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s the second anniver-
sary of marriage
equality in .

Massachusetts has recently
passed, it seems an appropriate
moment to salute Gay &
Lesbian Advocates &
Defenders (GLAD), the seven
plaintiff couples who sacri-
ficed their privacy in the name
of equality, as well as
MassEquality, the coalition
that has preserved marriage
after continuous attacks from
the far right. .

Since Nov. 18, 2003 when
the Supreme Judicial Court
ruled that loving gay and les-
bian couples could not be
excluded from the protections
of marriage, so much has
changed. In Massachusetts,
nearly 6,500 couples have
married since it became legal
on May 17, 2004, and the
national debate about equality
for our families shifted on its
axis.

Certainly, those
Massachusetts families are
safer and more secure today
because of marriage. Those
couples now know that they
won’t be shown the door when
their spouse faces a medical
crisis, and mothers and fathers
sleep easier knowing their par-
enthood status is recognized
and honored. But these mar-
riages go beyond the state bor-
der. These families have taught
not only their neighbors but all
Americans an important lesson
about fairness.

The discussion around mar-
riage is more than one of bene-
fits. It’s a discussion about the
type of society we want to live
in. It’s the question of whether
the “certain inalienable rights”
of “life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness” are American
ideals or simply nice ideas. It’s
about what we want to teach
our children.

Annie Goodridge is a good
case in point. Years ago, when
she asked her moms why they
couldn’t get married,rthey did-
n’t have an answer. Yet,
Annie’s simple but profound
question helped ignite a law-
suit that under Mary Bonauto’s
leadership led to the historic

 

Goodridge decision. Annie and
other children,'no matter what
their parentage, know that
Massachusetts values equality
and fairness. She and her
schoolmates know that her par-
ents are valued and recognized

Two-Years of Fairness
in Massachusetts

boasts the lowest divorce rate
in the country. Elected officials
have grown along with voters
as demonstrated by the over-
whelming rejection this year of
a constitutional amendment
banning same—sex marriage.
But as we celebrated the
second anniversary of the
Goodridge decision, we
remember that we have a lot of
work ahead. In Massachusetts,
opponents have crafted a sec-
ond marriage ban for the 2008
ballot. And nationwide, the far
right wing is twisting marriage
equality to scare voters and
legislators from enacting even
the most basic protections for
the lgbt community. It didn’t
work in Maine this November,
but it did in Texas. We must be-

In Massachusetts, 8 
nearly 6,500 couples
have married since

it became legal on
May 17, 2004, and the  
national debate about
equality for our fami- p
lies shifted on its axis.

members of the community.
And these children have
learned that democracy works
best when it applies to every-
one.

The Goodridge decision has
taught us all. Much to our
opponents’ dismay, no mar-
riage has been negatively
affected by Annie’s parents
having full rights under law.
The dire predictions of anti-
gay activists have not come to
pass — much like they withered
away in Vermont after civil
unions were enacted.

In fact, a majority of
Massachusetts citizens now
support marriage equality, and
interestingly, Massachusetts

ever vigilant and continue to
tell our stories to our families,
friends and colleagues.

As Martin Luther King Jr.
said, “Let us realize the arc of
the moral universe is long, but
it bends toward justice.” We
have seen legalized discrimina-
tion defeated through ground-
breaking court decisions, and
Goodridge now stands among
them. The are is bending
toward justice, and Massachu-
setts is ahead of the curve. V

Seth Kilbourn is Vice President
of the Human Rights Cam-
paign ’s Marriage Project.