On July 19, 2013, my late husband John and I first filed suit against the state of Ohio determined to have our marriage — our family — recognized in the eyes of the government. That case led all the way to the steps of the Supreme Court, and on June 25, 2015, marriage equality became the law of the land.

Next summer, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of that historic decision — and while so much progress has been made in the past decade, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, they signaled threats to additional freedoms, like marriage equality. Since then, we’ve witnessed attacks against the LGBTQ+ community in statehouses and school boards alike, and we’re all waiting anxiously to see what the next administration will bring.

Despite it all, I have hope. As a board member at Family Equality, I see how this powerful organization’s advocacy, storytelling, and support create real, tangible progress for our families every day. This year, we pushed back against Florida’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay and Trans” law…and won. We helped pass critical pro-equality legislation like the Massachusetts Parentage Act and shared life-changing resources to help families navigate this complex legal landscape. I joined this Board of Directors for the same reason I took my case to the Supreme Court all those years ago: Because I am determined to ensure that LGBTQ+ families are celebrated and loved, and I believe in the power of family and Family Equality to make this dream a reality.

But we need your help. Now more than ever, there are powerful people trying to push us down. Together, we create a force bigger and more powerful than any opposition—we create family. As we approach a year unlike any other, I ask that you ring in the 10 year anniversary of the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges with a gift to support what we fought so hard for a decade ago: Love, family, and freedom.

But we need your help. Now more than ever, there are powerful people trying to push us down. Together, we create a force bigger and more powerful than any opposition—we create family. As we approach a year unlike any other, I ask that you ring in the 10 year anniversary of the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges with a gift to support what we fought so hard for a decade ago: Love, family, and freedom.

We can’t do this work without you.