SAVE and Equality Florida Host “Recommitment To Marriage Equality” Celebration on 10th Anniversary
SAVE and Equality Florida Host “Recommitment To Marriage Equality” Celebration on 10th Anniversary
Miami, FL — January marks a decade since we secured marriage equality in Florida, a historic milestone in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. To celebrate, SAVE and Equality Florida are hosting a special event at St. John’s on the Lake in Miami Beach on Sunday, January 5, 2025, from 3 PM to 5 PM.
This gathering will serve as an opportunity to reflect on the progress made, honor those who fought for equality, and recommit to ensuring equal rights for all families in Florida at a time when extremists seek to roll back progress on civil rights.
The event will feature plaintiffs and the legal teams from the landmark lawsuits that helped secure marriage equality in Florida: Equality Florida’s Pareto v. Ruvin and SAVE’s Brenner v. Scott. These courageous individuals played pivotal roles in the fight for justice and will share their experiences in the ongoing journey toward full equality.
“When my husband Jeff and I joined the other plaintiffs in demanding our right to marry ten years ago, we were surprised by how much our story and those of the other couples resonated with the public,” said Todd Delmay, Executive Director of SAVE and former Marriage Equality Plaintiff. “So finally winning the legal cases should have been the last word in bringing the decades-long fight for marriage equality to an end. Ten years later though, this celebration occurs amidst the uncomfortable reality that there are those who now seek to overturn it, just as other rights once considered to be settled law have fallen. Celebrating this milestone anniversary must therefore also be a time of resolve to recommit ourselves and our community to doing whatever it takes to ensure marriage equality remains our essential right.”
“Ten years ago, on the steps of the courthouse, Floridians joined together and proclaimed that love is louder,” said Stratton Pollitzer, Deputy Director of Equality Florida. “At a time when LGBTQ+ children and parents are under relentless attack, this anniversary reminds us why we fight: because our families deserve the same protections that others take for granted. Marriage is more than a symbolic act—it’s a legal safeguard for the people we love. We will continue to defend our community and ensure no one can strip our families of their dignity and rights.”
On January 5, 2015, Florida Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel lifted the stay on her ruling in Pareto v. Ruvin, allowing marriages for same-sex couples to begin in Miami-Dade County. That day, Judge Zabel officiated the marriages of two plaintiff couples in her chambers including Todd Delmay, Executive Director of SAVE, and his now husband Jeff Delmay, Board Co-Chair of Equality Florida, as well as Cathy Pareto and Karla Arguello.
The following day, January 6, 2025, Federal Judge Robert Hinkle’s stay on Brenner v. Scott was lifted, allowing marriages to begin across Florida. More than 1,400 couples exchanged vows in the days that followed, joining countless others in celebrating love and equality—six months before the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling made marriage equality the law of the land nationwide.
Americans from all walks of life value the freedom to marry. According to Gallup, more than two-thirds of Americans (69%) believe marriage for same-sex couples should be legal. Support on this issue has increased by 15 percentage points since 2014 (54%).
The anniversary event will also include remarks from Reverend Kipp Nelson, of St. John’s on the Lake, whose church has been a beacon of support for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. Attendees will enjoy live entertainment by American Idol alum Kimberley Locke and have opportunities to connect with advocates and allies who are committed to protecting equality in the face of ongoing challenges.
Event Details
- What: 10th Anniversary: A Recommitment to Marriage Equality
- When: Sunday, January 5, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Where: St. John’s on the Lake, Miami Beach, FL
- RSVP: https://www.save.lgbt/marriage_equality_10th_anniversary
About SAVE and Equality Florida:
SAVE: SAVE is recognized as South Florida’s longest serving organization dedicated to protecting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) against discrimination. SAVE helps raise awareness about rights and protections for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in South Florida.
Equality Florida: Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and lobbying, we are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.