Why Marriage Equality Isn’t Enough and Why #LoveStillWins
We’re about to embark on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling that made marriage equality possible for all. We celebrated in 2015 and we’ll celebrate again this year, because this is something we celebrate every day.
At Nebo, we believe in inclusiveness. We believe in equality. We believe that what unites us is greater than what divides us. We believe every single person deserves love, respect, dignity and happiness, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or any other stupid construct that we use to "other" people who don’t fit our mold.
This doesn’t mean we deserve a pat on the back or special recognition. This means we’re simply not shitty. It’s the bare minimum. To love and respect other humans shouldn’t be something we aspire to — it should be the norm.
That’s why marriage equality isn’t enough. We need to keep pushing for change. In society. In corporate culture. In our daily lives.
Domestic benefits should be the law, not something that companies can opt in or out of based on their beliefs or prejudices.
We need to keep fighting the stereotypes that we inadvertently assign to the LGBTQ community. We need to make sure that anyone — and I mean anyone, not just our LGBTQ friends and family — knows that they’re not different. They’re human. Just like anyone reading this post.
Whether it’s bathroom access rights, domestic partner benefits or fighting things like discrimination, intimidation or loose talk around the proverbial water cooler, we need to continue making progress. Marriage equality was a necessary step on the path toward inclusiveness and equality. But it’s just not enough.
Also, for all of the xenophobes, homophobes, bigots and small-minded, hate-filled mongers — please realize that you’re on the wrong side of history.
Power is an interesting and fickle thing. At the moment, our politics may feel broken and our country seemingly more divided than ever, but the beauty of our system (both economic and political) is that those in power have to earn it, or lose it.
Although people and parties come in and out of power, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Love wins. There is nothing you can do about it. It doesn’t matter how much you hate or how “uncomfortable” you are. Or even how much you think marriage equality is wrong.
You’re human, just like everyone else. Humanity is all we have. We’re equal. No person is better or worse because of who they love. That’s not just my belief — that’s a core belief and value of Nebo’s as well.
Hate is easy. Love is hard. And even if you disagree with us, we still love you. We still respect you. But here at Nebo, #LoveStillWins.
Comments
Add A CommentLove is a gift, not a rule from holy books or political ideas...
Well written Brian, I agree with you! Here in Romania the "communists party" who's in power, wants a referendum to explicitly forbid same sex weddings.
Kim - thank you for reading the blog post and for your comment. The point we’re making is not that people who have different beliefs are bad people. Everyone should be free to believe what they believe and love who they love — as long as it doesn’t harm others. The point is that when one group or society’s beliefs begin to impose on the wellbeing and human rights of others, we have to take a stand.
Neil - thanks for reading the post and for your comment, but we have to respectfully disagree. Calling someone else’s love “lust” because you disagree is insulting. You’re entitled to your opinion, but we hope you can see how that point of view and expressing those thoughts in that manner is imposing your beliefs and values on others. My guess is you wouldn't want others to describe your love as lust because they feel differently than you or would want your right to marry who you want restricted because of their beliefs.
Labeling everyone who disagrees with you xenophobes, homophobes, bigots and small-minded, hate-filled mongers only shows you also have no respect for “other” people who don’t fit your mold. If you want to lift society to "higher moral ground", you have to be standing there first yourself. Discriminating, intimidating, or using such loose talk is as immoral for you as for anyone else. If you want to talk morals, you need to practice them.
The "love" you keep chanting about is lust....and lust never wins. Redefining words (like "love" and "lust", as well as "marriage", "equality", "justice" and other wholesome words to make your cause look legitimate) will not change a thing and most certainly will not change history - to the contrary, you are bringing destruction on yourself and on society as a whole.