Why Gay Marriage Matters - Kate Kendell September 14, 2009

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Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/09/09/RIGHTS_Kate_Kendell_on_Gay_Rights_in_America

Kate Kendell, leader of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, discusses her involvement in promoting marriage equality and expands on why a legally recognized marriage should be considered a basic human right, despite sexual orientation.

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Kate Kendell is presenting at Momentum 2009 on the Rights plenary: At the heart of our invocation of rights lies a belief in our shared humanity. Our society can reach its fullest potential only if everyone is at the table.

How can we enact a truly inclusive social contract? This plenary explores how to confront and dismantle punitive policies that alienate those outside centers of power.

Kendell's momentum: "I am inspired by the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: 'We gain strength, courage, and confidence when we stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.'" - Momentum Conference

Kate Kendell leads the National Center for Lesbian Rights, a legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. In 1994 she joined NCLR as legal director, and was named executive director two years later.

Known for her work as lead counsel in California's historic marriage case, as well as the ensuing lawsuit challenging California's Prop 8 ballot initiative, Kendell and NCLR have propelled the issues facing the LGBT community from marriage equality to immigration policy to center stage in our nation's discussion of civil rights.