Yesterday, two rulings by the Supreme Court paved a path of progress in the fight for marriage equality.We all know the work doesn’t stop at marriage equality; there is much to be done to achieve full equity for everyone in the LGBT community. We are hopeful that, as a field, we can take advantage of the current momentum to continue to advance equity.
That said, these two historic milestones are a result of countless individuals and groups who decided to take action. Roger Doughty, Executive Director of Horizons Foundation, in this very inspiring letter, points to the millions who have taken an action to fight for marriage equality. We hope that this will inspire you to take action to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in your work! Be on the right side of history.
The work goes on, but for now, we celebrate.
Dear Friends,
We won!
By now you’ve heard thegreat and grand news: the Supreme Court has struck down DOMA and restored the right to marry for California same-sex couples. This day, June 26, 2013, joins a handful of others as truly historic, world-changing milestones on our long road to justice, dignity, and freedom.
At last
At last, survivors like Edie Windsor will be spared having to deal with rank discrimination while grieving their partners’ loss. At last, binational couples – thousands and thousands of them – will be able to sponsor their spouses for green cards, and the stain on our nation’s laws known as the Defense of Marriage Act will be erased.
And, yes, at last, after five years of struggle, loving couples from San Diego to Modesto to Eureka – and all points in between – will be able to choose to marry.
And, yes, oh happy words to write: The insult to all of us – LGBT people and all lovers of fairness and freedom – that was Proposition 8 is dead.
I remember another end-of-term Supreme Court decision, now 27 years ago, when the court upheld anti-sodomy laws in the infamous Bowers v. Hardwick case. I remember so easily the rage that I felt upon hearing the news.
Today is so, so blessedly different. Today, we have not one, but two, splendid legal victories. And they’re much more than simply courtroom triumphs. The process of litigating these cases – and the other challenges to DOMA in particular – that turned America into a countrywide classroom in which the absurdity and wrongfulness of DOMA and Prop 8 were there for all to see.
All of us, together
All of us at Horizons Foundation extend many, many congratulations to these cases’ plaintiffs, their attorneys, and the legal teams. They have helped make history.
History, however, has been made by every single one of us who has donated, marched, persuaded, protested, written, canvassed, voted, lobbied, educated, spoken out, or litigated to move LGBT people down this road to justice, dignity, and freedom. History happened today – and in all the thousands of days and hours and minutes of hard work, generosity, vision, and commitment that led to today.
We all have a great deal – a grand deal – to be proud of.
With profound gratitude and in deepest pride,
Roger Doughty,
Executive Director
Tags: action, LGBTQ, social justice
