Love Wins

I have a confession to make. I think fifty percent of the rainbow makeup on Instagram is irrevocably cheesy. And yet, that didn’t stop me from being full with joy when they started popping up on my Instagram feed on Friday morning with celebratory words stating that same sex marriage had been passed in all fifty states of the United States.

I don’t see marriage in my future so I didn’t think I would care too much because I knew marriage equality was going to get passed in all 50 states anyway. And yet, when I heard the good news, I’ve realized that I do care. I care a lot.

I care because people hate themselves for something they can’t control. I care because people are bullied abused by their friends and family. I care because people are killing themselves because of the unacceptance and hatred they are facing.

I care because people shouldn’t have to spend their whole lives living a lie.

I care because I remember being eleven years old and questioning my sexuality for the first time. I was still just a kid but I was so ashamed and so full of self-hatred. “Why can’t I just be normal?” I questioned myself over and over again. I prayed many times, begging to be straight.

I didn’t know anyone in the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) community. I didn’t know anyone that was like me. I didn’t have anyone to look up to who showed me that just because they weren’t straight or they weren’t cisgender didn’t mean they weren’t awesome and successful.

In the past couple of years, so much progress has been made for LGBT rights. Even though there are still so many people against same sex marriage, it’s still crazy awesome to think that so many people support it. There’s so many more LGBT people in the media nowadays. In fact, two of my favorite bands (Years & Years and Pvris) have gay lead singers.

Though I was internally jumping off the walls about this Supreme Court decision, I was pulled back into reality when I hear my mother and father discussing it, saying how disgusting it is.

Because my parents have always been against LGBTQ people, even now, I still am quite uncomfortable of my sexuality.  My sexuality is entwined with internalized self-hatred, which is quite tiring.

I envision an accepting world where someone’s sexuality and gender will be accepted instead of hated. I envision a world with accepting parents, accepting friends and accepting communities.

There’s still so much more that’s needs to be done for the LGBTQ community (especially for transgender rights), but this accomplishment is too amazing not to celebrate.

I can’t help thinking about an Eminem quote in which talks about his view on the legalization of same sex marriage: “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want.”  Haha, the cynic in me laughs.