Archive Version of
Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Online from 1995-2022

Demian and Steve Bryant originally founded Partners as a monthly newsletter in 1986. By late 1990 it was reformatted into a bi-monthly magazine. Print publication was halted by 1995 when Demian published Partners as a Web site, which greatly expanded readership.

In 1988, the Partners National Survey of Lesbian & Gay Couples report was published; the first major U.S. survey on same-sex couples in a decade.

In 1996, Demian produced The Right to Marry, a video documentary based on the dire need for equality that was made clear by the data from the survey mentioned above. The video featured interviews with Rev. Mel White, Evan Wolfson, Phyllis Burke, Richard Mohr, Kevin Cathcart, Faygele benMiriam, Benjamin Cable-McCarthy, Susan Reardon, Frances Fuchs, Tina Podlodowski, and Chelle Mileur.

Demian has been the sole operator during the last two decades of Partners.

Demian stopped work on Partners Task Force in order to realize his other time-consuming projects, which include publishing the book “Operating Manual for Same-Sex Couples: Navigating the rules, rites & rights” - which is now available on Amazon. The book is based on the Partners Survey mentioned above, his interviews of scores of couples, and 36 years of writing hundreds of articles about same-sex couples. It’s also been informed by his personal experience in a 20-year, same-sex relationship.

Demian’s other project is to publish his “Photo Stories by Demian” books based on his more than six decades as a photographer and writer.


Partners Task Force for Gay & Lesbian Couples
Demian, director    206-935-1206    demian@buddybuddy.com    Seattle, WA    Founded 1986

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Religious Declaration on Marriage Equality
Connecticut Clergy for Marriage Equality
September 29, 2005


We the undersigned unite as one religious voice in unwavering support of marriage for same-gender couples. While we bear witness to a broad range of religious beliefs and practices with regard to marriage for same-gender couples, we believe the State of Connecticut should offer equal treatment under the law to all citizens, including the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage.

As religious leaders we affirm and promote commitment and fidelity in the relationship of marriage. We value the holy covenant of marriage because it creates stable, committed relationships; provides a means to share economic resources; and nurtures the individual, the couple, and children. Good marriages benefit the community and express the religious values of long-term commitment and faithfulness. Civil Union cannot fully embody these values; only marriage can. There is no difference in marriages between a man and a woman, two men, or two women. As our traditions affirm, where there is love, God is in our midst.

Sacred scripture and tradition call faith communities to justice and compassion, and help provide a mandate for marriage equality. Justice as right relationship seeks both personal and communal well-being. It is embodied in interpersonal relationships and institutional structures, including marriage. Justice demands the elimination of marginalization for reasons of race, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status. We oppose appeals to isolated texts and outmoded traditions. Scriptures which were written in different times and in the context of a very different culture may reflect that culture more than they reflect Divine intent. For example, we believe those texts which absolutely forbid divorce, or require women to be subservient to their husbands, do not express the will of God for our culture.

We respect the fact that debate and discussion continue in many of our religious communities as to the theological and liturgical issues in marriage. We support the right of all religious communities to make their own decisions about whom to marry. However, we draw on our many faith traditions to arrive at a common conviction: the state of Connecticut should allow same-gender couples to share fully and equally in civil marriage.

We offer special thanks to the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry and the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing whose statements on marriage equality served as guides for this declaration.

