Equality Cabaret: Making Marriage Equality a Reality

Equality Cabaret: Making Marriage Equality a Reality Presented by Jim Toy Community Center to benefit Michigan Marriage Challenge. Sunday, February 23, 2014 1:00PM at the Ark in Ann Arbor. Ticket prices: $250 –Benefactor floor front row reserved-name on program and from the stage $100-Supporter reserved seating and name on program $25 – General Admission Tickets: Use the "Get Tickets Link" To learn more about the family and the case or to donate on-line: http://www.michiganmarriagechallenge.com/ To donate directly to the cause: http://www.gofundme.com/marriageequalitymichigan Press Release: Press contact: CYNTHIA DUNITZ 734-604-0396. cynthia@flemingartists.com Equality Cabaret Making Marriage Equality a Reality Jan. 22, 2014—Artists from Southeast MI are fighting to make marriage equality a reality in Michigan. In partnership with the Jim Toy Community Center, the artists have given their time and talent to raise critically needed funds for the DeBoer-Rowse Family to legally co-adopt their three children. A benefit for the Michigan Marriage Challenge, presented by the Jim Toy Community Center will be held on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 1pm at The ARK, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 734-761-1800. Tickets: $250 Benefactor - reserved seating house floor front & center, $100 Supporters - reserved seating house center and $25 General Admission. Tickets on sale at the Michigan Union Ticket Office 734-763-TKTS or online at https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=8950eb5a29a3edcd1511ac30fa841cc8 This benefit is an opportunity for supporters of marriage equality to help make it a reality. Emceed by U of M Professor Holly Hughes, the evening will feature artists, such as: singer songwriter Vienna Teng (viennateng.com/), folk duo Nervous But Excited in a greatly anticipated re-union (nervousbutexcited.com), Mr. B, Chris Good & the Sweet Insurrection, Eleni Kelakos, Mark Brown as Sylvia, Dueling Divas, Dawn Richberg & Vanessa Marr, Max Brown & Family, and Matt Rice. Help the DeBoer-Rowse Family: Hazel Park lesbian couple April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse are suing the state of Michigan for the right to legally wed and thereby co-adopt their three children. Their case represents a direct, effective and rapid means of securing marriage equality in Michigan. The state licensed the two nurses as a couple to serve as foster parents of their three special needs children, but Michigan law allows only legally married couples to jointly adopt children. This civil right, afforded all others in Michigan, is not available to the DeBoer-Rowse family due to Michigan’s constitutional ban on state recognition of same-sex couples. Because they are prohibited by law to adopt jointly, Rowse adopted their two sons, and DeBoer their daughter. A team of attorneys is working hard on the family’s case; however, bringing in expert witnesses to demonstrate to the court that same-sex couples are fit parents is expensive. The lawyers estimate the witnesses and other legal expenses could cost 500,000 to $700,000. Federal Judge Bernard A. Friedman, of the Eastern District of Michigan, will begin hearing evidence in DeBoer v. Snyder in late February. The team of attorneys includes Carole Stanyar, Dana Nessel, Ken Mogill, Robert Sedler, and Mary Bonauto. To learn more about the family and the case or to donate on-line: http://www.michiganmarriagechallenge.com/