Love Is Legalized
The Supreme Court today declared a historic landmark ruling in the fight for marriage equality, proclaiming that same-sex couples can marry nationwide. Overwhelming support for the ruling has engulfed social media, sparked by President Barack Obama’s tweet in which he used the hashtag “#LoveWins.” Vice President Joe Biden also tweeted, “All marriages at their root are about love. In America, our laws now recognize that simple truth. #LoveWins today & we couldn’t be prouder.” The fight for marriage equality has been a lengthy one, spanning back nearly forty-five years. Members of the Gay-Straight Alliance Club at Hills West are overjoyed by the news and believe this is a huge victory in the fight for equality.
A member of the club who wished to remain anonymous said:
“Well, in my opinion, I think everyone should be happy about this big step in the LGBT community. This should be something for everyone to celebrate. It just comes to show that love and hard work can really pay off. Being gay is not easy one bit, but this one, simple law goes a long way in my future as well as thousands of others. And I feel bad for the people that are upset about the law because they are the ones who do no know what true love is.”
Although there is much support for the Supreme Court ruling, there is also much opposition. Jeb Bush, a 2016 GOP candidate, argued that the issue should not have been decided by the Supreme Court, but rather the states, stating “Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision.” Senator Mark Rubio, another 2016 GOP candidate, shared Bush’s sentiment. “I believe that marriage, as the key to strong family life, is the most important institution in our society,” Rubio began, “and should be between one man and one woman. People who disagree with the traditional definition of marriage have the right to change their state laws. That is the right of our people, not the right of the unelected judges or justices of the Supreme Court. This decision short-circuits the political process that has been underway on the state level for years.” Rick Perry, former Texas governor and 2016 GOP candidate, expressed the same values, stating, “I am disappointed the Supreme Court today chose to change the centuries old definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. I’m a firm believer in traditional marriage, and I also believe the 10th Amendment leaves it to each state to decide this issue. I fundamentally disagree with the court rewriting the law and assaulting the 10th Amendment. Our founding fathers did not intend for the judicial branch to legislate from the bench, and as president, I would appoint strict Constitutional conservatives who will apply the law as written.” However, society has shared their support of the ruling by trending the hashtag #LoveWins worldwide.
With the masses become more aware and advocating for civil and human rights issues, equality for all Americans is closer than ever before. As President Obama once said, “The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea: that we are all equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”
