil Union in Illinois is ONLY recognized by Illinois and the handful of states that issue Civil Unions.

Send email to ShowMeNoHate@gmail.com for more information.

Because marriage equality should be affordable to everyone, we like to keep all of our costs low for the couples participating.

10 BUSES FOR LOVE

OUR TENTH MARRIAGE EQUALITY BUS LEAVES AUGUST 26.
Join Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender couples as they board the tenth "Show Me Marriage Equality Bus" bound for Iowa on Friday August 26, 2011.

The bus will depart from St. Louis around 5am and arrives in Iowa before lunch. Couples will obtain marriage licenses and move to a local opening and affirming church for the actual wedding ceremonies. A celebration and small reception takes place around 3pm in Iowa City.

The "Show Me Marriage Equality Bus" will depart from Iowa around 5pm, so that we can all return to St. Louis by 10pm.

Everyone is invited to see us depart in the morning and congratulate us when the bus returns home. (Maybe even throw some rice at the recent married couples or write "just married" on our car back windows.)

We could also use your help to find more couples. There are still seats available on this August love bus to Iowa.

If you know any that are in a committed loving relationship, please have them email us at ShowMeNoHate@gmail.com or drop us a message on Facebook.