AASP - National Advertising Campaign -- Wall Street Journal

RESOURCES FOR UNMARRIED PEOPLE ORGANIZATIONS

	Marshall Miller, Tom Coleman, Dorian Solot
About The Alternatives to Marriage Project The Alternatives to Marriage Project is a national organization for unmarried people. We provide support and information to people who choose not to marry, are prevented from marrying, or are among the majority of people who live together before marriage. We work for greater understanding and acceptance of unmarried people. We are not against marriage. But we believe that unmarried relationships also deserve validation and support. People may be pressured to marry by their families, friends, and communities. They may also face marital status discrimination. We oppose this unfair treatment and advocate for the equal rights of unmarried people. There are over eleven million unmarried people living with a partner in the United States today, and this number continues to grow. Millions more are not currently in relationships or do not live with their partner, and have no plans to marry. There are many reasons people chose not to get married. Some people, like same-sex couples and those in relationships of more than two people, are not legally allowed to marry. The Alternatives to Marriage Project is open to everyone, including singles, couples, married people, people in relationships with more than two people, and people of all genders and sexual orientations. We welcome our married supporters, who are among the many friends, relatives, and allies of unmarried people. Our History: The Alternatives to Marriage Project was founded in 1998 by Marshall Miller and Dorian Solot, a long-term couple who had decided not to get married. They were surprised and frustrated by the enormous pressure to marry and discrimination that they experienced. After several years of discussion, dreaming, and research, they decided to take action. The initial response to the organization was very positive, and our numbers continue to grow. Marshall and Dorian have become experts on the issues facing unmarried people, building on their own experiences by interviewing hundreds of unmarried people and studying the research on marriage and cohabitation. In its first two years, ATMP has gained over 2000 members representing 49 states and over two dozen countries, and has appeared in the media over 100 times. Our Services: ATMP's services fall into four main categories: Networking Before ATMP, there was no organized movement to provide social and support networks for people in unmarried relationships. We seek to fill this need by helping people connect with others through a newsletter and e-mail discussion list. To be added to either list, go to our Stay in Touch page. Advocacy ATMP supports policies and legislation that affirm unmarried relationships, and organizes people to speak out against discrimination on the basis of marital status. We are a resource for politicians addressing public policy issues that will affect unmarried people. We also advocate for the implementation of domestic partner policies in the workplace and can provide assistance to employees and employers. Education and Media ATMP works to dispel erroneous and misguided myths that invalidate our relationships. We are a resource for journalists seeking information for news stories. We also give workshops and presentations on issues relating to unmarried relationships -- let us know if your group would like to invite us to speak. Resource Library ATMP has a library of books, news clippings, and other materials about the issues facing people in unmarried relationships. Please contact us if you have information that may be useful, or if you are seeking information on a given topic. We also have resource list online and books available for sale.