Ordinary people, extraordinary lives

Anne Noonan, Ph.D. and Michelle Porche, Ed.D.
Letter to the Editor published in the Boston Globe
August 27, 2005

The Editorial, “Everyday people” (Aug.23) described the “utterlyordinary” lives of same-sex couples whose weddings have been announcedin the Globe and New York Times. Our work as members of a research team studying the impact of legalized marriage on the lives of same-sexcouples can inform policymakers and the public on this issue.

Results recently reported at the American Psychological Association conventionshow our study participants' lives are in many ways ordinary. Many have pledgedlifelong commitments to one another. Some are raising children and are doingso in loving, nurturing homes. Many actively participate in faith communities.While not everyone wished to embrace the institution of marriage, there waswidespread sentiment that marriage is a fundamental civil right. This is ordinarystuff without a doubt.

But our findings also make clear that these ''everydaypeople" are living under extraordinary circumstances. Theyare painfully aware that their marriages are legal in only onestate in the country. While they may receive some of the benefitsof civil marriage, these are not equal to those of their ordinaryheterosexual counterparts. And they worry that Massachusetts maytake a giant leap backwards by legislating marriage discrimination.

Nothing could be less ordinary.