Signatories

Rev. Michael Ader, United Church of Christ
Rev. Richard C. Allen, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Peter W. Allen, United Church of Christ
Rev. Cheryl P. Anderson, United Church of Christ
Rev. Eric Anderson, United Church of Christ, Connecticut Conference United Church of Christ
The Rev. Marjo E. Anderson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Karen Bailey-Francois, United Church of Christ, Center Church, Hartford
Rev. Sidat Balgobin, United Church of Christ, Park Congregational Church, Norwich
Rev. Bonnie Bardot, United Church of Christ
Rev Gordon S. Bates, United Church of Christ
Rev. Sally F. Baumer, United Church of Christ
Rabbi Jeffery Bennett, Reform Judaism Temple Sinai
Rabbi Donna B. Berman, PhD, Jewish (Reform)
Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin, United Church of Christ, Woodmont UCC
The Rev. Thomas F. Beveridge, United Methodist
Rev. Selena L. Blackwell, United Church of Christ, United Church of Christ
Cantor Sheri Blum, Jewish Congregation B'nai Israel
Rabbi Dana Bogatz, Conservative, Member of the RA, Congregation Sinai, West Haven
Rev. Pamela Briddle, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Ronald Brown, United Church of Christ
Rev. Jean Cook Brown, Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Bonnie M.P. Brownell, Nondenominational (Pagan)
Rev. Dr. G. Scott Cady, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Dr. Dennis Calhoun, United Church of Christ
Br. Richard Jonathan Cardarelli, SSF Anglican, Society of Saint Francis
Rev. Linda Carleton, United Church of Christ, First Congregational Church of Guilford
Rev. John Carr, United Methodist, First and Summerfield United Methodist Church, New Haven
Rev. Hojun Chang, United Church of Christ, The First Korean UCC
Rev. Mark Charlton, United Methodist
The Rev. George Chien, Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford
Paul Christie, Center City Churches
Bishop Russell F. Coates, Jr., FFP, Trinitarian Catholic, Franciscans of Divine Providence
Pastor Joyce O. Crutchfield, United Church of Christ, South Congregational Church
Rev. Fr. Mickey Danyluk, American Ecumenical Catholic Church
Pastor Terry Davis, Presbyterian First Presbyterian Church, Hartford
Rev. Dr. Franck A. De Chambeau
Rev. Dr. Susan R. DeSimone, United Church of Christ
Michael Donnelly, American Ecumenical Catholic Church, Eastern CT Parish
Founder Ray Dubuque, Liberals Like Christ
Pastor Kristen Dunn, United Methodist
Rev. Richard C. DuVall, United Church of Christ
Rev. George Engelhardt, United Methodist
The Rev. Donald J. Estes, United Church of Christ
Rev. Peggy Fabrizio, United Methodist Church
Rev. Katherine Mary Fagerburg, United Church of Christ and American Baptist Churches, South Church, New Britain
Rev. Eric N. Fjeldal, United Methodist
The Rev. Vicky A. Fleming, United Methodist
The Rev. Julio Flores, Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford
Rev. Leslie Lynne Foley, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Marie LaMarre Ford, United Church of Christ
Rev. J. Richard Fowler, United Church of Christ, Chaplain, Bristol Hospital, Bristol
Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, Reform Judaism, Congregation Beth Israel
Rev. Lindsay L. Fulmer, United Church of Christ, First Church of Christ, Congregational, Mansfield Center
Rev. John R. Gage, United Church of Christ, United Church on the Green, UCC, New Haven
Rev. Patricia Gallagher, Episcopal, The Sanctuary at Shepardfields
Rev. Lori J. Geddes
Rev. Carolyn Gibson, United Methodist
Rabbi Fred Greene, Reform Judaism, Congregation B'nai Israel, Bridgeport
Rev. Debra W. Haffner, Unitarian Universalist, Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing
Rev. Frank Hall, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Church, Wesport
Rev. Peter M. Hammond, United Church of Christ, Bridgewater Congregational Church
Rev. Dr. Linda Hansen, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury
The Rev. Lois Happe, United Church of Christ
Rev. Paulette E. Harwood, United Church of Christ, Federated Church of Christ
Rev. Louise Higginbotham, United Church of Christ, United Church on the Green, UCC, New Haven
The Rev. MJ Hinchliff, United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Edward Horstmann, United Church of Christ
Jacqueline Hutnik
The Rev. Lucy Ijams, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Meriden
Rev. Taka Ishii, United Methodist, First and Summerfield United Methodist Church
Rev. Meredith A. Jeffers, United Church of Christ, Adoption Support Services
Rev. Elizabeth Jones, United Methodist Church
Rev. Mary D. Klaaren, United Church of Christ, South Congregational Church, UCC, Middletown
Rev. E. Sue Klein, United Methodist, Newtown United Methodist Church
Rev. Rick Klimowicz, Unitarian Universalism
Rev. Robert C Lane, United Church of Christ
Rev. Fidelia A Lane, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Maria LaSala, Presbyterian
Rabbi David J Leipziger Teva, Jewish Wesleyan Jewish Community, Wesleyan University
