New York, NY — LUSH staff, customers and supporters will be puckering up for a purpose this weekend as part of a nationwide 'Kiss and Tell' protest. LUSH has invited the public and their pouts down to LUSH stores to kiss in support of marriage for same-sex couples and to sign postcards telling the federal government to end the ongoing discrimination against tens of thousands of couples and families across America. The 'Kiss and Tell' will be taking place at LUSH stores across North America at exactly 11:38 a.m. to signify the number of protections, responsibilities and rights that are currently denied to same-sex couples and their families under the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). LUSH, in partnership with Freedom to Marry, is calling on the U.S. federal government to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would allow same-sex couples and their families access to the 1,138 civil rights that come with federal marriage recognition and ultimately their right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
CALL TO ACTION
What: Local couples will be kissing at 11:38 a.m. in support of marriage for same-sex couples and will be signing postcards telling the federal government to end the ongoing discrimination against tens of thousands of couples and families across America.
When: Saturday, June 18th, 11:38 a.m. local time
Where: At select LUSH stores nationwide. See complete list of participating stores here:www.lush.com/shop/freedomtomarry/joinus
For two weeks starting on June 13th, LUSH is turning its shops across North America into 'campaign centers' where people can drop in to learn about the 1,138 rights denied to same-sex couples and sign a postcard petition asking the federal government to take action and overturn DOMA. To further efforts, LUSH has created a new limited editionFreedom Foamer Bubble Bar ($5.95) with 100% of the proceeds going to Freedom to Marry's campaign to end marriage discrimination. This uplifting vegan bubble bar is scented with fresh lime and grapefruit and will be available at www.lushusa.com and at LUSH stores across North America for the duration of the campaign.
LUSH's Freedom to Marry campaign extends beyond the shop floor to the company's web page ( www.lush.com/freedomtomarry&; where supporters are encouraged to sign their online petition, purchase the Freedom Foamer bubble bar and participate in a digital Kiss and Tell. LUSH is asking couples in support of marriage equality toupload a picture of themselves kissing and tell why marriage equality matters to them. Real faces, real names and real stories make a real difference.
Why does marriage matter to a soap company? LUSH believes that all of its employees, customers and communities are valued and should be protected equally. LUSH wants to end the ongoing discrimination against thousands of couples and families across America. This means everyone — gay and non-gay — having the freedom to marry, with the same responsibilities, dignity, security and expression of love and equality.
Exclusion from the freedom to marry unfairly punishes committed same-sex couples and their families by depriving them of critical support, security, and obligations in virtually every area of life, including death and taxes. Under DOMA, same-sex couples are excluded from 1,138 rights tied to marriage because the federal government does not recognize their marriages. The denial of marriage is one of the harshest inequalities inflicted on lesbian and gay Americans and their families, and it's a discrimination enacted by our own government.
"Tens of thousands of loving, committed same-sex couples across the country are doing the hard work of marriage every day, sharing the ups and downs of life, but because of federal marriage discrimination, they and their families are denied basic respect for their commitment and deprived of fair treatment in taxes, immigration, access to health care, and Social Security," said Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide. "For same-sex couples to fully share in the freedom to marry, we must pass the Respect for Marriage Act, overturn the 'Defense of Marriage Act,' and return the federal government to its longstanding practice of honoring lawful marriages without a 'gay exception.'"
"We believe that that everyone should have the freedom to marry the person they love," says LUSH Campaigns Manager Brandi Halls. "Many of our staff, customers, friends and family are not given the same rights as everyone else and we felt, for the sake of our friends, we had to challenge this injustice."
For more information on the campaign please visit: www.lush.com/freedomtomarry
