the first lesbian couple to marry in santa clara county witnessed by their then 12-year-old son isaiah smith. >> we felt like we are part of the masses. we are equal. and then the marriages stopped and there were 18,000 of us that were put into a separate bubble. we felt separate to our own community. >> reporter: they say that feeling drives them to keep donating and show up at rallies. though the decision allows same-sex marriages to marry again in california they won't stop fighting until it is legal nationwide. >> my aunt in michigan has no rights at all. >> that's right. >> i'm a champion for them and a champion for our friends, chantelle and pam in new jersey that just had a baby and have no health benefits. >> they know the price of that, too. they estimate that while the defense of marriage was in effect they payed more every year than couples whose marriages were recognized. >> there was a penalty. we were paying through the nose in taxes. you can switch back and forth between married and single which we would have to do. and the difference was astronomical. it was in the thousands.