Boston — Today, Monday, Nov. 18, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. On that day, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court handed down its decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, which paved the way for same-sex couples to marry.
After brave couples were willing to come forward and stand for equality in that case, we declared as a Commonwealth that people should be able to marry the person they love.
Since then, we have come so far. Massachusetts has seen, despite the consternation expressed by some at the time, that the institution of marriage has only been strengthened since we embraced equality. Fourteen states as well as the District of Columbia now allow same-sex couples to wed. The law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been repealed. And our office was proud to help Massachusetts lead the effort to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act in June.
We also have seen a dramatic swing in public acceptance of equality and same-sex marriage. How have we come this far in such a short period?
First, the issue became personal. Brave couples came forward to tell their stories, bring groundbreaking cases and publicly push toward equality. The impact of discrimination was felt not just by those who were personally affected, but by family, friends, neighbors and colleagues.
Second, leadership — everywhere from the boardroom to governmental agencies to the Oval Office — made this change come about. Bold organizations like Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) have brought and won landmark cases. Corporate leaders stood together against DOMA by banding together to file a friend of the court brief.
President Obama, as well as the state of California, declined to defend laws that they deemed discriminatory. And in Massachusetts in the years after Goodridge, elected officials voted their conscience and held back efforts to enact a constitutional amendment to restrict marriage once again. In celebrating the victory in Goodridge, and all of the change that has grown from it, we should not lose sight of the work that remains. Marriage equality is only a part of what needs to be achieved.
A principle focus in the years to come must be children. LGBT youth are more likely to be bullied at school, to suffer from mental health disorders and be homeless. Rejection by parents, relatives, friends and classmates all contribute to a daunting challenge that many children face simply because of who they are. We must find ways to ensure that fewer kids experience such isolation and harm.
But it is not just kids who are affected. Hate crimes directed at gays and lesbians sadly continue to occur. These attitudes of intolerance are compounded by the inadequate legal protections at both the state and federal level. Federal and state anti-discrimination laws must — across the board (housing, employment, education and public accommodations) — offer protection on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. When government acts to make this bigotry unlawful, it becomes harder for people to continue to harbor such disdain.
Monday is a day to celebrate the Goodridge victory. Then, we get right back to work to fulfill its promise.
Martha Coakley is the attorney general of Massachusetts.
Author: Martha Coakley
Publication: Gazettenet.com
Date: 18 November 2013