The recent ruling by New York's highest court denying marriage to same-sex couples was another reminder of how far we have to go.

Not only did the justices rule against extending equality to same-sex couples, but the New York opinion was a study in archaic and unfounded prejudices.

The New York Court of Appeals concluded that the state could limit marriage to opposite-sex couples because of their ability to procreate: "Intuition and experience suggest that a child benefits from having before his or her eyes, every day, living models of what both a man and a woman are like."

Apparently the court forgot that single parents, too, are real families.

The same goes for the thousands of children who are being raised by same-sex couples. The court upheld an unjust law based on its "intuition" and its unrealistic view of New York families.

The court irresponsibly ignored mountains of scientific evidence and research by child welfare experts who have found sexual orientation does not prevent a couple from being a good parent.

Doctors who deal with kids all the time have rebutted the court's central claim. "The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that a considerable body of professional literature provides evidence that children with parents who are homosexual can have the same advantages and the expectations for health, adjustment and development as can children whose parents are heterosexual," the group stated in February 2002.

The group's July magazine, Pediatrics, published a report reaffirming this statement and acknowledging the importance of marriage for same-sex couples and their families.

As Americans become more informed, they understand that denying marriage is discrimination against a specific group of citizens. New York polls show that a majority of New Yorkers favor marriage equality, a shift from just a few years ago. Nationally, polls also show a double-digit decline in opposition to marriage for same-sex couples.

Part of the reason for this change is because people have seen same-sex couples get married in Massachusetts, and they know the sky hasn't fallen.

After hearing the stories of thousands of real families wanting to live the American dream and make a lifelong commitment, people realize that what these families are seeking is what most people want: a good job, a safe home, a loving spouse and a stable family.

For the first time, a majority of Fortune 500 companies now offer health insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of employees, and more than 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies prohibit discrimination based on employees' sexual orientation.

While our struggle for equality continues in many states throughout our nation, the progress we have made in just a few short years is inspiring. Poll after poll shows that younger Americans believe that two people who are committed to each other should not be treated as second-class citizens just because they are not what some people consider a conventional family.

As our children and their children grow up, the prejudices of today will cease to exist tomorrow.

Similar to other movements for equality — from women's suffrage to integration to civil rights — Americans will look back at marriage equality one day and not understand why it was so difficult to realize the American ideal of liberty and justice for all.

Joe Solmonese is president of the Human Rights Campaign. He wrote this for the Progressive Media Project, a source of liberal commentary on domestic and international issues. The project is affiliated with The Progressive magazine. Reach Solmonese at pmproj@progressive.org.