--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Marriage is not defined by who is denied…" description: "\"Marriage is not defined by who is denied it. When gay people share in the freedom to marry, it doesn't change your marriage.\" — Evan Wolfson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/evan-wolfson-37152_defined_marriage-is-not-defined-by-who-is-denied_1299772.jpg" --- # Marriage is not defined by who is denied it. When gay… ![“Marriage is not defined by who is denied it. When gay people share in the freedom to marry, it doesn't change your marriage.” quote by Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/evan-wolfson-37152_defined_marriage-is-not-defined-by-who-is-denied_1299772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/evan-wolfson-37152_defined_marriage-is-not-defined-by-who-is-denied_1299772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/evan-wolfson-37152_defined_marriage-is-not-defined-by-who-is-denied_1299772.jpg) > “Marriage is not defined by who is denied it. When gay people share in the freedom to marry, it doesn't change your marriage.” [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Marriage equality does not diminish existing marriages; inclusion expands freedom for all. **In simple terms:** Allowing gay marriage doesn't harm other marriages. Key Takeaway Support marriage equality for everyone. Themes rights inclusion equality family Mood hopeful advocacy Type political social When to use this quote - legislation - public discourse - personal relationships Key Concepts civil rights social change Questions to Reflect On - How does inclusion affect societal stability? - What fears arise from expanding marriage rights? A Different Perspective Opponents claim it threatens tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-marriage-1301804/) [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Denied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denied/) [Denied Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denied-gay-4264506/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Marry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-marry-1856437/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-people/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-defined-729209/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) ## Related quotes > [What is so powerful here is that we have the first federal appellate court and it's a case coming out of Utah affirming in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/what-is-so-powerful-here-is-that-we-have-the-first-federal-appellate/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [Courts should always do the right thing. But if winning were as simple as making a good argument and filing a good brief, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/courts-should-always-do-the-right-thing-but-if-winning-were-as-simple/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [That really important freedom in my life, the freedom to marry, came about because of choices that were made by policymakers who had power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buttigieg/that-really-important-freedom-in-my-life-the-freedom-to-marry-came/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-buttigieg/) > [“Mum,” she frowned “if one has freedom of worship to either be a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist or pagan: why can’t one have freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-david/mum-she-frowned-if-one-has-freedom-of-worship-to-either-be-a/) [S. A. David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/) > [The only change which marriage has brought into me is that it has given me lot of satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayed-khan/the-only-change-which-marriage-has-brought-into-me-is-that-it-has/) [Zayed Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayed-khan/) > [So I guess the most radical change after marriage is that I shift from my own home in Khar to Samir's place in Seven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neelam-kothari/so-i-guess-the-most-radical-change-after-marriage-is-that-i-shift/) [Neelam Kothari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neelam-kothari/) > [Fasting for your marriage can change your marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-e-smith/fasting-for-your-marriage-can-change-your-marriage/) [Jennifer E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-e-smith/) > [“And things don't change in a marriage until the spouse who is taking responsibility for a problem that is not hers decides to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/and-things-don-t-change-in-a-marriage-until-the-spouse-who-is-taking/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [I wouldn't change my marriage because I have eight awesome kids that I would not change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/i-wouldn-t-change-my-marriage-because-i-have-eight-awesome-kids-that/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [Change marriage and you change the world. Convince people that government, not God, lays down the rules for marriage, and they will believe more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/change-marriage-and-you-change-the-world-convince-people-that/) [R. C. 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It would be impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/it-was-easy-to-find-things-she-would-like-our-taste-was-the-same-it/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [Things don't change in a marriage until the spouse who is taking responsibility for a problem that is not hers decides to say or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/things-don-t-change-in-a-marriage-until-the-spouse-who-is-taking/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [I don't want to get married unless they change the marriage laws. You should have to sign a marriage contract for no more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/i-don-t-want-to-get-married-unless-they-change-the-marriage-laws-you/) [Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/) > [Women hope men will change after marriage but they don't; men hope women won't change but they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettina-arndt/women-hope-men-will-change-after-marriage-but-they-don-t-men-hope/) [Bettina Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettina-arndt/) ## More by Evan Wolfson > [I'm not in this just to change the law. It's about changing society. I want gay kids to grow up believing that they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/i-m-not-in-this-just-to-change-the-law-it-s-about-changing-society-i/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [Marriage is a language of love, equality, and inclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/marriage-is-a-language-of-love-equality-and-inclusion/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [There is no marriage without engagement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/there-is-no-marriage-without-engagement/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [When it comes to federal programs, even if states are discriminating, the federal government should not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/when-it-comes-to-federal-programs-even-if-states-are-discriminating/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [Marriage is also a social statement, preeminently describing and defining a person's relationship and place in society. 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But if winning were as simple as making a good argument and filing a good brief, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/courts-should-always-do-the-right-thing-but-if-winning-were-as-simple/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [The right wing would love nothing more than for us to spend all of our airtime discussing distractions such as polygamy, bestiality and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/the-right-wing-would-love-nothing-more-than-for-us-to-spend-all-of/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [What is so powerful here is that we have the first federal appellate court and it's a case coming out of Utah affirming in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/what-is-so-powerful-here-is-that-we-have-the-first-federal-appellate/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) > [I think there's tremendous significance and opportunity in Americans seeing legally married gay couples treated with respect in our nation's capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-wolfson/i-think-there-s-tremendous-significance-and-opportunity-in-americans/) [Evan Wolfson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) [Explore all 12 Evan Wolfson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-wolfson/) ## More Defined quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. 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