First, apologies that it's been so long since I've written. Life has been insanely crazy and there are about a thousand things I could have blogged about during these past two weeks but I haven't had a spare second to actually get anything done. Might try to catch up in the next few days, but after what happened today I simply felt compelled to hop back onto my blogwagon and shout my joy from the rooftops.
Unless you've been trapped under that proverbial rock, you no doubt are now aware that today the Supreme Court of the United States declared that marriage was a fundamental human right, thus making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 States. All of them. Every one.
I've been married for nine years. I believe very strongly in the concept of committing your life to the person in this world that, if you're lucky enough to find, you want to spend the rest of your days with. Marriage fundamentally changed our relationship for the better, if you ask me. It deepened our connection to one another and, for lack of a better descriptor, anchored us to one another, both legally and emotionally, in a way that didn't exist the day before we made it all official.
I can't even begin to imagine what it would have been like had someone told us along the way that our love wasn't recognized by any level of government and that our marriage could only be symbolic, never legal. Mostly because I've never had to - as a woman who married a man, our love, our commitment to one another and our desire to make our bond legal was never an issue. Ever.
As a Canadian, I've lived in a country where same sex marriage has been legal for almost ten years, and sometimes I forget that there are still so many who struggle for marriage equality just south of our border. On vacation last year we met a wonderful couple who later got engaged and married this April. The simple fact that we had to ask if their marriage was going to be legal in their home state broke my heart (thankfully the answer was yes) and reminded me yet again how far we'd come as a country and how much still had to be done elsewhere.
I don't know if I can even fully describe how emotionally impacted I was by today's decision by the US Supreme Court. I don't know if it's because I have a number of close friends and colleagues in same sex relationships and so I rejoice on their behalf, or simply because I believe with every fiber of my being that love is love and everyone should be free to marry whomever they please.
Regardless, I've been tweeting and posting statuses and updating Facebook profile and cover photos with images that show my strong support for this long overdue ruling that finally brings marriage equality to every citizen of the United States. I've been addicted to the hashtags and am reveling in the joy of those marginalized for so long. And for the moment I'm choosing to ignore the negativity of those opposed to equality, often in the name of religion, because today's news is just too good to let those consumed by antiquated notions of what marriage should be rain on this parade.
Here are a few of my fave pics from today:
This last one might be one of my favourites of the entire day. It almost brought me to tears when I first saw it as I think it captures so much in one poignant drawing.
Walking to the train station today after work I passed the US Consulate and snapped a picture.
I've been thinking about it for hours now and I still can't explain why this has touched me so today. I think it's a combination of the very public and long overdue recognition of equal rights by the highest legal body in the US and the pride that I can take as a Canadian because we figured this out ourselves and did something about it an entire decade ago. Yay Canada.
In the final analysis I fully admit I don't care at all why it's moved me so. It simply has. And given how strongly I feel about it, I can't even begin to imagine how those whose lives (and loves) have been transformed today must feel. About the possibility. The options. The simple but powerful notion of equality now available to them, whether they ever choose to do anything with it or not.
Sometimes just knowing you can, after having been told for so long you weren't entitled, is enough.
What a great kickoff to pride weekend here in Toronto. Happy Pride, one and all. After today's decision I'm just so delighted to say that love wins always and all ways.
Unless you've been trapped under that proverbial rock, you no doubt are now aware that today the Supreme Court of the United States declared that marriage was a fundamental human right, thus making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 States. All of them. Every one.
Such amazing news. Finally, marriage equality in the US. Happy pride!!! https://t.co/oagrkcRp53
— Shannon Stuart (@shanstu) June 26, 2015
I've been married for nine years. I believe very strongly in the concept of committing your life to the person in this world that, if you're lucky enough to find, you want to spend the rest of your days with. Marriage fundamentally changed our relationship for the better, if you ask me. It deepened our connection to one another and, for lack of a better descriptor, anchored us to one another, both legally and emotionally, in a way that didn't exist the day before we made it all official.
I can't even begin to imagine what it would have been like had someone told us along the way that our love wasn't recognized by any level of government and that our marriage could only be symbolic, never legal. Mostly because I've never had to - as a woman who married a man, our love, our commitment to one another and our desire to make our bond legal was never an issue. Ever.
As a Canadian, I've lived in a country where same sex marriage has been legal for almost ten years, and sometimes I forget that there are still so many who struggle for marriage equality just south of our border. On vacation last year we met a wonderful couple who later got engaged and married this April. The simple fact that we had to ask if their marriage was going to be legal in their home state broke my heart (thankfully the answer was yes) and reminded me yet again how far we'd come as a country and how much still had to be done elsewhere.
I don't know if I can even fully describe how emotionally impacted I was by today's decision by the US Supreme Court. I don't know if it's because I have a number of close friends and colleagues in same sex relationships and so I rejoice on their behalf, or simply because I believe with every fiber of my being that love is love and everyone should be free to marry whomever they please.
Regardless, I've been tweeting and posting statuses and updating Facebook profile and cover photos with images that show my strong support for this long overdue ruling that finally brings marriage equality to every citizen of the United States. I've been addicted to the hashtags and am reveling in the joy of those marginalized for so long. And for the moment I'm choosing to ignore the negativity of those opposed to equality, often in the name of religion, because today's news is just too good to let those consumed by antiquated notions of what marriage should be rain on this parade.
Here are a few of my fave pics from today:
This last one might be one of my favourites of the entire day. It almost brought me to tears when I first saw it as I think it captures so much in one poignant drawing.
Walking to the train station today after work I passed the US Consulate and snapped a picture.
Rainbow flag looks a little brighter on the @usconstoronto today. #LoveWins #HappyPride #SCOTUSMarriage pic.twitter.com/KdO5PthaKd
— Shannon Stuart (@shanstu) June 26, 2015
I've been thinking about it for hours now and I still can't explain why this has touched me so today. I think it's a combination of the very public and long overdue recognition of equal rights by the highest legal body in the US and the pride that I can take as a Canadian because we figured this out ourselves and did something about it an entire decade ago. Yay Canada.
In the final analysis I fully admit I don't care at all why it's moved me so. It simply has. And given how strongly I feel about it, I can't even begin to imagine how those whose lives (and loves) have been transformed today must feel. About the possibility. The options. The simple but powerful notion of equality now available to them, whether they ever choose to do anything with it or not.
Sometimes just knowing you can, after having been told for so long you weren't entitled, is enough.
What a great kickoff to pride weekend here in Toronto. Happy Pride, one and all. After today's decision I'm just so delighted to say that love wins always and all ways.
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