Wedding readings - Proposition 8

What to do to include equal rights for all in your wedding readings? Many people have used the ruling from Goodridge v. Dept. Of Public Health, introduction by Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall, the landmark case that legalized same-sex marriages in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Here is an excerpt:

"Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. … marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family...It is an association that promotes a way of life, not causes; a harmony in living, not political faiths; a bilateral loyalty, not commercial or social projects.

Because it fulfils yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, marriage is an esteemed institution, and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life's momentous acts of self-definition."

Some couples dedicate this reading to those who are still waiting for equal rights in marriage. It can be quite touching.