I am writing to express my heartfelt support for marriage equality and urge all readers to vote yes on Question 1 this November. As a lawyer, I have been trained to argue and defend either side of most any issue; however, I find it impossible to craft a rational, constitutional argument upholding the ban on same-sex marriage. This is a civil rights issue. We must not stand by and let the inequality continue.

Over 45 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Virginia’s anti-miscegenation statute in the appropriately named, Loving v. Virginia. In its opinion, the court stated, “The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.” The time has come to protect the right of all of our citizens to marry and pursue their happiness with whomever they choose.

Amanda V. Rand
Falmouth