Momentum builds for marriage equality

>>> nationally same-sex couples continue to be left out with the full benefits that come with the institution of marriage because some people want to keep marriage narrowly codified as a union between one man and one woman and in spite of the opposition there are big signs that support and momentum are building for marriage equality . 8, that is the number of california proposition that banned marriage for same-sex couples but was eventually overturned in 2010 and whose fate will ultimately be decided by the supreme court . 2 is the number of cases on marriage equality , one on proposition 8 and the other on the defense of marriage act that will be heard on back-to-back days by the supreme court this month. 23 is how many days remain until oral arguments begin in the first of those cases. hollingsworth v. perry which deals with whether overturning prop 8 in california was constitutional. 212 is how many members of congress signed a brief asking the court to strike down doma or the defense of marriage act which narrowly defines marriage between a man and a woman. 131. that is the number of conservative leaders, yes, conservative leaders, that signed a brief asking the court to overturn california 's prop 8. 61 is the percentage of california voters that now approve of same-sex marriage according to a recent field poll, and that is more than double the rate of california voters who supported same-sex marriage in 1977 when the question was first asked. 51 is the national percentage of american voters that support marriage equality in the latest national poll by nbc and the " wall street journal ." that my friends, is a majority. 2 is the number of briefs that the obama administration has filed. one each, for the prop 8 and doma cases, and it's the first time that a u.s. president has come out in support for the rights of same-sex couples to the supreme court . and 2 for the individuals that make up each of the same-sex couples who hope that the support and momentum continues all the way to the nine members of the supreme court so that they, too, can live and love like any other couple. coming up, we're going to switch gears. it's women's history month, and the legacy of the great ann richard is on our table. her daughter cecille joins us next. ready for