TIME Magazine: "Gay Marriage Already Won"

Time magazine is publishing two different covers for next week's issue which features two same-sex couples kissing. Just a few years ago this would have been considered unimaginable, and even now the decision is probably likely to spur protests from the heterosexual supremacist crowd.

Time editor Rick Stengel explains his decision:

"Whatever the Supreme Court decides, it seems clear that the majority of Americans feel marriage is a civil right and that denying that right to people because of their sexual orientation is a violation of equal protection under the law…. We had a long debate in our offices about this week’s cover images of two same-sex couples. Some thought they were sensationalist and too in-your-face. Others felt the images were beautiful and symbolized the love that is at the heart of the idea of marriage. I agree with the latter, and I hope you do too."

Here is some more information about the couples pictured above:

Award-winning photographer Peter Hapak shot the split-run cover portraits for TIME. Russell Hart and Eric LaBonte are the male couple featured on the cover; they are legal domestic partners living in LA and are engaged. Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson and Kristen Ellis-Henderson are the female couple; they are legally married in New York state, and have two children.

Time is changing and times are changing! And that's a good thing.