PROFILE OF GOODRIDGE DEFENDANTS: From the Associated Press

...The Goodridges--career women, mothers of 8-year-old Annie and self-described "middle-aged, tired soccer moms"--see their plans to marry in May as nothing more than a personal choice by two people in love. ...

The Goodridges were Julie Wendich and Hillary Smith when they met in 1985 at a Harvard lecture. As their relationship progressed and they contemplated buying a home and having a child together, legal obstacles materialized.

They drew up living wills, took as their surname the maiden name of Hillary’s grandmother, and penned legal documents spelling out their relationship.

After Julie gave birth to Annie, Hillary was barred from seeing them in the hospital because she was legally attached to neither. She wheedled her way to their bedsides, at one point saying she was Julie's sister, at another resorting to tearful pleas.

"At the time, it certainly didn't occur to me that 'Gosh, if I was married, this wouldn't have happened,'" Hillary said.

Then, one day when Annie was 5, the little girl heard the Beatles song "All You Need is Love" and began listing people she knew who loved one another.

Julie and Hillary were not among them.

"What about Ma and Mommy?" Hillary asked.

"You two don't love each other," Annie said, adding: "If you loved each other, you'd be married."

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posted by Eve at 6:24 PM | link

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