Rev. Dr. Kristen Leslie, United Methodist, Yale Divinity School
Rev. Patricia Liberty, United Church of Christ
Rev. Jeanne W. Lloyd, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Universalist Society: East, Manchester
The Rev. William F Loutrel, Episcopal, St. Thomas's Episcopal Church, New Haven
Dawn Luzefski, Wiccan/Pagan, but interdenominational
Rev. Cindy Maddox, United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Richard D. Mallory, Episcopal Trinity Episcopal Church, Stamford
Rev. George Manukas, United Church of Christ
Barbara A Mase, United Church of Christ, First Congregational Church, Meriden
Rev. Dr. William B. Matthews, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Richard Anderson Maxwell, Episcopal, Grace Episcopal Church
Rev. Ordained Priestess Marlene McCaffrey, Dianic/Goddess Spirituality, Goddess Grove
Rev. Diane McClanahan, United Methodist Church
Rev. Bob McDonald, United Methodist
The Rev. Brother Terence McGovern, FFP, Trinitarian Catholic, Mission of St. Maximilian Kolbe
The Rev. Molly P. McGreevy, Episcopal
Rev. Brian H. McHugh, Episcopal
Rev. Kathleen McTigue, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Society of New Haven
Rev. John P Merz, Presbyterian
Mr. Blair Moffett, PCUSA
Rev. Jan K. Nielsen, Unitarian Universalist, The Universalist Church
Rev. Kendrick Norris, United Church of Christ, First Congregational Church, Guilford
Rev. Micki Nunn-Miller, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Alice L O'Donovan, United Church of Christ
Rev. Sandra L. Olsen, United Church of Christ, Center Church on the Green, New Haven
Rev. Mary A. Osborn, Episcopal, St. Paul's, Fairfield
The Rev. Judith Brown Osgood, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Fellowship of Storrs
Betsy Palmieri, Presbyterian Elder, First Presbyterian Church of Hartford
Rev. Van Parker, United Church of Christ, Minister Emeritus, First Church in Windsor
The Rev. Ellen Parker Williams, HPs, Norse/Druidic/Eclectic Pagan, Hearthside Haven
Rev. Carolyn N. Patierno, Unitarian Universalist
The Rev. Joshua Mason Pawelek, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Universalist Society: East, Manchester
Rev. Judy M. Peluso, Multi-Denominational, Universal Life Church
Rev. Rose Petronella, United Church of Christ
Rev. Terry Pfeiffer, United Methodist Church
Rev. Robert Raines, United Church of Christ
Rev. Christopher R Regan, Wiccan
Rev. Paul R. Ricard, United Church of Christ
Rabbi Seth Daniel Riemer, Jewish
Rev. Dr. Letty M. Russell, Presbyterian, First Congregational Church of Guilford (UCC)
The Rev. Ron Sala, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Universalist Society in Stamford
Rabbi Daniel Satlow, Jewish (Conservative)
Rev. Dr. Brian R. Schofield-Bodt, United Methodist
Rev. Elizabeth Schrader, United Methodist
Rabbi Jeremy A. Schwartz, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Bishop John Selders, United Church of Christ and the Inter Denominational Conference, Amistad United Church of Christ
Rev. Richard Sherlock, United Church of Christ, Center Church, Hartford
The Rev. Kent J. Siladi, United Church of Christ
Rev. Julie Ann Silberman-Bunn, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Bridgeport
Rev. David W. Spollett, United Church of Christ, First Church Congregational, UCC, Fairfield
Rev. Linda Stein, United Methodist
The Rev. Connie Sternberg, Unitarian Universalist, Minister Emerita, Unitarian Universalist Society, East Manchester, CT
Rev. Arline Sutherland, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Society of Hartford
Rev. David T. Taylor, United Church of Christ First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury
Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Taylor, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Kathleen B. Thompson, United Church of Christ
Rev. Sarah J. Verasco, United Church of Christ
Rev. Marion B. Visel, Unitarian Universalist, Unitarian Society of New Haven
Rev. Suzanne Wagner, United Church of Christ, First Church Congregational, Fairfield
Rabbi Cory Weiss, Jewish (Reform)
The Rev. Laura Westby, United Church of Christ
Rev. Martha W. Whitehead, United Church of Christ
Rev. Bob Whitfield, United Methodist, Mary Taylor United Methodist Church
The Rev. Katy Wilcox, United Church of Christ
The Rev. James F. Williams, Norse/Druidic/Eclectic Pagan, Hearthside Haven
The Rev. Jo Clare Wilson, Disciples of Christ, Hartford Hospital
Rev. Carol Wolff, Unitarian Universalist, Mattatuck UU Society
The Rev. Carolyn Young, United Church of Christ, Whitneyville United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. David Young, United Church of Christ, First Congregational Church of Greenwich

To join the signatories, please go to the source article on the
“Love Makes a Family Connecticut” Web site and fill their Clergy form.

Religious Support for Ceremonial Marriage
Religious Support for the Legal Right to Marry


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