Love Stories

One of the great ironies of a political battle is how easy it can be to forget what's actually at stake. In the frenzy to win (or at least put up a good fight), the principles often consume the people. A perfect example is Proposition 8, the ballot measure to eliminate marriage equality in California. While news reports compared and contrasted the money the "No on 8" campaign raised with that gathered by the initiative's antigay supporters, legions of gay and lesbian couples (like the 24 on our cover the 14 profiled on the following pages) were ordering red velvet wedding cakes and marching down the aisle. And each of those newlyweds has a love story worth telling -- tales of love at first sight, chance encounters, lifetimes already spent together, and young relationships suddenly solidified. Rip out these pages and share them with your coworkers. Photocopy your favorites and send them to relatives. Because on November 4, what ultimately will make a difference to voters is the people, not the principles.

Suzanne Westenhoefer and Jennifer HoustonJohn Manelski and Jordan BrussoNeal King and Peter MorrisonTony Kushner and Mark HarrisKevin and Don NorteParis Barclay and Christopher MasonSimon Doonan and Jonathan AdlerRon Buckmire and Dean ElzingaMarilyn Twitchell and Jean PyattArmistead Maupin and Christopher TurnerJay Mendes and Van SaoBrian Laswell and Andrew FarrisLeigh Grode and Joan SpitlerDoug Wright and David Clement