Marriage Equality and Changing Minds

via Gallup

In June 2015 the US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the same right to marriage as opposite-sex couples, under the same terms and conditions. This tracks with an overall shift in public thinking in the United States regarding lgbtqia+ folks and marriage. As you can see in the graph above from Gallup, acceptance has reached 71%, which is remarkable given how deeply polarized the population is in the United States about most issues. I suspect that part of what has changed minds has been the same-sex weddings people have attended.

There's something special about a wedding. At its best, it is a celebration of the love of a couple, and of their commitment to one another. It's a joyful time, and it's hard for attendees not to get caught up in the emotion and beauty of the event, whether it's a fairly simple ceremony or a formal affair. Seeing two people in love and making a profound commitment to one another can tend to override any objections a person might feel due to sexual orientation. Furthermore, seeing the couple continue on to make a life together is pretty persuasive in terms of understanding that what really matters is love.

Finding someone so special that you want to spend the rest of your life with them, sharing not just love but also responsibilities, challenges, and victories, is pretty amazing. At the end of the day, I don't think anyone really wants to be completely alone. It's not hard to understand that everyone has the same sort of feelings, even as sexual orientation differs. We're all just humans trying to find affirmation and happiness.

If you're ready to take the leap into a life of matrimony, I would be happy to help as your officiant. Contact me and let's plan the celebration of your love.