Marriage Matters: Sharing Our Stories
Stephanie Furness and Shannon Kearns, who were recently wed in Canada, hoped have the opportunity to again formalize their commitment to each other in their home state of New Jersey. Several legal scholars and political insiders expected the court — known to be among the more progressive in the country on social issues and individual rights — to find that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in the state.
"Marriage in New Jersey would mean protection for us as a couple, but even more importantly it would be a validation that our relationship is worthy and equal of the same rights as everyone else. To be able to get married in our home state would be an incredible blessing to us," says Shannon.
Stephanie concurred. "It will mean so much — even though I currently see my partner as my wife, the law doesn't. While that shouldn't matter, I know that we need the same rights afforded to heterosexual couples, and that we deserve them."
New Jersey has already previously joined the marriage equality fight when in 2004 Asbury Park's city clerk issued a gay couple a marriage license and the deputy mayor solemnized their wedding. Challenged by New Jersey's attorney general, the city ceased issuing licenses shortly after, but sued the state to recognize the first union.
Read through other families' stories here:
- Carmen and Anisia Machado
- Denise and Treeva Liggett-Creek
- Shelley Hayes and Mary Horvath
- Terri Miller and Cindy Simms
- Mark McKinney and Steve Lepre
- Jennifer Lin and Jeanne Fong
- Lori and Cin Diné
- Gita Deane and Lisa Polyak
- Nigel Simon and Alvin Williams
- Jo Rabb and Takia Foskey
- Lisa Laurey and Toni Williamson
- Richard Phelps and Mitchell Wood
- Desiree Leone and Carolee Stoll
- Barry Clayton and Michael Garaza
- Stephanie Furness and Shannon Kearns
- Charles Blackburn and Glen Dehn
- Delia Meraz and Persephone Gonzalez
- Amorie Robinson and Hattie Alexander-Robinson
Why Marriage Matters America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry
By Evan Wolfson
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Read families’ stories about how marriage discrimination affects everyday life. These stories communicate, in concrete ways, how the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage hurts families and helps no one.
Start in The Marriage Basics to get short answers to your big questions about the freedom to marry, and learn more about the protections and responsibilities of marriage, the historical background for this civil rights movement, why separate is not equal, and so much more.
