On May 17, 2004, Peg and I legally married in Brookline, MA. We believe that the right to marry the person of one's choice is a human right. This issue is important to us, and we hope to stem the backlash and help the United States catch up with progress made in many countries around the world.  

MassEquality
Robyn is on the Board of Directors of this very important organization. We achieved a major victory on June 14, 2007 when we won a 3 1/2 year fight to defeat a constitutional amendment in the legislature, 151-45! We need to hold the ground we have gained by making sure that supportive legislators are re-elected and by making sure a new amendment is not re-introduced.

MassEquality's agenda:
= Protecting marriage equality in Massachusetts
= Helping other New England states achieve marriage equality
= Promoting a Massachusetts Equality Agenda

Please click here to find out what more about MassEquality and you can do to help.


June 14, 2007 - Massachusetts:
A major victory for marriage equality!

On November 4thm 2008, California voters, in a 52% to 48%, vote, decided that same-sex couples are not equal citizens. It is unclear at this time what this means for the 18,000 couples who have already married, and whether the amendment can be overturned in the courts, or whether it must be overturned by the voters. Justice will untimately prevail. My heart goes out to the people of California. Visit the website of Equality California for more information.

"People often ask why Massachusetts is so out of step with the rest of the Nation.  And I say that we are as out of step today as we were at the village green of Lexington and Concord, we are as out of step today as we were when Boston was the center of the abolitionist movement, or as out as step as we were when the first woman’s rights convention convened in my home town of Worcester. Massachusetts has always been the conscience of the nation, that is our role."
--Massachusetts State Senator Ed Augustus at the Constitutional Convention, September 14, 2005

"Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don't think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the "wrong kind of person" for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights.

"I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all about."

--Statement by Mildred Loving, plaintiff in Loving v. Virginia the Supreme Court case that struck down race restrictions on the freedom to marry, on the 40th anniversary of this landmark case, June 12, 2007 (read the full statement here)

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
These are the folks who have brought us equal marriage in Massachusetts and civil unions in Vermont. New England’s leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression. Providing litigation, advocacy, and educational work in all areas of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights and the rights of people living with HIV, GLAD has a full-time legal staff and a network of cooperating attorneys across New England. Lots of great information on this website.

Freedom to Marry
A national US organization working to win marriage equality nationwide. Freedom to Marry encourages dialogue with Americans thinking through the need to end discrimination in marriage, provides support to targeted state and local efforts, and promotes fairness for all families, including same-sex couples and the children raised by gay parents. By working to secure equal access to civil marriage licenses from the government, we help reinforce our country's historic commitment to freedom, the pursuit of happiness, and equal justice for all.

 
Lambda Legal
A national legal group committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of, and combating the discrimination against, the GLBT community and people with HIV/AIDS, through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.
HomoWeddings.com
Website based in the Netherlands that collects articles about marriage equality throughout the world.

If you live in the United States and want to locate your state's equality group, ask Google: type in the word "equality" and the name of your state and your state's group will show up. Magic! And they need your help -- get on their email list, if you can, send money to support their work, and when they ask people to contact your elected representatives, please do so.

See an inspiring article and video
about Robyn & Peg's May 17th wedding
on Washingtonpost.com.

Find out how to DEFEND Robyn & Peg's marriage!

On September 4th, 2004, Robyn & Peg celebrated with family & friends. View the powerpoint presentation that they showed to tell the story of their wedding and to celebrate the 31 other friends present who had married since May 17, 2004.

What's going on around the world? Lots!

AROUND THE WORLD YEAR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
Denmark Registered Partnerships 1989    
Norway Registered Partnerships 1993    
Sweden Registered Partnerships 1994    
Hungary Domestic Partnerships 1995    
Iceland Registered Partnerships 1996    
France Civil solidarity pacts 1999 Hawaii, USA Reciprocal Partnership Benefits. Info: Hawaii Gay Marriage.
Brazil Stable Partnerships 2000 Vermont, USA Civil Unions. Info: Equality Vermont
Germany Life Partnerships 2001    
The Netherlands Marriage Equality      
Portugal Civil Unions      
Finland Registered Partnerships 2002    
Belium Marriage Equality 2003    
Croatia Domestic Partnerships      
New Zealand Civil Unions 2004 Massachusetts, USA Marriage equality. Info: MassEquality
Switzerland Domestic Partnerships   New Jersey, USA Domestic Partnerships (see also below!)
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul Civil Unions      
Luxembourg Civil Unions      
Canada Marriage Equality 2005 California, USA Domestic Partnerships . Info: Equality California
Spain Marriage Equality   Connecticut, USA Civil Unions. Info: Love Makes a Family
United Kingdom Civil Partnerships      
Czech Republic Civil Partnerships 2006 Washington, DC, USA Domestic Partnerships. Info: DC for Marriage
South Africa Marriage Equality      
Australia, Australian Capital Territory Civil Unions      
Slovenia Civil Partnerships      
Mexico, DF (Mexico City) Civil Unions, Nov. 2006      
Coahuila, Mexico Civil Unions, Jan. 2007 in this northern state bordering Texas 2007    
      New Jersey, USA Civil Unions. info: Garden State Equality.
Colombia Feb 2007: court rules same-sex couples entitled to inheritance /property rights; June 2007: Colombia's Congress passes legislation giving same-sex couples most of the same rights as opposite-sex married couples, including social security & inheritance. President Alvaro Uribe says he will sign the bill into law.      
Israel Highest court rules November 2006 to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other countries. First marriage recognized February 2007.      
Switzerland Civil Unions 2008 New Hampshire, USA Civil Unions passed April 2007. Went into effect January 2008. Info: NH Freedom to Marry Coalition.
      Washington State, USA statewide "domestic registry" law passed in the House and in the Senate in April 2007 and will go into effect January 2008. Info: Equal Rights Washington.
Uruguay Civil union legislation offering unmarried couples of any sex property ownership & inheritance rights takes effect January 1, 2008.   Oregon, USA Domestic partnership law passed May 2007, and went into effect February 2008. Currently on hold pending litigation. Info: Basic Rights Oregon.
Hungary Civil partnerships go into effect January 1, 2008.   California, USA On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Judicial Court ruled for marriage equality !!! On November 4th the voters passsed a constitutional amendment denying same-sex couples equality under the law. Domestic partnerships remain in place. The status of the 18,000 marriages already conducted in Califronia is unclear. Info: Equality California.
Norway On June 11, Norway became 6th country with full marriage equality, by a vote of an overwhelming majority of the legislature   Connecticut, USA On October 16, 2008, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled for equal marriage in Connecticut, making Connecticut the 3rd US state with marriage equality ! On November 12th, 2008 the first marriages took place. GO CONNECTICUT!
Nepal Nepal's Supreme Court has ordered the government to scrap laws that discriminate against homosexuals. The court ordered that sexual minorities should be guaranteed the same rights as other citizens. Presumably, this will include marriage equality!      
what's next? ... your country or city here?       last updated May 2008