Last semester, I took a human development class that was required for my school's nursing curriculum. While the class was mostly about the physical, emotional and behavioral development of a human from birth to death, we spent a class section talking about the 'normal' household. Previously, most families were categorized as a nuclear household, which consists of a pair of parents, (or a mom and a dad, as my professor put it) and children. However, in today's world, most children grow up in single-parent households. While for most of my life, I grew up in a single-parent household, that is no longer the case. Yet, I do not fall under the traditional nuclear household.
Because my parents are lesbians. Shocking, I know right? Except it shouldn't be.
On November 11, 2012, my life was changed for the better. It was on that day that I was witness to my mother completely, and utterly happy, as I walked her down the aisle to marry her best friend, a woman. We are now living in a world where, for the most part, it is OK to be gay. While there are still many hate crimes targeted at members of the LGBTQ community, it is more common for a man or woman to openly express their love interest than it was, let's say even 20 years ago.
Growing up, I didn't have many friends within the LGBTQ community. In fact, I didn't know anyone who liked the same gender until I was nearly 15. When my mom began her relationship with my stepmom in 2010, I am embarrassed to say that I was embarrassed. I had just started dating my first boyfriend, and was starting high school where no one knew me. Thankfully, I was attending a performing arts school, which introduced me to a variety of people; people who were accepting and huge members of the LGBTQ community. It was with them that I found the comfort and acceptance that I desperately needed. I will forever thank those friends for helping me realize one of the most important lessons then... love is love.
Many people ask me, "What's it like having lesbian parents?"
The difference is, there is no difference. My parents have provided me with food in the fridge, a roof over my head and all the clothes I could ever dream of. We sit down for family dinners, watch television as a family and have game nights. They've helped me reach my goals and create new ones. They help me pay for college, support my decisions and teach me wise lessons. We laugh, we cry, we yell at each other and we love. Having lesbian parents is the same as having gay parents, which coincidentally, is the same as having straight parents. Why should it matter who anyone loves, as long as they make them happy, physically and emotionally?
It's been six years since my moms started dating, and four yeas since they have been married. I can honestly say, it has been the happiest six years of my families' life. Having two moms is something I will forever be proud of, and something that I speak about openly with my friends, and new people I meet. As Lin-Manuel Miranda said at the 2016 Tony Awards, "Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love, cannot be killed or swept aside."
