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Tuesday night's election brought historic victories for LGBT people, when voters approved marriage equality at the ballot box for the first time in U.S. history.
Tuesday's election was historic for many reasons — including the reelection of the first sitting president to endorse marriage equality, the election of the nation's first out lesbian senator, and more than 100 other LGBT candidates elected to office — but perhaps none were more groundbreaking and heartwarming than victories for marriage equality in Washington State, Maryland and Maine. In case that weren't notable enough, on Tuesday Minnesota became the first state in the country's history to reject an amendment banning same-sex marriage.
We reached out to SheWired readers across the nation, asking for pictures that immortalized the moment history was made in LGBT equality in this country. Readers submitted tender, beautiful photos, and we scoured the internet to find a few additional images, and one video you MUST watch. So grab a box of tissues (if you're the emotional type like me) and click through the following pages to see the expressions of LGBT people the moment they realize that the majority has just cast a ballot recognizing our fundamental human rights — for the first time in U.S. history.
Let's start off with these gorgeous snapshots from Washington, featured in the music video for "Same Love" by Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and Mary Lambert. You'll want to watch the video, too. Here it is:
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Ngoc Tran was in Seattle's Capital Hill district, a traditionally queer neighborhood, when results began flowing in showing that Washington's Referendum 74 was likely to be approved by voters. Check out more of Tran's work at Sashimi Images.
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Celebrations ring out in Seattle as news begins to break that Washington voters have approved the marriage equality law put forward by the legislature and signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire in February. Photo by Ngoc Tran.
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Kristen Libby contemplates shiry as it happens in Washington state. Photo by Ngoc Tran.
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Maine was officially the first state to declare victory on its marriage equality referendum, a particularly poignant moment considering that just three years earlier, Maine voters had rejected a proposed marriage equality law. Mainers United for Marriage tweeted the photo above, and then published video of the moment. Watch it below, but turn down your volume first — there's a good deal of joyful screaming.
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In Minnesota, the campaign fighting to defeat an antigay constitutional amendment was just about to call it a night, without conclusive results at 1:45 am, when Minnesotans United for All Families' communications director Kelly Schwinghammer reported that the Associated Press just called the race in favor of equality. What followed was a joyous, impromptu celebration of historic magnitude. Relive that moment below — jump to the 3:00 mark if you want to bypass campaign manager Richard Carlbom's measured-but-hopeful speech to campaign workers leading up to the unexpected moment of victory.
Do you live in a state that just legalized marriage equality? Do you have images or video you want to share of the historic moment? It's not too late! Send an email to staff@shewired.com with your pictures or videos and a brief explanation, and we'll add them to this slideshow.
<p>Sunnivie is an award-winning journalist and the managing editor at <em>The Advocate</em>. A proud spouse and puppy-parent, Sunnivie strives to queer up the world of reporting while covering the politics of equality daily.</p>
<p>Sunnivie is an award-winning journalist and the managing editor at <em>The Advocate</em>. A proud spouse and puppy-parent, Sunnivie strives to queer up the world of reporting while covering the politics of equality daily.</p>
