Paul Carey, our MEUSA Multimedia Director, has curated two collections of fantastic June 2015 PRIDE photographs from New York City and San Francisco for your viewing pleasure. And, what PRIDEs they were! In addition to the traditional reasons, these PRIDES were joyful celebrations of the June 26 landmark marriage decision from the U.S. Supreme Court.

New York City PRIDE photos by Paul Carey. 

San Francisco PRIDE photos by Levi Smith Photography.

On 17 March 2015, MEUSA Executive Director Brian Silva and Liberty Counsel's Roger Gannam were featured on Jorge Ramos' show AMERICA on Fusion. Watch the video and read the article: What’s going on with marriage in Alabama? MEUSA Director Brian Silva & Liberty Counsel's Roger Gannam discuss - By AMERICA With Jorge Ramos, Fusion

Fusion is a multi-platform media company that serves ​​​a​ young, diverse, and inclusive ​​millennial generation across its television and digital platforms​ (fusion.net). 

Ellen Pontac and Shelly Bailes are featured in this article and video clip by CBS Sacramento Channel 13. The women are long-time marriage equality activists and MEUSA local organizers.

Ellen Pontac and her partner, Shelly Bailes, have been legally married in California for six years, and together for 41. They’ve worked on the marriage equality movement for 15 years and have seen change. Pontac immediately started decorating her lawn after hearing the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the issue of gay marriage. “I thought I’d never have that much use for these signs again but they’re staying up now,” she said.

For Shelly Bailes and Ellen Pontac, the issue before the nation's highest court is straightforward.

Long-time marriage equality activists, and local MEUSA organizers, Pontac and Bailes are featured in this article and video clip by reporter Dave Marquis, of KXTV News10 ABC TV on the day SCOTUS granted cert to all four 6th Circuit marriage cases, 16 January 2015.

"There are 36 states that have marriage equality. There's only 14 left and 59 percent of the people of the United States believe in marriage equality," Bailes said. "There's really no reason to vote against it."

"It's just equality," Pontac said. "I mean, it's very simple."

The Supreme Court says it will decide whether same-sex couples nationwide have a right to marry under the Constitution. Marriage Equality USA Communications Director Stuart Gaffney and his husband MEUSA Director of Legal & Policy John Lewis are interviewed in this video news story by Brian Shields from KRON Channel 4 in the San Francisco Bay Area, on 16 January 2015.

The justices said Friday they will review an appellate ruling that upheld bans on same-sex unions in four states. The case will be argued in April and a decision is expected by late June. Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee are among the 14 states where gay and lesbian couples are not allowed to marry. The number of states that permit same-sex marriage has nearly doubled in three months as a result of federal and state court rulings. The justices’ decision to turn away same-sex marriage appeals in October allowed some of those rulings to take effect. Florida last week became the 36th state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

"We're really confident since court after court in states across the nation, north, south, east, west, have ruled in favor of the right for same-sex couples to get married, that the Supreme Court's going to look at this and continue that trend," Silva said.

Marriage Equality USA Executive Director Brian Silva is featured in this article and video (at 00:51 and 1:06) on NY1, as reported by Lori Chung on 16 January 2015.

Check out the gallery of photos from our October 2014 screening and panel of History in the Making - featuring Brian Silva, Cathy Marino-Thomas, Christine Quinn, Tom Duane and Fred Anguera - or enjoy them as a slideshow below!

Photos Courtesy of Donna Aceto Photography

We also invite you to enjoy our November 4th MEUSA News Blog article, History in the Making.

As the Multimedia Lead for MEUSA, Paul manages our Flickr and YouTube resources to showcase the past and present stories and work of the organization. He is a professional project/program manager, and has been working in the IT industry for over 25 years. During that time, Paul has been instrumental in corporate changes for the LGBT community, including establishing Employee Resource Groups, Domestic Partner Benefits, developing Leadership Seminars for LGBT employees, developing Recruiting/Mentoring programs, and assisting with Corporate Policy development around LGBT issues.

Externally, Paul has been involved in a number of LGBT and AIDS services organizations, including serving as a board member of a locally based pediatric AIDS foundation, developing IT programs for LGBT youth, and other volunteer engagements.

Paul currently lives in Manhattan with his husband, Juan Carlos Fernández. When in town, they are avid theatre goers, and support non-profit theatre organizations in New York. They enjoy traveling the world (34 countries and counting), enjoying the food and arts of many cultures and documenting their experiences through photography.

Check out the gallery of photos from our 2014 San Francisco Awards Reception - or enjoy them as a slideshow below!

Check out the gallery of photos from our 2014 National Gala in New York - or enjoy them as a slideshow below!