Human Rights Campaign Ad Center, Anna and Marion's story

See the ad
Click here to download and print the ad that features Anna and Marion's story. (PDF format)

Help us get it seen.
Please, click here to make a gift to help us tell the stories of committed and loving families like Anna and Marion.

Anna and Marion have spent their lives teaching and caring for others. Anna, 71, is a retired nurse who founded a nonprofit that protects seniors from homelessness. Marion, 69, taught public school.

They have enjoyed a loving, committed relationship for the past 23 years and live in Massachusetts on a modest fixed income from their pensions and Social Security. They have the same worries as any retired couple facing health problems and financial pressures – but because the government will not grant them a civil marriage license, they do not have the same legal protections.

Anna recently had hip replacement surgery. Because their relationship is not protected under the law, the couple had to pay for legal documents allowing Marion to visit Anna in the hospital, receive information on her medical condition and make medical decisions if Anna were unable to do so. This added to the expense and anxiety of a stressful situation.

While married seniors in Massachusetts can qualify for special help from the government to get at-home care and stay out of nursing homes, Anna and Marion cannot – even though they paid taxes their entire working lives.

Their biggest worry is about losing their house. If Anna goes into a nursing home, the government could force Marion out of their house and sell it to pay the nursing-home bills. The law protects married couples from losing their homes when a spouse enters long-term care – but devoted couples like Anna and Marion have no such protection.

The Family Research Council, Focus on the Family and other right-wing political organizations are playing politics with the lives of people like Anna and Marion. They would go so far as to amend our Constitution to deny loving, committed couples like these any protections under the law.

America has problems, but this loving couple is not one of them. Anna and Marion – and all gay and lesbian couples in long-term, committed relationships – deserve equal protection under the law. Tell your elected representatives not to play politics with the Constitution.

Love and commitment deserve protection. Take a stand for civil marriage equality below:

    >> Help get Anna and Marion's story seen! Click here.
    >> Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment
    >> Sign our Million for Marriage petition

1 Sandy Rios, President of Concerned Women for America, October 2, 2003, National Press Club