it is not an abstract issue for them, either. >> how did gerry studds, out in congress? 're talking about this is before barney frank, fellow congressmember from massachusetts, came out. >> gerry was the first openly member of congress but he came out of this controversy in 1983. i think the most important thing of his coming out was in the midst of his controversy -- this controversy, rather than saying his actions were based on alcohol or any other excuses and never people of other members of congress have used over the years, he proudly stood up on the floor of the house and said he was a game man, something that had never been done before. inhink as he demonstrated that act, it gave a lot of other people the confidence and courage to also stand up. and i think that act has brought us where we are today. less than 50 years after stonewall, 30 years after gerry spoke out on the floor of the house, it is a different world we live in. >> thank you, dean hara, for being with us. our to end with the comments of legislature, a former legislator in minnesota. during this mont

joining me now is dean hara, widower of representative gerry studds.cognizing the civil rights with lbgt community. melissa murray. it is great to have you here. these are big cases. i want to begin with you because you experienced the injury of doma which is to say what did doma mean in your life? what did it deny you would have had if doma was not will? >> i was in an interesting position because i was in the house with my husband during the debate in 1996. and even then, we saw that it was blatant discrimination against gay people. i remember that gerry went on the floor and spoke he made as much into and did everything every other member of congress did. but yet, the protections that their spouses would have would be denied me. little did i know that we would get married six years later and little did i know that he would die two years after that. it hurt then knowing that congress was putting a law on the books that hurt me personally. it was even harder after he died to know that what was in abstract point in the 1996 was now concrete reality tha