On the 27th of June, 2015, the United States of America went through a historic victory advocating a new civil right in favor of same-sex marriage. This landmark was decided on by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The United States is now the 21st country to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, including territories. Same-sex couples who have gone through official conjugality will now enjoy the same legal rights and benefits as married heterosexuals.
This decision terminated the endless activism and litigation that went on for years. The arbitration marked a colorful spot in U.S. history with exultation and tearful embraces shared during the moment of its announcement. Polls indicating that most Americans now accept the union, are one of the signs of the ever-growing changes in public opinion. People all over the world joined in on the celebration by expressing their elation (mostly on social media) by donning the rainbow flag. But considering the fact that this event is public knowledge, we cannot deny the horrific outcry a few have expressed. The conservatives continue to stand and fight by pushing on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. They encourage people to ‘resist and reject judicial tyranny’ instead of retreating. To these people – and people who share the same sentiments with them – this event has placed this issue (LGBTQ rights) on a larger scale. Swift as a deer. Quiet as a shadow. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Quick as a snake. Calm as still water.
The issue, in all honesty, is that this is and never was supposed to be an issue in the first place. This is one of those circumstances that do not depend on anyone’s opinion. Basic human rights is what is at stake here. There are a group of people who disagree with the concept of same-sex marriage or giving the same rights to the LGBTQ community, but this is exactly the concern: human rights is not ours to bestow; it is naturally handed down to us the moment we are born into this world that is molded by rationality.
Religion is the main reason why the nay-sayers are proceeding to put their foot down. Then again, it makes us wonder why there are also a handful of church groups and religious individuals who fully support this fight for basic human rights. It is a matter of how we understand these teachings. The Bible clearly says to love and respect one another. How can we accomplish what is prophesied if we, ourselves, deprive our own brothers and sisters with the two most important factors in the Holy Book and as human beings? It is not our business to dictate on who people should fall in love with, and it is certainly not our decision to make when it comes to what people want to do with their lives. It is time to get rid of the medieval mind-set and open ourselves to what is already natural and human. We don’t have to encourage people to appreciate it, but we certainly do not have the power to take someone else’s right to live freely without judgment and discrimination. We cannot continue to fight an irrational cause in a rational world. You cannot desire freedom for yourself while denying it to others.