Since March 1995, the Task Force has placed extensive information on the Internet. More than 20 years of interviewing same-sex couples, news gathering, and survey research have shaped the ideology of the Task Force. These ideas are promoted through the Task Force’s electronic communications, publications, video productions, and frequent contact with the nation’s media.

While the primary contacts to Partners, via phone and e-mail, has been couples, Partners has also been frequently contacted by counselors, clergy, business personnel staff, reporters, researchers, students, and government officials.

Founded in 1986, The Task Force has primarily been the work of its founder/directors, Demian, who has a doctorate in education, and Steve Bryant. Steve and Demian are nationally recognized for their activism and educational work. They have frequently addressed same-sex couples’ issues on radio, television, as well as in the gay and mainstream press. Steve left the group in 2002, and Demian continues as director. Demian has been active in gay liberation politics since the early 70s.

•  The Majority of the Gay Community is Coupled

Several surveys conducted during the 90s concluded that more than 60 percent of the gay community was in a relationship.

In spite of this constituency, for decades, the gay and lesbian community paid little attention to its coupled members. Our media and organizations were largely singles-oriented. Family issues were considered the exclusive political turf of right-wing preachers.

It was within this context that Partners Newsletter for Gay and Lesbian Couples was created. The journal evolved into the quarterly Partners Magazine. After seven years, the periodical was discontinued and Partners focused on publishing special issues and videos.

•  Landmark Survey

In 1988, recognizing the lack of current, scientific data on same-sex couples, Partners conducted the first major national study of same-sex couples in a decade.
      [See the Survey Report]

Among the fascinating, myth-busting results from the survey:

• Fully 71 percent of the couples had experienced some form of discrimination as a couple.
• Parents and the church were the least supportive elements in their lives.

In 1996, Partners produced The Right to Marry, a video documentary based on the dire need for equality that was revealed by our national survey. This was the world’s first documentary about the struggle for legal marriage.

The video featured interviews with Rev. Mel White, Evan Wolfson, Phyllis Burke Richard Mohr, Kevin Cathcart, Faygele benMiriam, Benjamin Cable-McCarthy, and Susan Reardon.

The original original 72-min. video is now out-of-print. It is now available as a 7 min. excerpt on Demian’s Film & Video Projects - Archive DVD.
      [See: Demian’s Film & Video Projects - Archive DVD]

•  Awards Presented to this Web Site

Four Star Rating from Magellan January 1996

Rainbow Award from Rainbow Awards September 1996 December 1996

Freedom Award from Shaw & Janes’ freedom.co.uk March 1996

Best 1,001 Web Sites listed by PC Computing Magazine December 1996

Best of the Internet for Gays & Lesbians! from J. Stahl May 1996

Editor’s Choice selected by Chatelaine Connects Online Magazine January 1997

Internet Excellence from Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Disabled Veterans of America May 1997

Best of the Web from Lesbianmoms & Gaydads United September 1997

Pride Award from Alternatives Pride Emporium February 1998

Very Best Content on the Web selected by The Password June 1998

Gay & Lesbian Key Resource from Links2Go July 1998

Pic of the Day from GayPage Award July 28, 1998

Black Claw Award for Service from International Guild of Gay Webmasters October 1998

Pride Pal Award from Pride Pal January 1999

Members’ Choice from Equality Project February 1999

Featured on Award from NeatLinks March 1999

Editor’s Choice selected by Chatelaine Connects Online Magazine Family Surf Sites July 1999

Featured Site in the “Family Science: Relationships” section from Study Web September 1999

Cyber Pick Alternative Family Web site December 1999 Alternative Family Magazine March/April 2000

Britannica Internet Guide Award “One of the Best on the Internet” selected by Britannica Internet January 2000

Award of Excellence selected by GLBT Grafix Shop October 2000

Award for Excellence in design & content from Gay-Days October 2000 September 2003

Power in Pride Award from PrideAward September 2003

Extreme Gay Web Award “easy navigation, quick loading, a plus for the gay community” September 2003

Diamond Web Award from MyGayWeb October 2003

5 Star Goodwill Gold Award from the Bi Men Network August 2004

Award of Excellence “One of the best educational resources on the Web” from StudySphere June 2006

4 Star Rating “For Educational Value” “Huge amount of information … well organised” from Schoolzone January 2009

•  Publications in which Our Writings have Appeared

Partners Task Force has been extensively quoted on issues such as legal marriage and domestic partner benefits in many newspapers (NY Newsday, Seattle Times, etc.) and journals (Personnel Journal, etc.). Our articles and lists have been reprinted in numerous journals (“Employee Benefits Practices” from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, “Domestic Partner Benefits: An employer’s guide” from the Thompson Publishing Group).

Besides being cited in scores of books, magazine, research articles, and Web sites, Steve Bryant and Demian have contributed original articles to the following:

• America’s Diverse Cultures edited by Jane Adams, August 2004; Kendall/Hunt Publishing, 4050 Westmark Drive, Box 1840, Dubuque, Iowa 52004; 563-589-1146; fx 563-589-1038
        Article: Most Compelling Reasons for Legal Marriage by Demian
• Family and Friends Magazine, February 2000; A&P Publications, 1332 Whitewater, Memphis, TN 38117; 901-682-2669
        Article: Legal Precautions, page 49
• Hero Magazine, issue #3, 1999; Hero Magazine, 8581 Santa Monica Blvd., #430, West Hollywood, CA, 90069; 800-464-9229
        Article: Marrying Aparteid, page 42
• SIECUS Report, April 1998 (vol. 26, #4); SIECUS Report, 130 West 42nd St., #350, New York, NY 10036-7802; 212-819-9770 x314
        Article: Terms of Same-Sex Endearment:
        Language has the power to define the dream of equality, page 10
• GoodLife: Mastering the art of everyday living, Utne Reader, edited by Helen Coredes, Jay Walljasper (1997), Utne Reader, 1624 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403; 800-880-8863
        Article: Marriages that Dare Not Speak Their Name, page 31
• Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, Vol. 1, #2, Lawrence Kurdick, ed. (1994); Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580; 800-342-9678
        Article: Relationship Characteristics of American Gay and Lesbian Couples:
        Findings from a National Survey, page 101
        [Full results are available only from Partners. See Orders Page]
• Social Services for Gay and Lesbian Couples, Lawrence Kurdick, ed. (1994); Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580; 800-342-9678.
        Article: Relationship Characteristics of American Gay and Lesbian Couples:
        Findings from a National Survey, page 101
        [Full results are available only from Partners. See Orders Page.]
• Lesbian and Gay Marriage: Private commitments, public ceremonies, edited by Suzanne Sherman (1992), Temple University Press, Philadelphia PA 19122
        Article on Steve Bryant and Demian’s relationship and politics, page 72
• OutLook, National Lesbian & Gay Quarterly, #5 Summer, (1989); (journal now defunct), San Francisco, CA
        Article: Questions for Couples: the results, page 86
• Utne Reader, #42 — The Case Against Divorce (Nov/Dec, 1990); Utne Reader, 1624 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403; 800-880-8863
        Article: Are You Two Still Together?
• 1991 New Age Sourcebook, (1991); New Age Journal, 342 Western Ave, Brighton, MA 02135; 617-787-2005
        Article: Coping in a Straight World, page 24

Please help us continue this effort, as well as to generate new projects. Here is how you can assist us:

• Donate to Partners