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John,

I'll never forget being at the Register of Deeds Office in Buncombe County in October 2014, as we got word of the court ruling that brought the freedom to marry to North Carolina. Couples who'd been waiting in the office all week long got married right on the spot, the lobby of the office and steps outside filled with friends, family, and neighbors who spontaneously started showing up. We were crying, cheering, hugging, and trying to take in what had just happened. My wife Meghann and I took turns holding our son, Calvin, four months old at the time (and now 10 years old!). Our team at the Campaign for Southern Equality was proud to be part of the team that led that lawsuit, along with a group of courageous plaintiffs and tireless attorneys.

Thousands of couples around the country got to experience this momentous feeling on June 26, 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the freedom to marry nationwide in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges decision. This ruling ensured a freedom that never should have been denied in the first place.

Now, we'd love to hear how the freedom to marry changed your life – and the lives of your loved ones – as we prepare for a special celebration of the tenth anniversary of marriage equality in June. Click here to take a few minutes and share your story with us. ([link removed])

We would be honored to hear what marriage equality has meant to you. Did you and your spouse's connection deepen after marriage? Did your family's support for you and other LGBTQ+ people grow after the ruling? How have you experienced the joys and sorrows of the last decade?

We're not exclusively looking for storybook tales with happy endings (though we also want to hear these!). We know – because all of us have lived some version of it – that life is full of the unexpected, valleys and peaks. Marriage equality doesn't guarantee any particular type of story or outcome, but it does mean that you had the freedom to marry the person you love – and we want to hear what happened next.

As a community, we're experiencing one of those valleys right now – as state and federal lawmakers wage a vicious and heart-breaking campaign against transgender people. I know that this period has felt relentless. And I also know that ultimately, if we can all find ways to stay connected, purposeful, and engaged, love will ultimately win. It's going to take grit, deep resolve, and lots of hope to fix the mess we're in, and I know in my bones we can do it. We can because we must.

I hope that the tenth anniversary of the marriage victory can be a powerful reminder: that people can change their hearts and minds, communities can change, laws can change, and ultimately, our nation can change.

And sharing our stories is one piece of how we build a movement together.

We need your help to share these stories far and wide. Click here to tell us why the freedom to marry matters to you – and we may be in touch for more information to share the story and help mark this milestone moment in queer history. ([link removed])

Whatever your story, we'd love to hear from you.

With love and gratitude,
Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
She/Her
Executive Director
Campaign for Southern Equality
Donate to the Campaign for Southern Equality ([link removed])

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