#LoveWins – Marriage Equality in the U.S.

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It has been an outstanding year so far for the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) community! With the likes of YouTube beauty guru, Ingrid Nilsen, coming out and former Olympian, Bruce Jenner, transitioning to Caitlyn Jenner, who knows what’s coming next? But if the colors of the rainbow on your social media feeds are any indicator, one of the most iconic political and social moments of 2015 was a victory for LGBTQ people and their supporters. On Friday, June 26th, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide and will get to enjoy the same benefits and legal rights as heterosexual couples.

After a 5-4 ruling, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Anthony Kennedy, authored this legal interpretation of the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians, which has gone viral:

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At the White House, President Obama stated that nationwide legalization “is a victory for America” and that “all people should be treated equally, regardless of who they are or who they love.” He declared his support for same-sex marriage back in 2012.

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Major gay rights cases in the U.S. date back to 1995. By 1997, most states had Statutory Bans on same-sex marriage, which are laws made by the state’s Legislature. Alaska was the first to implement a Constitutional Ban, preventing recognition of same-sex unions; 31 states had this ban by 2012. It was in 2004 that Massachusetts became the first state to grant marriage licences to same-sex couples. It would be a decade later that only 14 states continued to uphold their Constitutional Bans. Ironically, it was the Supreme Court’s review of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection and fair treatment of people, that now allows marriage equality in the United States.

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While our neighbors to the South are taking in their newly-established law, Canada has legalized same-sex marriage for almost a decade. Through the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act (introduced as Bill C-38), “no person or organization shall be deprived of any benefit” and “a marriage is not void or voidable by reason only that the spouses are of the same sex.”

The news of marriage equality exploded across all social media outlets shortly after President Obama’s speech. With hashtags such as #LoveWins and #MarriageEquality, people from around the world showed their support for this historic event. Especially after debates and protests over the controversial Confederate flag (which some say is a reminder of segregation and slavery), the waving of the Rainbow flag symbolizes the equality America is striving for.

To hit closer to home, Christian, whom I interviewed in my previous post, was happy to share his story and perspective on the legalization:

“When I was young (still am actually), I was unique from the boys in our neighborhood. I was the boy that hung out with girls; I did have guy friends, but I preferred being around girls more. I didn’t really understand why, but I was doing something that made me happy. I got teased and called “gay” often; I never knew what it meant, but how it was said was vile.

Later on, I discovered that it was an insult, a sin, and an illegal thing to be. The more people used it, the more it showed me that it was a negative impact on society. I was extremely scared and ashamed of myself. I built a fake identity, a characteristic which I was never proud of, and showed that to everyone. I acted like most of the boys in my neighborhood instead of showing my true self. I developed fake crushes just to prove that I belonged and be “normal”.  I caged myself in the closet and kept it tightly closed because I was frightened that I was going to push people away. I held this in for years until I came to Canada.

Being gay is a fundamental part of my being, the core of who I have always been, and the thing that I had repressed and ran from all my life. It has now made me realize that you are only strong if you let yourself be, and that is the decision I made to overcome my obstacles and truly show who I am. Being gay does not define you, it’s just part of your life. 

Everyone breaks once in their lifetime as a way of regaining strength. Picking up my life and understanding who I am as a human being allowed me to accept the good and bad of life… it is perfectly okay to be me. But it is not okay for people to waste their time being so locked in and afraid of opening a door that will…change their perspective on everything. If people are stopping you from being who you are, they don’t need to be part of your life. You are the same person, despite the fact you are gay.

People always say, “never judge someone without knowing their whole story.” But never explain who you are to people because each and every one of us is human and are the same. We function the same way, we love, and we live. In fact, that is why I believe labels should vanish.

This gave me a better look to what love is truly about. Love should never be shameful. We should never feel humiliated of who we get attached to, and I believe we are able to follow our hearts despite everything.

Taking risks are one of the best ways to express yourself, as it shows everyone that making that choice makes you stronger. It inspires people to never be afraid and escape what they are trying to hide from. Humans needs to learn to escape the negativity and give off positive vibes. We should never waste our time casting a shadow that blocks the beauty of life.

America has shown the world equality. In just one day, the news brought millions of people tears of joy, a parade of honor and happiness, and hearts that gained more self-confidence and self-respect.

Buckle up because we still have a lot of work to do.

Love wins and it will remain.”

This pivotal point in American history shows how times have changed since the 1990s. Things are looking up for those who have fought long and hard for marriage equality! To add to your daily dose of pride, here are pictures (and a video) that encapsulate what finally experiencing change looks and feels like:

Love is love.

*All opinions are mine unless stated otherwise.*

“For all our differences, we are one people—stronger together than we could ever be alone.” – President Obama

Best wishes,

Kandace  🙂