New video shows Freedom to Marry’s historic National Plaintiffs Event

Today, Monday, May 18, Freedom to Marry released a video showcasing the plaintiffs and lawyers who attended the National Plaintiffs Event.

The unprecedented event was held the night before the United States Supreme Court heard arguments on the question of the freedom to marry from Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. Over 75 plaintiff couples from more than 55 marriage cases from across the country attended.

The plaintiffs represented the legal marriage cases that brought the United States to where we are now on the question of the freedom to marry - with a supermajority of Americans supporting marriage for same-sex couples, and cases before the Supreme Court, with a national resolution expected later this summer.

Evan Wolfson, president and founder of Freedom to Marry, addressed the attendees, explaining just how far the marriage movement has come since some of the first marriage plaintiffs entered the courtroom:

On the eve of the supreme Court argument tomorrow, it is my delight to welcome all of you to this historic gathering of marriage plaintiffs from across the country and across the decades. Tonight, here we bring together plaintiffs and attorneys from more than 33 states, representing more than 55 different cases, spanning more than 40 years of our movement's battles in the courts of law and in the court of public opinion to win the freedom to marry.

With us tonight is Tony Sullivan who, with Richard Adams, was issued a marriage license in 1975. Now, we and America have come a long way since then, and so, we hope, has the Supreme Court.

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, was also present, addressing the plaintiffs and lawyers who have made it possible for us to come this far, reaffirming the Obama Administration's support for the freedom to marry.

Read more about the day of arguments at the United States Supreme Court here, and read more about the plaintiff event here.

Watch the full video below: