For Immediate Release

January 18, 2004

DontAmend Tampa Bay

Contact:

R. Zeke Fread

Coordinator & Organizer

dontamend@tampabay.rr.com

DontAmend Tampa Bay Announces 'Freedom to Marry Week' of Action Rally

DontAmend Tampa Bay, in conjunction with The Equality Campaign, DontAmend.com, Marriage Equality California,

Marriage Equality USA, and Metropolitan Community Churches, who have launched pro-active, pro-equal marriage

campaign of local educational events, protests of anti-gay officials and other activities culminating in a nationwide

day of rallies and other events for same sex marriage for National 'Freedom to Marry Week' of Actions for February

9th -15th, 2004.

DontAmend Tampa Bay's Valentines Day of Action Rally will coincide with 'Freedom to Marry Week' of Action,

rallies and related events to be held at Appleton, Wisconsin, Atlanta, Georgia, Brevard, Florida, Chicago, Illinois,

Clinton, Iowa (Quad Cities), Columbia, South Carolina, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Des Moines, Iowa,

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Ithaca, New York, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Little Rock, Arkansas, Sacramento, California,

Seattle, Washington, Tucson, Arizona, Washington, DC, West Palm Beach, Florida and Williamsburg, Virginia.

DATE: Valentines Day: Saturday, February 14, 2004

LOCATION: Lowery Park, Picnic Shelter 115, 7525 North Boulevard, Tampa, Florida

TIME: 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.

NOTE: Covered picnic table seating is available for up to one-hundred and twenty eight people. So, bring your whole

family, a picnic basket, blanket and make an afternoon of it.

Join With Members of the GLBT Community and Our Friends to Celebrate Same-Sex Relationships and Support

Marriage Equality. And to Show Our Opposition to the "Federal Marriage Amendment".

Scheduled speakers and topics to date are: Rev. Phyllis Hunt, Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa,

marriage equality and has offered to perform commitment ceremonies at the rally. Civil rights activists, Carrie Ross-Stone and Elisia Ross-Stone of Rainbow Law, an LGBT legal education service, on the, Get "All Your Ducks in a Row" equality awareness campaign, why we deserve civil marriage rights and what each of us can do in the coming year to make equality happen. Representative from Equality Florida to speak on statewide efforts for legal recognition of our families and the right

of all people to choose civil marriages

DontAmend Tampa Bay is also seeking other local GLBT Organizations to co-sponsor the rally, volunteers to help

organize and promote the rally and GLBT Community Leaders and Same-Sex Partners who may wish to speak at

the rally.

Detailed directions, map and information available at: http://www.tampabaycoalition.com/dontamend.html. If you have

any questions, wish to help organize or speak at the rally, please, contact Co-Organizers R. Zeke Fread and Alan