Harry Potter and Support for Gay Marriage in Maine

categories: Gay Marriage, LGBT Entertainment, Marriage Equality, No on 1

Published October 15, 2009 @ 02:24PM PT

Harry Potter

A group of Harry Potter fans want to make sure that if Dumbledore were a real, living character, he would have the right to marry in Maine. That's why the Harry Potter Alliance, a non-profit based in Massachusetts, is coordinating an effort in Maine to urge voters in the state to vote No on Question 1 and preserve marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

The Harry Potter Alliance is dedicated to bringing the themes from the seven "Harry Potter" books into the real world. Among those themes include tolerance, acceptance, love, and fighting the "Dark Arts" of the world. That includes the type of bigotry that comes along with ballot initiatives that repeal basic civil rights for LGBT people.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Harry Potter Alliance will hold two benefit concerts for marriage equality, and participate in a phone bank for the No on 1 campaign.

“The parallels in Harry Potter around equal rights, including marriage equality, abound,” Andrew Slack, the Harry Potter Alliance director, told WSJ.

That's pretty awesome. Now if we can just figure out a way to get fans of "Twilight" to support marriage equality, it shouldn't be long until gay marriage is the most popular thing on the planet.

(Photo courtesy of mirvettium's photostream on Flickr.)

Share this Post

Comments (28)

Accio equality for all with harm to none.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/15/2009 @ 02:58PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Thomas
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
It's good that the Harry Potter Alliance has formed to support the right of same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage must never be on a ballot, thus every state must create a law which would prohibit the use of a ballot for the use of tampering with LGBT rights. It's also good that the Harry Potter Alliance will hold concerts and go to phone banks to get people in Maine to vote no on the ballot. As a sometimes occasional reader of Harry Potter, the themes are correct.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/15/2009 @ 05:29PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Edwin
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
How awesome and wonderful for a group of fans to take this incredible book series, and tun it into such a beautiful movement. Yay equal rights!

Posted by Marcy Hogan on 10/15/2009 @ 06:08PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Marcy
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
This is wonderful! I applaud these fans for taking the messages of the series into "the real world". My spouse LOVES Harry Potter and is thrilled to see fans not only promoting the books and films but taking their message and spreading it to the public.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/15/2009 @ 07:08PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ioan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Its excellent that we're going to be getting some more support of HP fans, but in a way, this makes me sad.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to hear it, its just that they should be doing it because its right, not because a character in a book they like is gay.

Posted by Paul Hockhousen on 10/16/2009 @ 12:10AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
They are doing it because it's right. They support tolerance, peace, and equality. They have book drives and events raising money for various causes. Causes they tyically work with and care about are climate change, genocide, poverty, GLBT rights, literacy, et cetera.

http://www.thehpalliance.org/

Posted by Daniel Davis on 10/16/2009 @ 07:33AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Im of the opinion that theyre doing it for both reasons.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/16/2009 @ 07:41AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Paul
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
This is great. On top of the extra support we can see even more crazies now trying to burn J.k.'s books and getting mocked for it like before. This is such a win win. LOL

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/16/2009 @ 08:14AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Yep although I think they were trying to censor her even before this...

Oh well...If harry and his posse could whup lord voldemort's butt then the bible thumpers oughta be easy pickings for them...Lol.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/16/2009 @ 08:59AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Chris
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I'm so happy that this has been announced :) I'm in the HPA, and I'm bisexual, so this means an extra amount to me!

Posted by Cíara Molloy on 10/16/2009 @ 08:52AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Cíara
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
when are homosexuals going to attack the governments authority to regulate marriage at all? rights cannot be granted by government, only privileges. where in the constitution is government granted the authority to license marriage?

Posted by dave thomas on 10/16/2009 @ 02:02PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by dave
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Adorable!

Posted by Kristen Ridley on 10/16/2009 @ 02:53PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Kristen
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Get over yourself, Dave. You fundies don't like Harry Potter, either, so what do you care what the HPA does? Don't give me that crap that marriage is a priviledge. It is a right which all heterosexuals expect to take advantage of. The only time it is spoken of as a priviledge is when some fundie gets his knickers in a twist that LGBTQ people might be able to

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/16/2009 @ 04:56PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
perhaps reading comprehension is not one of your strengths. i merely stated that nowhere in the constitution is the regulation of marriage one of the governments enumerated powers. my suggestion was to stop asking the government permission for a privilege that is not theirs to grant. freedom is an issue that even those opposed to your lifestyle should be able to rally around. re-frame the argument from one of "gay rights" into freedom for all. that was my point. whatever my personal feelings regarding gay marriage might be are of no consequence when individual liberty is the battle. support your constitution, support freedom.

Posted by dave thomas on 10/18/2009 @ 01:35PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Mr. thomas...

There are actually 2 different forms of marriage...

Secular and religious.

Whether the constitution says anything about marriage being a goverment institution is irrelevant considering that its through secular goverment that we get all sorts of benifits and costs that are associated with marriage...

Then theres the religious version which amounts to nothing more than a priest or other type of minister saying "I bless this union in the name of so and so"

Now...Speaking of the constitution...And more specificly the first amendment...Seems to me that the fundemental christians have been ignoring that amendment by trying to legislate their "morality" into secular law and by having put "In god we trust" on secular money so of course ya'll are now gonna try and make marriage completely your own by claiming the goverment has no constitutional power over it.

If that were so then what were they basing their decision on when the judge ruled in 1967 that inter-racial marriage was legal and right ?

One more thing mr. thomas...

Sexual orientation isnt a lifestyle.

It doesnt matter if your talking about heterosexuality, bisexuality or homosexuality...

