I didn’t know that Marie Osmond had a lesbian daughter. And I certainly didn’t expect that Marie would defy convention by going public with her support of gay marriage, especially in the same week that the LDS Church reiterated its opposition to the practice.

Marie told Diane Sawyer:

“I believe in her civil rights. As a mother, I think my daughter deserves everything that she desires in life. She’s a good girl. She’s a wonderful child. I don’t think  God made one color [of] flower; I think he made many.”

Coming in this landmark week in which America is discussing gay marriage, kudos to Marie Osmond — and her daughter — for their courage.

There are times when it is imperative to speak out for justice and equality, even when social and ecclesiastical consequences make this hard (as seen in this week’s heartbreaking story of a young Mormon man who is being denied the privilege of serving a mission because he supports homosexual rights and defended his gay brother).

“It gets better.”