A leading black gay-rights organization says that President Obama's new stand against the Defense of Marriage Act has especially high stakes for African-American LGBT families.

David Wilson was a plaintiff in the 2004 court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. Wilson's journey toward the landmark case began 10 years earlier when he lost his first partner, Ron Loso, to a heart attack. Wilson shared his story in a recording for the national oral-history archive StoryCorps.

Hear the recording below and read NPR anchor Michele Norris' essay on discovering her own family's history.

The couple's story is told through photos on the magazine's website.

This week on The Confab: Marriage equality comes to D.C., but is the fight over for same-sex couples? Plus, a look at women, power and black pathology: Why are black women getting such a bad rap? Join The Root's managing editor Joel Dreyfuss as he talks with Washington reporter Dayo Olopade and regular contributor to The Root Adam Serwer.

* Podcast production by Abdullah Rufus.

* Podcast theme music by Timothy Morrison.