Love is winning

On June 26, the United States Supreme Court narrowly ruled (5-4) to legalize gay marriage in all 50 states. This is something that I was sure that I would see in my lifetime, but not quite this soon...

That said, I feel that the decision is long overdue.

Over the past few years, this issue has been hotly debated; both sides have been very strong in their opinion on the matter. However, the one side of the argument that states that two men or two women joined in matrimony does not constitute a family is old, tired and, frankly, outdated.

Just because a man and a woman can produce children doesn't give them exclusive rights to the distinction of being a family. That's just science. Much like faith, family is rooted in something more profound than science. It is rooted in love. When two people, regardless of gender, fall in love and fully commit to each other – whether it be a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman – a family is born. Such birth is a thing of beauty; and in this world where bad news is all too prevalent, beauty needs to be allowed to grow and to shine. 

This is not the end of the story, however. There is still much work to be done to bring equal rights to the LGBT community; especially in our schools. More and more we hear stories of kids – middle schoolers and high schoolers – struggling with their identity and the decision of "do I come out?" or "do I keep who I really am locked up inside me?"

For these kids, either decision can have dire consequences. Coming out could mean being bullied or abused. But locking it up inside could be even more dangerous. Such a decision could lead to suicide. A recent study showed that a frightening 44 percent of transgender teenagers have attempted suicide.

More can be done and, thankfully, more is being done. The Supreme Court ruling was a step in the right direction. Thus, I am extremely proud of my country and the Supreme Court for supporting the LGBT community, supporting their rights, and supporting love.

Nathan Conover

I am an aspiring writer from right here in Bay Village!

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Volume 7, Issue 14, Posted 9:22 AM, 07.21.2015