What Would You Do?

Without legal marriage rights, couples face challenges that are overwhelming - think about it:

If you were unable to visit your spouse in the hospital
If your child was sick but you knew your child's doctor bills may not be covered
If you were unable to share your life partner's social security in your later years
If you were spending thousands of extra dollars because you cannot claim joint deductions
If you couldn't have legal guardianship over the children you've helped raise for years
If, even after 20 years together, your spouse is called your "friend" at parties and family gatherings
If, even after 30 years together, you have to check "single" as your marital status on every single form you complete
If your life partner died and you were denied access to the body, not allowed to plan the funeral, and lost the home and possessions the two of you had spent a lifetime working for, building and collecting - together...

These are just a fraction of the challenges faced daily by same-sex couples.

If society cares about all its children, gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to protect them in a way that ONLY civil marriage allows.
September 11th proved that the inability to enter into a civil marriage can cause greater grief in a time of tragedy. Years later grieving partners are still battling for property and insurance claims just because they could not marry.
The marriage of two adults of the same sex who seek to make a lifetime commitment to one another takes nothing away from the marriages of anyone else.
Legal marriage strengthens a relationship, and commitment is what makes a marriage.
Supported couples make better contributions to society.
The movement for marriage equality of same-sex couples is actually a recognition of the importance and power of marriage.
Because it is fair: Requiring equality condones equality. Remember, you don't have to be gay to support a same-sex couple's right to marriage equality.