It felt good to be out in a crowd, chanting, marching and feeling like part of something bigger. Not at all like the many big fancy dinners I go to all the time. Nearly everyone had homemade signs - us included - and the messages were as diverse as the people. They all mattered and they all resonated. Some were heartfelt, some funny (my favorite: The Gay Agenda, #1 Equality #2 See number 1) and most very simple.

Ours was the latter: We ARE An American Family - a simple truth that we didn't see in any No on 8 ads and something that may have made the difference. Until the general public sees us as real people and not some nebulous "other" asking for what seems to them an elusive and abstract notion of equality, we will never make serious progress in the court of public opinion.

It was an inspiring afternoon. I was thrilled to see that when it suddenly started to absolutely pour the crowd didn't disperse. Out came the umbrellas, the kids in strollers were covered in their little plastic bubbles and some just got soaked (that would be me).

We all trudged through the mud puddles and grass past the Washington Monument and toward the White House. There was no stopping us - the final destination was as important as the journey. As one sign said: Obama, Don't Forget Us. No matter who is in the White House, it will continue to be important to show up at the front door every once in a while.

It remains to be seen if this Stonewall 2.0 has momentum. I hope so. This afternoon made me feel like the grassroots movement that has seemed so elusive to many of our national organizations is actually there for the organizing. But that also seems like it needs to come from the bottom up, for many reasons.

One thing I do know is that our community's reaction to these recent losses seems to have an very ironic silver lining, prompting an upsurge in grassroots organizing and certainly discussion of the strategies and tactics we are employing in our battle for equal treatment under the law. This is going to be very interesting.