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Why reach the heights of a great profession? Why dedicate one’s life to helping others? I was born gay. Odds are, you were born straight. I legally married my wife in 2008, before California voters eliminated the rights of other gay men and women to marry. The vote margin was less than 5% but the negative impact on my marriage was huge. On my wedding day we had been together 13 years and were domestic partners. That day I had two firsts: marriage and the cold sweats. No trial had ever brought me to my knees. Our prior commitment ceremonies paled to how joyous I felt. Later I realized that marriage fundamentally improved both my happiness and relationship. My feelings for my wife were more profound, more stable. My subconscious shame of being different/Less Than was gone. But when marriage was made illegal, I was devastated. Our union was once again Less Than/dismissed. Others insisted, incorrectly, our union wasn’t legal. Why does a Supreme Court Justice dedicate her or his life to reach the heights of a great profession? Why form a more perfect Union and secure the Blessings of Liberty? In this greatest of countries, why was my fundamental freedom subject to a popular vote?