Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today joined the chorus of Americans calling for marriage equality for all as a part of the Americans for Marriage Equality series, a public engagement campaign featuring prominent Americans who support committed gay and lesbian couples getting married.
"LGBT Americans are our colleagues, our teachers, our soldiers, our friends, our loved ones," Clinton said as a part of her six-minute long video. "They are full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage. That's why I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples."
The endorsement is not new for Clinton. She supported New York's marriage equality law. She even opens the video with a reference to her famous "gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights" speech in Geneva in recognition of International Human Rights Day in 2011.
She is joined by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has also come out in opposition to the 'Defense of Marriage Act' in an op-ed in the Washington Post. He writes about why he signed the bill as president, and how he now sees and understands how harmful and discriminatory it is.
The Americans for Marriage Equality series has included political and civil rights leaders, professional athletes, film and music celebrities, and business leaders.
On March 26 and 27, the Supreme Court will begin oral arguments on two cases on marriage equality. Gay and lesbian couples want to marry for similar reasons as anyone else and should be able to make a vow of love and lifetime commitment to one another. Marrying the person you love is a fundamental freedom, and a matter of basic fairness.
As Clinton says in her video, "To deny the opportunity to any of our daughters and sons, solely on the basis of who they are and who they love, is to deny them the chance to live up to their own God-given potential."
GLAAD is actively working with the Respect for Marriage Coalition, as well as with the United for Marriage coordinating team, to bring your voice to DC and make sure you are fully represented and informed. It is time for our nation's highest court to ensure that lesbian and gay couples are treated fairly under the law. Find an upcoming event near you to make clear your support for marriage equality. Visit www.glaad.org/marriage to learn more, and join us in Washington D.C. on March 26 and 27.