The Grammys sends a national message of equality with ‘Same Love’ performance

At the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards, the freedom to marry took center stage when Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, the hip-hop duo who won four GRAMMYs (and were nominated for three additional awards) performed their runaway hit "Same Love," the song that has become an anthem for the movement to win marriage for same-sex couples nationwide. The song, featuring Mary Lambert, calls unequivocally for the freedom to marry, with lyrics like, "No freedom 'til we're equal / damn right I support it" and "Strip away the fear - underneath, it's all the same love."

The three performers were joined on stage at the GRAMMYs by pop icon Madonna, and Queen Latifah. Over the course of the performance, which also included bits of Madonna's hit "Open Your Heart," more than 30 couples - including same-sex couples, different-sex couples, older couples, and younger couples - married live on stage. 

It was a beautiful tribute to why marriage matters - and the performers and producers should be proud that they took advantage of a national platform like the year's biggest night in music to salute the freedom to marry and encourage the country to continue moving forward. 

Watch the full performance below: 

Read our previous post featuring nine great statements of support from GRAMMY-nominated artists HERE.