EDGE on the Net

Michael Crawford, co-founder of DC for Marriage and chair of the organization during its fight for marriage equality in the District, is taking his work to the national level. He announced last week that he would leave Washington for New York City, where he’ll serve as director of new media for Freedom to Marry.

’’My job is really all about developing innovative and creative ways to use the Internet to really build the marriage movement,’’ he says.

That includes ’’energizing people,’’ and referring them to marriage-equality efforts and events in their local community.

Though Crawford has already started doing that as of Jan. 1, he’s hoping to find a residence in New York sometime this month. But Crawford says he will be back in the D.C.-area frequently to continue to work on promoting other marriage-equality efforts.

Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, says Crawford stood out among the many applicants who sought the position because of his ’’powerful blend of skill and flair in mobilizing people through the web.

’’I have worked with Michael on the fight to win marriage in [D.C.], and have really admired the work he’s done, particularly in raising the visibility of African-American families and voices in support of marriage.’’

Crawford says he got involved with marriage equality after befriending several same-sex couples living in D.C. who are denied the protections that accompany a legal marriage.

’’And ultimately,’’ he adds, ’’I want to get married myself one day.’’

For more on Freedom to Marry, visit freedomtomarry.org.