These tips are applicable when talking about marriage to a reporter, a neighbor, a community group or in any other situation where your audience is open to hearing about the issue and wants to know your viewpoint.  Whether it is a press interview or a discussion with a neighbor, your goal is much the same – telling your personal story about why access to marriage is important to you so someone outside your circle of friends will hear about the issue and think about it.

Plan Ahead: Figure out in advance your key talking point and what you want to say about your situation and your family.  Run through it several times with another person.

Inspire Yourself: Before talking about marriage equality, spend a few minutes thinking about the issue, its importance to your family and why you are doing this.

Make the Issue Real: One of the most powerful ways you can advocate for yourself and the issue is to speak about how it directly affects you and your family.  Tell YOUR story.  Let the professional advocates talk about the larger implications of what you’re doing, the policies in question and the statistics.  Keep your story personal and genuine.  It’s powerful just as it is.

Be Confident: Speak with conviction and with the knowledge that your voice is just as important as anyone else’s.

Don’t be Afraid to Not Answer a Question: During your talk/interview, you may encounter a question you cannot answer or don’t want to answer.  Don’t be afraid when this happens.

• Saying “I don’t know” to something you don’t know is perfectly acceptable.

• Saying “I’ll get back to you” about a date, a figure or a fact that is specific to your story is also perfectly acceptable.

• Redirecting a question you don’t want to answer and bringing the discussion back to your situation, your family and your key talking point is also important to do.  This keeps you in control and your message front and center. 

• Rehearse doing these a few times when you run through your story with another person.  You’ll see how easy and effective it is!

Thank the Reporter/Person/Audience: At the end of the talk/interview, thank the person for being interested in your story.  If any type of follow-up has been agreed upon, be sure and do this.

And Lastly, Don’t be Afraid to Mention the “L” Word!: During the talk/interview don’t be afraid to talk about the love you have for your children and your partner and the fact that you want to take care of them.  It’s a universal emotion.  It’s powerful and people “get it” when you say it.  Love is love and, at the end of the day, that is what makes your story so understandable and so powerful.