Let me start by saying how amazingly blessed I feel to have such amazingly supportive and accepting friends and family. I have become an activist of sorts over the past few years, but those who know me know that I advocate for PUBLIC education in most of my "spare" time. Occaisionally, I share an LGPT rights post or an equality support post. Well, today has been a different day. With the Supreme Court of the United States hearing oral arguments on two key cases this week, it became real to me that equality is not only "on trial", but that it is also gaining support.
What is equality? It is something different to everyone, but it should mean equal treatment for everyone. Today, equality means equal rights and protection under the law. With the Supreme Court taking up the cases of Proposition 8 and DOMA, it has become apparent that equality for all could be one step closer or it could be set back for a bit longer. Equality is coming! It is just a matter of time before all Americans will be able to marry the person they love despite gender, race, creed, or religion. The US Supreme Court could decide this summer to declare laws descriminating based on gender to be unconstitutional.
As the Supreme Court prepared to hear oral arguments today and tomorrow, supporters of marriage equality began to turn social media pages RED for equality. As I changed my "profile" picture to the newly reddened equality symbol, I witnessed something amazing. As friends, family, and friends of friends started to change their own "profile" and "cover" photos, tears began to stream down my face. Recognizing the amount of support and acceptance from my "small town" friends, I became overwhelmed with emotion and humbled by the outpour of support.
I know that I flooded social media with many posts, shares, and pictures calling for support for marriage equality, but I never imaigined the huge outpouring of support that would flood my computer screen throughout the day. I continue to be amazed by the messages, comments, emails, and pictures from my many supportive friends.
A friend shared this video and again, I was moved to tears as I realized the support for the LGBT community that is being displayed by non-LGBT family and friends.
While the Supreme Court decision (expected sometime in mid-June) may not have an impact on many of them, they still choose to stand behind those of us who will be impacted the most. We are a nation on the verge of true equality, as expected by our forefathers. We are one split second away from seeing dreams turn to realities for the LGBT community as a whole nation, not just through individual states.
I stand with my LGBT family as our "straight" family and friends stand beside us to witness history in the making. I am proud that my real friends will be on the right side of history when the time comes and all is finally decided. It may come as early as June 2013 and it may come years from now, but it is coming and we will all share equal rights under the law when all is said and done.
LOVES
