In my 20 years of life as a US citizen, I have witnessed countless momentous events for our country. I’ve existed through 9/11 and the Iraq War, government shut downs, Hurricane Katrina, the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster, race riots, shootings and bombings. Though these moments have been significant to the United States’ history, they were certainly not joyous occasions. In fact, I avoid watching the news for the sake of my own sanity; it’s disturbing to hear about destruction and death on such regular terms.
Despite the tragic events that have encompassed America’s recent history, happiness, if only for a few short moments, has taken over the country with the national legalization of same-sex marriage.
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled that marriage between two consenting adults, no matter their gender, was a legal right guaranteed by the Constitution. No stipulations. No qualifiers. Every couple has the power to obtain a legal license of marriage in all 50 states. Love wins! Mark your calendars on this date with a rainbow in celebration of our nation’s equal rights victory.
This achievement is so astounding for our country that I can’t believe it was ever an issue to begin with. If you don’t believe in sexualities other than heterosexuality, you have a right to it, but opinions should not stand in the way of basic human rights. One person’s matrimony to another does not have an effect on anyone outside of the two within the marriage. I am a firm believer in doing what you want, or who you want, as long as you’re not causing pain to others.
“Why did something as insignificant as gender determine if two people could celebrate their love for each other?” “Why did a person even need to define their gender to validate a piece of paper?” These are questions that I’m expecting my children and grandchildren will ask me about this part of history.
I’m prepared to tell them that many people are frightened by concepts they don’t understand. I’ll explain that I grew up in a time when sexuality was incredibly misunderstood, thought of only as “good” and “bad.” Brave, strong men wanted delicate, compliant women. This was good sexuality, and anything else was looked down upon. I’ll tell them that those who didn’t fit into the “good” category were not allowed to profess their love without harsh consequences. “That’s just the way the world was,” I’ll say. And for some people, it’s the way the world still is.
The legalization of same-sex marriage is one big step in the direction of breaking down these barriers between sexuality and fear. It doesn’t fix everything, but it’s getting our country closer to acceptance for those who are not “straight,” or more appropriately termed cisgendered heterosexuals.
Equality and respect for everyone.
