We are not separate but equal!!!

I woke up to an interesting question-

Liz, why is gay marriage so important to you? You're going to a legal state for the paper, but in Texas it won't mean anything.

Not that I owe anyone an explanation, but I could tell that this was a sincere need to know question. Thus my answer (lengthy, but still good to me):

Overall as a human population we demonstrate an act of commitment/venture/mutual acceptance by a contract/license/document. If you were called and made a job offer via phone, you would be ecstatic. But in a few days based on the way WE all do things wouldn't you be expecting an offer letter? Do you actually need the offer letter? When I agree to provide Recruitment services to companies, the deal is sealed with a contract to protect our interests and remind each party of our arrangement on days when we're not seeing eye to eye. In my opinion, it is the same with a marriage license. That document is important to me! It's not a love contract, as there is no contract for that. However it is a document to protect our interests and remind us of our commitment on days where we're not seeing eye to eye. The marriage license is a byproduct of the love. It says BECAUSE I love you, I promise to take care of you and all things concerning you. Of course it's not legal in Texas yet! But the way our country is shifting, it's only a matter of time. Look! EVERY state to the west of us accepts gay marriage.  Even now, if you were legally married in another state which recognizes gay marriage you can add one another to your benefits (in most Texas companies as of late), you can also file taxes together etc… So I know that my partner loves me and she knows I love her. However, we want the same recognition that anyone else in love can get: Marriage (and that little document that goes along with it). 

We are not separate but equal…many people have shed their blood to eradicate that sort of thinking.