And The Greatest of These Is Love

Oh today is a good, good, day.

The United States Supreme Court,

in a 5-4 decision,

has declared that it is legal for all Americans,

no matter their gender or sexual orientation,

to marry the people they love.

The headlines actually brought me to tears.

Happy, incredibly grateful and proud tears.

My heart feels like it could explode out of my chest.

I am giddy and thrilled that my daughter is going to grow up in a country where the law will finally be that every single human being is equal.

No Justice would ever include this in his or her opinion,

but this decision screams loud and clear that all of the beautifully unique and diverse and individual human beings that make up our country are valuable, worthwhile, and equal human beings.

She won't appreciate it now,

but tonight our bedtime story is going to be Justice Kennedy's opinion for the majority.

The lead plaintiff in the case was Jim Obergefell,

an Ohio resident who had married his longtime love and partner about two decades ago.

Jim's partner and husband, Arthur, suffered from ALS and eventually lost his life to the disease.

Jim's wish was simple: to be identified on Arthur's death certificate as his surviving spouse.

Imagine that: losing the love of your life,

the person who stood beside you and battled life's ups and downs,

celebrated life's joys,

wondered at life's beauties,

cried and laughed and created every memory that made the story of your life . . .

and to not be allowed to memorialize that love.

To have someone tell you that your story didn't matter.

Your love somehow wasn't enough or wasn't the right kind of love.

Those battles you fought? Those tears you cried? The laughs you shared?

The memories you created?

You did all that with the wrong kind of person,

so it doesn't count. 

Now, it does. 

Legally.

Whether this decision had come down or not,

in our house,

we have always loved love.

All kinds of love.

All kinds of happiness.

And every single kind of beautiful person there is.

The most important thing to me,

from the moment my daughter was born,

was to cultivate in her a kind and loving heart.

I desperately wanted her to celebrate and excite in the exquisite diversity of humankind.

To appreciate that one of the greatest privileges of being given this life we've been given is to interact with and support and love and celebrate the beautiful people around us who are all on their own journeys.

To recognize that every single human being on this Earth has worth,

and value, and something beautiful and unique to contribute to this world of ours.

And to believe with all of her heart that if you have love in your life,

you'll never get any part of this living thing wrong.

Gay marriage was legalized in Wisconsin on a Friday,

June 6th.

I spent Saturday morning at the courthouse in Milwaukee,

celebrating the marriage of two incredibly special people in my life,

But while we were waiting for their ceremony,

I also offered to witness several other couples' marriages.

I cannot explain the joy and love and happiness and pride that filled every single square inch of the courtroom corridor. 

Weddings are always filled with love,

but there was something more in the hallways on that day.

I watched couples cry uncontrollably as they said their vows,

because today they were allowed to marry the person who had been the other half of their heart for so long. 

Damn straight, Lush. 

The rest of the world has finally caught up with you.

I'm honored and giddy at the ongoing opportunity as a mom to teach my innocent, perfect little tiny human being how to love unconditionally,

how to respect all people,

how to be tolerant and accepting,

how to see beauty in our differences,

and how to embrace those differences.

Hate is not inherent.

It is learned.

Intolerance is taught.

But so is love.

High five, United States Supreme Court.

You've done damn fine work.