Looking for a concrete, meaningful project to engage activists in your state? Consider helping to grow the list of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Or use the list to help find allies in key districts you may be targeting for nondiscrimination campaigns.

Three years ago, Freedom to Marry started the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry project to gather support from mayors nationwide who support marriage for same-sex couples in their states.

Since then, nearly 500 mayors from more than 40 states have signed on to Mayors for the Freedom to Marry in support of ending marriage discrimination at all levels of government. And just this week the most recent mayor, Mayor David Garcia of Waveland, Mississippi, signed on, becoming the first mayor in Mississippi to announce support for marriage for same-sex couples.

Support for marriage is increasing among leaders in the most critical states — but your organization can still encourage more mayors to sign on in your community.

At the Federation, we are firm believers in the importance of local, incremental work and how that work can be leveraged for statewide action. For states that have achieved marriage, signing on local elected officials broadens and deepens support. For states where statewide marriage won’t happen until the Supreme Court rules, this is a way to engage your supporters and build allies as we all wait on the courts.

If your work is focused on nondiscrimination, Freedom to Marry’s list may also be helpful to you. Use the list to find mayors in your state who are publicly supporting marriage but may not yet be on record in support of local or statewide nondiscrimination protections. Chances are, if they’ve gone on record for marriage, they’re far more likely to support other LGBT issues.

If you look at Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, you’ll see the supporting mayors listed in alphabetical order. If you click on the interactive “Light up the Map” feature, you can see those mayors listed by state, as well as some target mayors you might want to reach out to.

We know from our work that mayors are often trusted messengers who are able to bridge the partisan divide and bring conflicted legislators on board. So as you look to your state capitol for political support, don’t forget to also look closer to home as well.