I write to you today to express how blessed and honored I feel that in my lifetime I am able to see my same-sex couple family members, friends, colleagues and Galore readers live freely and happily in love. The past twenty-four hours have felt far too surreal—“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family,” Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote. “[The challengers] ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.” With those words, same-sex marriage became legal in all fifty states and love finally won.
While I do believe our readers should celebrate and reflect on this beautiful moment in history, especially over this Pride-filled weekend, we should also remember that this is just one chapter in the book of marriage equality and the end, while closer than it’s ever been, is still a stretch away. What’s next for same-sex marriage organizations? For one, ran by Evan Wolfson for nearly thirty years, the answer is nothing because they’ve finally won. “We’ll close in a matter of months,” Wolfson told the New York Times, “I need to step back for a moment and really think about who I am when I’m not Mr. Marriage.”
It is these powerful, motivational people who will now be able to focus on other areas of discrimination and inequality. With one accomplishment comes the need to achieve many more–with a loss of one identity or organization comes the search for new ones and the ability to help others find comfort in their truest selves. The discrimination faced by the LGBT community of America is unacceptable, but is not yet over for many people around the world–it is up to us to fight for every human being’s dignity until total respect is given.
I want all of our LGBT readers, writers and contributors to feel supported, safe and understood each time they come to GaloreMag.com, and I promise we will continue to work and improve everyday until complete acceptance is achieved and that safety net is no longer needed. We must fight for the transgender community, people of color who face racial discrimination and women who are underrepresented until the echo of inequality becomes so loud, the world can do nothing but listen. I can only hope Galore’s ripple will make a difference.
Congratulations to same-sex couples of the present and same-sex couples of the future. You can now love who you love with the dignified bond that you rightfully deserve.
