Reintroducing David Equality Watters

You know how, if we’re really passionate about something – say, gardening – we might say, “Gardening is my middle name”? Well, “Equality” is David Watters’ middle name – literally!

David tells how he legally added “Equality” to his name at the age of 40. “To me it was symbolic and something that I did to mark my 40th year on the planet – 40 years of inequality – and to remind myself that there is still work to be done. I believe that those who have inserted ‘Equality’ into their online profile names are also making it clear to others that victory in the battle for equal rights is still some way off. It opens conversation and debate too.”

We at 10,000 Couples first got to know David last fall when he shared news about the Equal Love Campaign in the UK – an effort to obtain a legal ruling that neither marriage nor civil partnership should be limited by a couple’s gender(s) or sexual orientation(s). Throughout 2011, David is contributing to 10,000 Couples, introducing us to the eight couples who have filed applications “in the European Court of Human Rights to overturn the twin bans on same-sex civil marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships” (Peter Tatchell). See David’s first couple-profile here.

David is also author of the forthcoming book Never Blend In: The Legacy of Harvey Milk, featuring key voices from the LGBT community with the goal of inspiring and encouraging “those who may lack self-esteem or who question their validity” (NBI Associates website)

By Heidi Mann, Associate Editor

Rev. Heidi Mann serves as Associate Editor, copy-editor, "Someone You MUST Know" feature author, and all around "God send" for 10,000 Couples. She is also a freelancer and owns Final Touch Proofreading and Editing, LLC. Heidi has been something of a wordsmith in various contexts throughout her life, from junior high, when she first started writing poetry; through high school, college, and graduate school, where writing skills came in very handy; and on through 13+ years of ministry as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a role in which she wrote regularly for sermons, newsletters, and correspondence. Heidi lives in the tiny and delightful town of Hendrum, Minn., with her husband, 2 young sons, and 4 mischievous cats.

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