None of those orientations are lifestyles.

They are innate qualities that folks are born with.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/19/2009 @ 01:42AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Mr. McHugh,

What would the benfits of secular marriage be if we were not taxed on our labor, as was intended by our Constitution? I am not trying to "make marriage my own" by claiming anything. I am trying to say that two consenting adults do not need the blessings of government to enter into a mutually beneficial contract. Is your goal only to reap financial gain? I am not sure what you think marriage is. So sorry that my nonPC use of the word "lifestyle" offended you so, try being a little tolerant of those outside your group. Good luck getting that Catholic church wedding legislated in your favor.

Posted by dave thomas on 10/20/2009 @ 03:16PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Mr. thomas...

Taxed on labor ?

What labor and what does labor have to do with marriage ?

I'll agree with you that I dont need goverment blessings to make my marriage (If I was married) to my GIRLFRIEND meaningfull...And I'll do you one better...I also wouldnt need the blessings of any church for that.

My HETEROSEXUAL relationship with my GIRLFRIEND is every bit as meaningfull to me as ANY good loving same sex relationship would be to those in the L.G.B.T. community.

Its about the right for any 2 consenting adults to get married whether they would or wouldnt.

As for financial gain...I fail to see how I would fail to gain financialy if I dont charge couples to marry them.

Ministers should be willing to perform their ceremonial duties without charge and if the recipients of those services insisted on paying then the minister is moraly obligated not to take advantage of that fact above and beyond what would be agreed on as an equal exchange.

For one who thinks I should be more tolerant...You should talk.

By the way...Just in case my purposely bold words didnt make it clear to you...

Im a HETEROSEXUAL ordained wiccan minister and a proud ally of the L.G.B.T. community.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/21/2009 @ 04:39AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
It is because you are Wiccan Thomas that makes it so hard for people like Dave to understand that in the United States which is supposedly a secular nation, *cough bullshit cough,* all religions must be treated equally. Since most anti-gay davidist (davidist = Christians, Jews, and Muslims) feel that because their idea of religion has been around for so long that it some how takes precedent over all other forms of religion.

If that is the case well then... Wicca, a more religious version of European witchcraft, which descended from ancient paganism, has been around for more than 10,000 years. Even better, witches and pagans have never withheld marriage ceremonies and blessing from same sex couples within those 10,000 years.

If you wonder, Dave Thomas, if the Pagon religion has be around for so long and allows normal people (that includes LGBT) to get married, then why is such a religion hardly ever noticed? Well that's a simple question. Fear, depravity, and destruction make for great historical constructs and leave a wide footprint. While the Pagan religions that descended into Wicca are peaceful and altruistic, on the Davidic side there is no shortage of depravity, destruction, and fear to mark down in history. Peace and altruism only come to the Davidic religions after they have conquered, slaughtered and converted the land they stole from natives into their perverse and evil lifestyle of conquest, war, and blood-lust for an evil god. That evil god is Yahweh the god of the Davidic dogmas.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/21/2009 @ 05:36AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Thank you for explaining mr. marshall...

Its always good to learn new things.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/21/2009 @ 04:10PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
what in the H$LL are you guys babbling about? where have i stated that i am against gay marriage? what i did say was that the government has no business regulating marriage. i also said that NO MATTER WHAT MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE MIGHT BE, individual liberty trumps my "lifestyle" choices. mr. mchugh referred to the privileges that come with secular marriage, which is why i inquired about the tax advantages. mr. mc hugh, thank you for the bold declaration of your sexual orientation. in case you missed it again, i don't care which way you swing, it's NONE OF MY BUSINESS. I AM ONLY AS FREE AS YOU ARE. individual liberty is my goal. hence my annoying reference to the constitution. for goodness sakes, show me where i lost you.

Posted by dave thomas on 10/21/2009 @ 08:24PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ioan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
join what they see as some exclusive club.

You still cannot tell me what harm letting LGBTQ people marry. What immediate harm to YOU or your loved ones. You can't because there aren't any. The bottom line is you want to keep LGBTQ people from enoying the very things you take for granted.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/16/2009 @ 04:58PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ioan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
That would be great for Gay Marriage to be the most popular thing. I hope this idea influences people to be for Gay Marriage.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 10/17/2009 @ 05:41AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Martin
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I just visited their website...

The harry potter alliance does more than just fight for equality...They also do magical acts of kindness to further help make mama earth a better place to live.

Free cyber butterbeers for all... :)

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/17/2009 @ 10:34AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 2 people like this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Thomas
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Now that rocks, Thomas!

Dave, no one here has any thought that a Catholic wedding should be legislated. We want civil marriage and all the responsibilites and rights that come with it. Why on earth would any self-respecting GLBTQ person want a Catholic wedding.

Oh and so sorry that you think that financial advantages should be for straights only.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/20/2009 @ 11:34PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Thanks miss lightoller.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/21/2009 @ 04:42AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ioan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
You are more than welcome!

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/21/2009 @ 06:17AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ioan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Thanks for pointing some important things out, Thomas. Christianity does not, ipso facto, have to be cruel and hateful. That certainly isn't what Jesus taught. But you have people that consider themselves as being better just because they are Christian and straight. Doesn't work that way.

I think many people are finding their way to Paganism and Wicca because these religions teach kindess and tolerance, along with a respect for Nature, which Davidic religions do not. The irony is that humans are supposed to be STEWARDS for their god. At least that was my understanding when I was still Christian.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/21/2009 @ 09:52AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
I believe your right miss lightoller.

Blessed be to you and your wife.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/21/2009 @ 04:12PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ioan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.