Prepared Remarks for Launch of "Why Marriage Matters Colorado" Campaign

At the ACLU of Colorado, we work on many civil liberties issues—some where our nation is moving forwards and others where we are fighting not to lose ground, but I can’t think of any issue where justice is flowing more rapidly than on marriage equality.
Challenges to discrimination are mounting everywhere; the number of marriage equality states doubled in the last year, and I want Colorado to join that list!
Civil Unions was a huge step forward, and so much has happened in the last eight years that I don’t believe the people of this state would place marriage discrimination in the Constitution today, but it’s there and there is still much work to be done.
There are thousands of Colorado couples who still can’t get all the Federal benefits of marriage and who can’t have their marriages in other states recognized here.
So I speak to you on behalf of the ACLU, who took Edie Windsor to the Supreme Court and overturned the worst of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act;
I speak to you as an ordained minister who would like to have the freedom to marry loving couples I know belong together;
I speak to you as someone who has been married to my own beloved for 27 years and can’t imagine being denied the right to marry the love of my life;
I speak to you as a partner and supporter of One Colorado and all the allies leading us into a deeper conversation on this issue, and I say, “Let justice flow down like waters, like a mighty stream! Let us join hands and do the work that needs to be done" — We will not rest until full marriage equality comes to Colorado and all the people in this land!
Thank you!