Where were you?
I was living in Vienna, Austria five years ago when I heard that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court had ruled to end marriage discrimination in my home state. As a Mass. native, I always had the iTunes radio on my laptop tuned to WBUR (I listened to Car Talk to alleviate homesickness—in addition to incessant replaying of Good Will Hunting—but I digress).
I got goose bumps when I heard Chief Justice Margaret Marshall’s words: “The Massachusetts Constitution affirms the dignity and equality of all individuals. It forbids the creation of second-class citizens. In reaching our conclusion we have given full deference to the arguments made by the Commonwealth. But it has failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason for denying civil marriage to same-sex couples.” Then the tears began.
I cried at my desk that day—for the history GLAD had made, for pride in my home state, and most of all for the thousands of families whose lives would be better after the Goodridge case. As someone whose job it is to tell the stories of people who are still fighting for marriage equality, in that respect not much has changed. I am still moved every day by the work GLAD does, and am so proud I have the chance to be a part of it.