In just a few weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear two historic cases concerning same-sex marriage. There has been tremendous momentum around the issue of marriage equality over the last year. Voters in three states have affirmed marriage equality at the polls and have attested in overwhelming numbers that the ability to marry the person you love is a constitutional right.

Loving, committed gay and lesbian couples want to marry for the same reasons as straight couples: to share their hopes and dreams. For me, this historic moment is personal. I am the mother of three wonderful, successful adult children. Two are straight and one is gay. My gay child cannot currently legally marry the person that he loves in the state he resides or here in Oregon. Why should one of my children be treated any differently than the other two? It’s as simple as that.

The time for marriage equality is now. Support is at an all-time high and growing rapidly — across age, race, religion and political affiliation. We will be gathering on March 23 in downtown Bend to show our support for marriage equality. Please join us from 10 a.m. to noon on the corner of Northwest Wall Street and Northwest Newport Avenue to march for marriage equality!

Becky Groves

Prineville