Twelve years ago today, the Vermont Supreme Court handed down its decision in the landmark case Baker v. Vermont. The unanimous decision held that existing prohibitions in Vermont state law which forbid same-sex couples from marrying violated the state constitution, and ordered the legislature to confer the benefits and protections of marriage on same-sex couples.

The historic events of twelve years ago led to Vermont’s passage of the nation’s first civil union law in 2000 and its adoption of full marriage equality in 2009.

My husband Michael and I, along with Wayne and his husband Jamie, are only two married couples among thousands in the state of Vermont and across the country who owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Vermont Freedom to Marry, now-Governor Peter Shumlin, now-Justice Beth Robinson, Susan Murray, Mary Bonauto, Rep. Bill Lippert, the Baker couples, and the innumerable others across Vermont who led the state through many divisive battles on the road to full marriage equality.

Thank you.

Michael and me on our wedding day, March 22, 2006.

Wayne and Jamie on their wedding day, December 8, 2011.

On this beautiful snowy morning, Jamie Brundage and I got married at City Hall in Burlington, VT. We had an amazing Justice of the Peace, Gloria Gil, (pictured below)who was just incredible and made the ceremony at her home a joyous occasion. She has a wonderful cat and a really cool exotic bird too – and they get along.

So….It’s official — I’m hitched!!!

I met Jamie, who is originally from Cairo, Nebraska, five years ago in New York City online and the rest is history. We will be having an exciting party in the summer when Vermont is pretty and green. Thank you to friends and family (Shout out to my mother and father and grandma) for your love and support. We greatly appreciate it and it means a great deal to us.

And a major THANK YOU to the marriage equality advocates in Vermont and at the national level, particularly Freedom to Marry founder Evan Wolfson, who made this dream-like day possible.

So, here’s to hoping I’ll be a better husband than Newt! :)

It was thrilling to participate in the National Equality March (NEM) in Washington on Sunday. The event, although smaller than in past years, achieved the desired goal of drawing the nation’ attention to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration were also put on notice that an anxiety-filled GLBT community demanded action, not just flowery words.

While this was my third march, it was inspiring to see this event through the fresh eyes of Jamie, (left, in red) my partner. He is thirty years old and grew up in a small town in rural Nebraska (population 700). From his vantage point, the march was an extraordinarily life-affirming event. He shared the same look of awe and empowerment that was on the faces of the energetic youth in DC, who will one day become our leaders.

The NEM occurred over the objections of Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass), who said that the spectacle was a “waste of time.” If I were Frank, I’d be more concerned about not delivering on GLBT issues while the Democrats control Washington. This may cause disillusionment, leading some people to believe that voting is a “waste of time.”

Frank believes that instead of marching, GLBT people should organize more efficiently and effectively by becoming more like the National Rifle Association (NRA) or the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

He is correct that we should organize into a political force, but get real. The GLBT movement can’t be compared to organizations that possess immense constituencies. Botox notwithstanding, we all grow old and that is why AARP has thirty-five million members. America loves guns, which is why even city slickers like John Kerry and Mitt Romney feel compelled to purchase varmint guns and tromp though the fields to whack squirrels. (Read More)