Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the Boston-based legal group that won equal marriage rights in Massachusetts and Connecticut, announced on Tuesday that it intends to successfully fight for equal marriage rights in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island, making New England a "marriage equality zone" by 2012.

The campaign, called "Six by Twelve," was announced on the fifth anniversary of the historic Massachusetts ruling that gave gay couples the right to wed. GLAD asserted that through litigation and diligent work with statewide equality groups, the goal is realistic. Collaborative efforts with equality groups, like Love Makes a Family in Connecticut and MassEquality in Massachusetts, were effective in achieving marriage equality in those states. So, GLAD plans to work with Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Vermont Freedom to Marry and Equality Maine, as well as several New Hampshire allies.

"By 2012, we not only can have marriage equality throughout New England, we can have a road map for the rest of the country," said GLAD Executive Director Lee Swislow.