Friendly Voices: Dear Abby

Jeanne Phillips, author of advice column Dear Abby, is being honored this week by PFLAG for coming out in support of same-sex marriage. Phillips' mother, the original Abby, first brought PFLAG into the national consciousness in a 1984 column. PFLAG is giving Phillips their first ever "Straight For Equality" award.

Phillips took over for her mother five years ago when the now 89 year-old writer was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Last year she wrote, "Accepting the status quo is not always the best thing to do," she wrote. "Women were once considered chattel, and slavery was regarded as sanctioned in the Bible. However, western society grew to recognize that neither was just. Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain have recognized gay marriage, and one day, perhaps, our country will too."