In the final hours, reimagining marriage

The final countdown to the Massachusetts constitutional convention began today with an emotional press conference at a Beacon Hill church. The press conference featured families telling their stories and pleading with holdout legislators to put an end to this bitter battle and begin the healing process.

One by one the couples came to the microphone and told their stories as they struggled to hold back tears. “The day I got married was the proudest day of my life,” said one woman. “I felt like for the first time I was equal to my friends. It’s three years later and I still carry a laminated copy of my marriage certificate in my wallet — we both do.”

Listening to these couples, one can’t help but think how they are reframing the very substance of marriage. They treasure what they have and understand that they are lucky. They don’t take marriage for granted; they appreciate it and, in simple ways, they are strengthening the institution.

If you are the child of a traditional marriage, chances are your parents did not carry around copies of their marriage certificate. For most straight people, it’s just a piece of paper that they tucked away with other documents that they hardly ever have to show. But for these same-sex couples, it’s a piece of paper that represents their struggle and they display it proudly.

They are forcing people to reimagine the concept of marriage. In doing so, they are strengthening the institution. And they should be celebrated.

For the next 24 hours, couples will continue to tell their stories. My hope is that people will take a minute to listen and realize that marriage for everyone only makes the institution stronger.

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