Marriage Matters.They're committed. So are we.

We the undersigned will not stop until every American family is treated fairly, with dignity and equality under the law.

Rocky Anderson, Mayor • City of Salt Lake City, UT • Dr. Randall Bailey, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Hebrew Bible • Interdenominational Theological Center • Julian Bond • Rev. John Boonstra, Executive Minister • Washington Association of Churches • Kate Brown, Majority Leader • Oregon State Senate • Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor • City of West Sacramento, CA • Christine Chavez • Granddaughter of Cesar Chavez • Former Political Director, United Farm Workers • Elizabeth Clark, Executive Director • National Association of Social Workers • Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Avalon Foundation • Professor in the Humanities • University of Pennsylvania • Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels • Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister • The Riverside Church in the City of New York • Joe Fox, Capital District Area Labor Federation • AFL-CIO • Joe Fox, Vice President • NY State SEIU • Kim Gandy, President • National Organization for Women • Tim Gill, President • Gill Foundation • Mary Kay Henry, International Executive Vice President • SIEU • James C. Hormel • Former US Ambassador • Dolores Huerta • Co-Founder, United Farm Workers • President, Dolores Huerta Foundation for Community Organizing • Alice Huffman, President • California State Conference of NAACP • Norman Lear • Karen K. Narasaki, Executive Director • Asian American Justice Center • Ralph G. Neas, President and CEO • People For the American Way • Gavin Newsom, Mayor • City of San Francisco • Greg Nickels, Mayor • City of Seattle, WA • Tom Potter, Mayor • City of Portland, OR • Bruce Raynor, President • UNITED HERE! • Jesse Rios, Vice President • Labor Council for Latin American Advancement • Denis Rivera, President • 1199/SEIU Healthcare Workers East • Dr. Jack Rogers, Moderator • 213th General Assembly of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) • Anthony Romero, President • ACLU • Rev. Joan Salmon Campbell • Former Head Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) • Founder, The Spiritual Spa and Holistic Healing Center • Bishop John Selders, Organizing Pastor • Amistad United Church of Christ • Chris Shelton, Vice President • Communications Workers of America District 1 • Ron Sims, Executive • Martin Luther King Jr. County, Washington • Rev. William Sinkford, President • Unitarian Universalist Association • Phyllis Snyder, President • National Council of Jewish Women • The Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President • United Church of Christ • Urvashi Vaid and Kate Clinton • Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor • City of Los Angeles • Randi Weingarten • President, United Federation of Teachers • Vice President, American Federation of Teachers • Nancy Wohlforth, International Secretary-Treasurer • Office and Professional Employees International Labor Union (OPEIU) • Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, President • Union for Reformed Judaism

"For better or for worse." This week, that statement has special resonance. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation was instrumental in gaining visibility for a groundbreaking advertisement (above) that appeared in 50 newspapers across the country including the New York Times. The "Marriage Matters" ad was signed by more than 60 civil, religious, LGBT and human rights leaders who support marriage equality, and it featured same-sex couples who have been together for as long as 53 years.

On March 7, 2004 my partner Ed Cunningham and I were married in front an incredible gathering of friends and family. Our marriage was later struck down by the courts. However, in our minds, and the eyes of many more than just those attending our ceremony and reception, our marriage ceremony (and relationship of 16.5 years) was (and is) no less valid or important than that of any other couple in this country. We thank those who continue to show support to us personally, and to many other gay and lesbian couples throughout the United States. We are committed to continue to work for equal - not "special" - rights and protections for all people in this country.

For more information about the continuing issue of marriage for same-sex couples visit the web site of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.