My partner Heather was grilled by hospital staff over and over about who she was and why she was there when I was in the hospital for breast cancer surgery. We never would have had to go through such an ordeal if we were only able to be married. We're grateful that our case has finally made its way to the Court of Appeals, and hope the court will recognize how badly families like ours get hurt when we're denied the protections of marriage.

Carol Snyder