The Rev. Al Sharpton, GOP strategist
Margaret Hoover and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo
are among those expected to speak outside the U.S. Supreme Court on
Tuesday as it considers the first of two cases related to gay
marriage.
The court will hear oral arguments
Tuesday in a case challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8,
a constitutional amendment approved by California voters in 2008
which defines marriage as a heterosexual union. The following day,
Wednesday, the court will consider a challenge to the Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA), which prevents the federal government from
recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
The United for Marriage rally will kick
off at 8:30AM outside the Supreme Court.
Ayanbadejo told gay weekly the
Washington Blade that he is “excited” to speak at the
rally.
“I've gone out to the polls and
passed out fliers and done stuff like that, but I've never spoken in
front of a courthouse or in any type of rally ever before,”
Ayanbadejo
said Monday. “This is sort of uncharted territory for me.”
(Related: Brendon
Ayanbadejo: We're “laying the foundation” for an openly gay NFL
player.)
Also expected to speak are Republican
strategist David Frum, Outserve-SLDN Executive Director Allyson
Robinson, Bishop V. Gene Robinson and Washington National Cathedral
dean Gary Hall.