Marriage Equality Works

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Five years after the first marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, a large majority of the state’s voters believe that marriage equality has been good for the state. A recent statewide poll of voters in Massachusetts found that support for marriage equality has increased 10 percentage points since 2005. Moreover, 70 percent of voters believe that married gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts should have equal access to protections and benefits provided to other married couples by the federal government, such as Social Security survivor benefits.

Massachusetts voters believe that allowing gay and lesbian couples to obtain state marriage licenses and enjoy the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage has benefited society as whole. According to the survey, voters believe that the state has benefited from marriage equality because:

• Massachusetts is living up to its values of equality and fairness.
• Marriage is an important foundation of a healthy society.
• More people are making long-term commitments and taking responsibility for each other.
• More couples are building families and raising children, which promotes the common good.
• Children raised by gay and lesbian couples have the same legal protections as other children.

In the only state where marriage equality has been a reality for a significant period of time, most people believe that society is stronger. Marriage equality promotes society’s most fundamental values – equality, fairness, responsibility and commitment – and allows more people to pursue their full measure of happiness.