On November 4th, 2008, Proposition 8 passed in California, eliminating the right to marry for same-sex couples.  One year later, the rights of the LGBT community are again up for a popular vote, in Maine, Washington and Michigan. 

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As a straight ally in the fight for marriage equality, I am often asked why I work on the issue of marriage equality.

The last time us gays marched on Washington was the semi-disastrous march in 2000 organized by the HRC. Before that was the 1993 march when I was 12. This year and this march was our time; the newly dubbed "prop 8" generation. This year's march was not without controversy with internal naysayers and questioners all the way to the top including Barney Frank.

In November, Democrats in the State Senate finally wrestled control from the Republicans after four decades. New Yorkers like me expressed hope that in the wake of the Prop 8 disaster, marriage equality would at least be established in our state and that we could be a model for other states around the country. Fast forward half a year later and gay marriage is legal in most of New England, while marriage equality in New York and California could not be further away.

Equality week was insaaaane!

The decision came down Tuesday morning, and though it wasn’t a surprise, we were pissed.

First stop, the Latino Equality Alliance rally in East LA. Hundreds of people showed up in the middle of their work day to express their anger and disappointment.