Ten Years Forward, Ten Steps Back
Ten years ago, the Supreme Court extended marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide. It was a moment of joy, relief, and hard-fought victory for millions of us. A decade later, my wife and I — together for 33 years — are once again looking at our legal documents, wondering if our marriage will be attacked in court. Again.
Because this fall, the justices will consider whether to take up a case that explicitly asks them to overturn that decision.
Disgusted? Absolutely. Surprised? Not in the slightest.
This administration and its allies told us exactly what they intended to do. They’ve never been subtle about it. The playbook is right there in plain sight — Project 2025 — a blueprint for an alt-right, Christian nationalist America that erases the rights of anyone who doesn’t fit their mold. Trans people. People of color. Children. Immigrants. LGBTQ+. Every citizen who refuses to bow to their brand of authoritarianism.
It’s the same pattern: create moral panics out of thin air, deflect attention onto imaginary threats, and keep the public distracted while they strip away freedoms and consolidate power. And lurking beneath it all? A regime with a long, ugly history — and widespread ties — to one of the most horrifying sex trafficking networks in modern history.
This isn’t governance. It’s fascism with a PR team.
But here’s the thing about authoritarian regimes: they rely on people giving up. They bank on us being too exhausted, too demoralized, too beaten down to fight. That’s why we can’t stop.
We won marriage equality once, and we can defend it again. We can defend trans rights, voting rights, reproductive rights — all of it — if we refuse to sit quietly while they dismantle our democracy piece by piece.
So here’s your mission:
• Call your local, state, and federal representatives. Tell them you expect them to protect the rights of ALL Americans.
• Send emails. Send letters. Paper trails matter — especially when they know we’re watching.
• Volunteer. Donate. Protest. Show up where it matters most — in the streets, at the polls, and in your community.
• Talk about it. Don’t let them hide behind euphemisms or distractions. Say what’s happening out loud.
They may have the court. They may have the money. But we have the numbers. We have history on our side. And we have the one thing they will never have: a vision of an America where everyone belongs.
It’s time to make them afraid of our resolve.
