Inspired by the idea of a 12-year-old girl, youth leaders from several national organizations have launched #OurTurnNow, a social media campaign “to raise youth voices in support of nationwide marriage equality.”
The campaign is asking youth “to creatively express their views on marriage equality” and to share “messages of love and support, selfies, or photos of their same-sex-headed families” through April 28, using the #OurTurnNow hashtag. On April 28th, they plan “a social media storm where youth can stand in solidarity with those on the ground rallying for marriage equality throughout the United States.”
The initiative started as a Valentine’s Day idea of 12-year-old Abigail Hasting-Tharp and some of her friends in Oregon, said the campaign in a press release. They wanted to send the U.S. Supreme Court justices Valentine’s Day cards to encourage them to support love. The Court will hear arguments on marriage equality on April 28.
Pressed for time before Valentine’s Day, however, the young people instead reached out with an even bigger vision to other youth groups, and are now working with COLAGE, One Million Kids for Equality, the Family Equality Council’s Outspoken Generation, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and The Rainbow Letters. They are receiving advising support from a number of leading LGBTQ organizations, including Marriage Equality USA, Family Equality Council, GLAAD, GLSEN, The Personal Stories Project, and Our Family Coalition.
Youth organizing has long been a force for social change. I’m delighted to see it making waves yet again.
