Yesterday, the Massachusetts Supreme Court issued a decision making it the first US State to recognize equal marriage rights for lesbian and gay partners. The court held that the state of Massachusetts did not show a rational basis or legitimate state purpose for denying civil marriage rights to same-sex couples.

It's been almost 40 years since the Supreme Court of the United States proclaimed that "the freedom to marry belongs to all Americans . . . and is essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by a free people."  - Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1, 1967.

Those eloquent and uplifting words were written way back in 1967 to compel the state of Virginia to abolish it's ban on interracial marriages.  Could the Massachusetts decision be the light at the end of the long tunnel for LGBT Americans"

Things are definitely looking up, but don't get too cozy -- it's going to be a bumpy ride to full equality.

The Massachusetts case, along with the ordination of the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop and a United States Supreme Court judgment declaring sodomy laws unconstitutional, have really lit the fire under the opposition. They are desperate and will stop at nothing to "preserve the sanctity of heterosexual marriage."

At the top of their "to-do" list is a push for an amendment to the US Constitution that would forever deny marriage rights to same-sex partners.  President Bush claims that he is opposed to such an amendment but is "looking into" all possible options for preserving "traditional" marriage.  And Republican National Committee Chairman d Gillespie openly admits he would like to see the ban on same-sex marriage be made part of the Republican Platform for the 2004 Presidential election.

The abyss between the equal marriage and anti--gay marriage forces has provided the space for an intense cultural and political battle --- one that may roll back legal rights we have gained and prevent us from achieving full equality.

This may be the defining moment for the LGBT community. Are we going to continue on as second-class citizens in our own country? Or will we find the courage to stand up to the ignorance and reclaim our fundamental, constitutionally guaranteed right to marry the person of our choice? If it is true that "the freedom to marry belongs to all Americans," then the right to marry belongs to us!

Don’t let the hate-mongers keep you in the back of the bus. Use the power of your vote to demand to be treated equally, with dignity and respect. Take action for yourself and your family. Talk to your friends and ask them to vote for candidates who honor and support our relationships. Together we can do it!

But for now, there is no JUSTICE. There is JUST US!