While reading "Say "I Do" to Marriage Equality" by classmate Sydney Spencer, images of what my future wedding might look like immediately started fluttering through my head. What will the dress look like? What flowers and color scheme will I have? What flavors will the cake consist of?! Then as I read on I quickly began to imagine what it would be like if I had finally found the Prince Charming that everyone is always fussing about and was on my way to my happy ending, only to be stopped in my tracks by the ignorance of someone who does not agree with my choice in a partner.
Then I began thinking of a recent fight my boyfriend and I had had over a controversial movie that I watched for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The notorious, "cowboy love story" Brokeback Mountain. My boyfriend had immediately reacted with disgust when I notified him of the fact that I was currently watching the movie. I, with my anti-discriminatory views, became really mad with his ignorance. I questioned him, "If a cowgirl and a cowboy fell in love one summer on a mountain and they met up periodically throughout their lives at that same mountain, would that be a sweet timeless love story?" "Yes!" he replied. "Then why is it not same in the instance that it is the same situation only with two cowboys?" I further question. He couldn't give me an answer, but in turn apologized for his rude reaction that had offended my personal beliefs.
I greatly admire Spencer's choice of the words "Marriage Equality" in place of the frequently used alternatives "defense of marriage" and "gay marriage". And, I also love that she gives the issue a personal feel by saying,
"Imagine you and your fiance go to the county courthouse to get a marriage license. You pay the fee, but the clerk refuses to issue the license. Why? Well, they don't approve of who you plan to marry. And, the law says you can't marry the person you've chosen, and who has chosen you."
This is exactly the point was I was trying to get across to my boyfriend! I doesn't matter whether it's an opposite-sex, Biracial, or same-sex couple. Love is love! The Declaration of Independence assures that all men and women are ensured certain unalienable rights. We've all heard the "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" spiel. So is marriage not the pursuit of happiness with another person? I believe it is. That is why I stand by my classmate's opinion of marriage equality. "I am not willing to give up any of my rights, which is why I support marriage and religious equality for all Americans!"
