Crazy 8: Our Year in Review

May 21, 2010 Sharyn Jackson, Stephanie Schroeder, Abby Tallmer

Marriage Equality The battle for same-gender marriage raged on these past months, with Maine voters echoing the 2008 decision of California voters on Proposition 8 and choosing to take away marriage rights that had previously been given to gays and lesbians. On the upside, Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia all passed laws allowing same-gender marriage in the past year. Connecticut and Massachusetts already have formalized gay marriage provisions.

This year has been a whirlwind. As we celebrate yet another milestone, we invite you to reflect with us upon the last 364 plus days’ high moments, low moments, and everything in between. In no particular order, the events that helped shape our year…

National Equality March

On October 11, a crowd of 150,000 gay rights supporters marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. to demand full equality under the law. The march, organized by a national network of LGBT activists, was the largest of its kind since 2000. Among other celebrities, “Sex and the City” star Cynthia Nixon spoke at the event and reminded the crowd of its importance: “We are gathered here today from all over the U.S., and back home many of us are deeply embroiled in the particular local battles that we are fighting… when we walk away from here tonight, we need to walk away with a common national resolve.”