Massachusetts

ABC News reports national studies show that 27 percent of kids in grades 6 through 12 say they have been bullied in the last 30 days. And 8 percent of American 8th graders reporting missing one day of school per month because of bullying.

Tens of thousands of gay rights supporters rallied in the nation's capital Sunday, marching from the White House to the Capitol demanding federal action on a whole host of issues from workplace discrimination to marriage.

The march was first announced earlier this year by famed activist Cleve Jones at Utah's gay pride parade and on Sunday, Jones said the goal was nothing less than full equality on every issue in every state.

Rachel Maddow points out that since gay people started getting married in Massachusetts five years ago, divorce rates have descended to pre-1940 levels.

Says Maddow: "Turns out gay marriage is a 'defense of marriage' act."

A recent study concluded that marriage equality has helped Massachusetts earn $111 million since 2004. The state recently celebrated the five-year anniversary of recording its first same-sex marriage license; and - because of this - same-sex couples are now 2.5 times more likely to move to Massachusetts.

Why not visit Massachusetts with your family - and enjoy a liberal, relaxed, welcoming environment?

In Pittsfield, MA Stephanie K. Lighten, 26, allegedly tried to artificially impregnate her wife Jennifer A. Lighten, 33, against her will.

When the Supreme Judicial Court handed down its landmark decision five years ago tomorrow allowing same-sex couples to wed in Massachusetts, opponents warned that traditional marriage would be endangered, while supporters envisioned an equality movement that would spread across the nation.

Over 11,000 same-sex marriages later, neither has happened.

Joy Spring and Carla Barbano waited until Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill Thursday that repealed a 1913 law that had blocked same-sex couples from outside Massachusetts from marrying in the state.

The Middletown couple have an 11-year-old daughter, Lizzy.

"It's extremely important. If something happened to one of us she'd always be taken care of," said Spring, who joined Barbano in a civil union in 2006 in New York.