Maureen Brodoff, left, and her wife Ellen Wade, middle, greet their daughter Kate Brodoff. The couple from Newton, Mass., was among the first legal same-sex marriages in the U.S.The love story of Marueen Brodoff and Ellen Wade runs nearly half a century, never mind that the state of Massachusetts only recognized their union for the last 20 years.
Maureen Brodoff and Ellen Wade have been together for nearly 50 years and legally wed for 20 after Massachusetts became the first state to authorize same-sex marriage rights in 2004.
Data show clear gains in mental health, economic well-being, physical health and relationship stability among married LGBTQ families, Karney said. Studies have also noted a drop in hate crime rates for LGBTQ+ individuals since the extension of marriage rights. "Critics might have different new arguments," Karney added, "but they can't rehash the old arguments because the data seems pretty clear."
Robinson said there is cautious optimism among community leaders and allies in this high-stakes election year.according to the ACLU Kelley Robinson, president of Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, speaks with ABC News correspondent Devin Dwyer.Perry, the Heritage Foundation legal fellow, said "political will" to restrict LGBTQ+ rights has waned on the right in a campaign year with more pressing issues like inflation, crime and abortion rights.