Reflecting on the one year anniversary of the Obergfell v. Hodges case which made marriage equality the rule of the land in all 50 states is a bittersweet affair.
What would normally be a pure celebration of how far we have come has been marred by the Orlando shooting which occurred just two weeks ago.
Though we have come so far, and the idea of marriage being legally between individuals of the opposite gender is now nearly as foreign as interracial marriage bans, the loss of 49 remind us how far yet we have to go.
Nevertheless, let us take a moment and reflect on the fact that now, just one year later, a minority of Americans are just a bit more free and equal than they once were. Though they still face discrimination, violence, and stigma, it is at least some small comfort that the federal government recognizes their unions as legitimate.
The next hurdle to overcome is a large one, and a missing gap in our legal books that should make us all ashamed: in many states nationwide, it is still completely legal to discriminate based on someone’s sexuality. Gay persons nationwide can be fired, denied housing, and openly discriminated against without any legal repercussions. When the state tries to challenge these horrible practices, fundamental Christians clutch their pearls and declare religious persecution, but we can all see past that bullsh*t.
So here is a reflection on the past, a mourning on the near-present, and a hope for the future that we can continue taking progressive steps in the right direction to ensure equal treatmen and full rights to ALL Americans, not just the historical majority.
Remembering that one year ago today, love won.
