Leading National Organization for LGBTQ+ Families Reaffirms that Marriage Equality is in the Best Interest of Children
Marriage equality is settled law and supported by the majority of Americans.
New York, NY — Late last week, a coalition of 47 anti-LGBTQ+ organizations announced a public relations campaign intended to reshape public opinion about marriage equality. This effort does not change the law, nor does it carry any immediate policy or legal implications. Marriage equality remains settled federal law and continues to be supported by a strong majority of Americans – about seven in ten across political parties and states. (Gallup, 2024).
Darra Gordon, CEO of Family Equality issued the following statement:
“As a parent, I look at my three children and want what every parent wants: for them to grow up in a world where their family is affirmed – not questioned, not debated. When groups attack marriage equality, they aren’t just challenging a court ruling. They are undermining the everyday moments that make a family whole – the dinner table conversations, the bedtime stories, and the basic sense of safety every child deserves. That threat is deeply personal to my family and to millions of families across this country.
“Let me be perfectly clear. Marriage equality is the law of the land. Since the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in 2015, LGBTQ+ couples have had the constitutional right to marry. And that right remains firmly established under federal law.
“Decades of evidence shows that more than anything, love makes a family. As the leading national organization for current and future LGBTQ+ families, we at Family Equality know that all children need a safe, loving home and the safety and security of knowing that the law supports and protects their family — no matter where they live, who they are, or how their family was formed.
“In 2015, as part of the fight for marriage equality, Family Equality brought the voices of children with LGBTQ+ families all the way to the Supreme Court to highlight the positive impact that marriage equality has had on their lives and well-being. Dozens of children, representing the 5 million children living with LGBTQ+ parents in the United States, spoke about how marriage equality brought them legal protections and, importantly, helped them understand that their families truly mattered under the eyes of the law. Their testimonies were so powerful that Justice Kennedy referenced them in the decision to make marriage equality the law of the land — recognizing just how important this constitutional right is to protecting our nation’s children..
“Regardless of this coalition’s public relations campaign, marriage equality remains a widely supported, undebatable, firmly established constitutional right, and it has directly benefited millions of children living across the US.
“We reject attempts to rewrite families’ lived experiences and ignore what the vast majority of Americans already understand: loving, committed families take many forms, and all deserve dignity, respect, and legal protections.
“Our commitment to equality, truth, and family wellbeing will not be swayed by rhetoric that seeks to divide rather than unite. We remain steadfast in our mission to ensure that all families are seen, respected, and protected.”
At Family Equality we’ll continue to:
- Stand firmly for the constitutional rights of LGBTQ+ people and oppose efforts aimed at rolling back marriage equality.
- Share evidence-based information and real stories showing that love makes a family, not gender.
- Engage with policymakers, the public, and media to advance policies that protect and strengthen all families.
- Empower families with the tools they need to share their own stories with neighbors, family members, school boards, and statehouses.
What you can do:
- Share affirmative messages about LGBTQ+ families you know and love.
- Volunteer, donate, or show up for community programs that support LGBTQ+ families.
- Speak up and speak out. Vote, advocate, and support policies that protect family recognition and rights.
- Sign up to become a Family Equality storyteller and gain access to trainings, resources, and opportunities to speak out in your community.
Related News
Jim Obergefell, Lead Plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges Shares His Thoughts
“It’s painful to see organizations attack marriage equality after everything so many of us went through to secure it. For me, this was never abstract. It was about the right to love my husband, to care for him, and to have our family treated with dignity.
“When groups try to undermine that, they aren’t protecting children or families. They’re telling people like me and the millions of children with LGBTQ+ parents that our lives matter less. They are wrong. Regardless of what they say, we are here. We belong. And that won’t change no matter what.”
About Family Equality
Family Equality is the only national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the freedoms of all LGBTQ+ families through bold advocacy, transformative education, and powerful community building.
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