Starting in 1999, same-sex couples would head to their local marriage offices every February 12, Freedom to Marry Day, to ask for marriage licenses and the 1,138 federal rights, protections, and responsibilities that came with marriage. Year after year getting turned away, but year after year garnering media attention that sparked conversations at water coolers and dinner tables. Slowly but surely doing their part to move the needle towards equality. In 2004, LGBTQ couples who asked for a license were met with a surprise in San Francisco, as then-Mayor Gavin Newsom permitted couples to marry sparking years of legal ambiguity, political drama, court cases, community infighting, a swell of grassroots organizing, media support, and ultimately marriage equality in California in 2013, and full federal marriage equality in 2015. Here’s the thing, it was never just about marriage.
Love. It was about love. Love, one of the most core experiences we associate with our shared human experience. Love, so fundamental to what we understand as part of our own humanity, that when we as a segment of society are told that we cannot and do not experience love in the same way as others – it dehumanizes us. It is that dehumanization that allows for degradation, discrimination, and violence that too often has dire consequences. We have now won that battle, but how safe are we if a wedding on Sunday can lead to you losing your job or home on Monday because of your sexual orientation or gender identity in 29 states? Too many of our LGBTQ siblings across this country are still fighting for the basic needs of employment and housing.
The Equality Act, which will soon be reintroduced in Congress, would amend existing civil rights law to give expressed LGBTQ protections in housing, employment, and public accommodation. It’s time for us as a country to take the next step in supporting our LGBTQ community. While we enjoy strong LGBTQ legal protections in California, you can have an impact on this work locally by reaching out to your federal representatives and educating them about how discrimination in housing and employment based on your sexual orientation and/or gender identity has impacted your life or the lives of those you love. So, on this Valentine’s Day, I hope you’ll join me in sending out one more act of kindness and love out into the world and be a part of our Legacy of Liberation.
Fernando Lopez was the Executive Director of San Diego Pride. Lopez’s years of LGBT advocacy, nonprofit management, public education, diversity consulting, media relations, guest lectures, and organizing have made them a consistent presence ensuring the struggles of the LGBT community are ever visible.
