marianne williamson

Here in this great city we have seen the ravages of hate. What better place than this to celebrate love.

The ultimate answer to the voices of hate, is to raise our voices in love. And so it is that on this day we celebrate love, regardless its form.

We celebrate love, regardless whose it is. We celebrate love, regardless of anything except that two people join together, and with their love and prayers commit to make of their love a blessed thing.

Now, as never before, everyone's love must count. We cannot afford to ignore, to marginalize, to invalidate, to repudiate anyone's love -- quite the opposite. This is a time to honor, to respect, to cherish and to support the love of all human beings for one another, for their planet, and for life itself. On this day we honor the love of gay Americans, and support their right to marry. In supporting their love, we welcome into our hearts the even greater gifts to each other and society that this right will foster.

We ask God's blessing in these perilous times. And we receive that blessing as we give it to others. Today, we seek to include in our blessing a group who has not always received it from society, though surely they have always received it from God. May our hearts expand, that our society might include one day its total support for all who love. Starting here. Let us make a stand. For gay Americans. For all Americans. For love itself.

Amen.