Why is marriage equality important?

Marriage equality is important because it affirms the principles of equal rights and dignity, providing same-sex couples with the same legal and social protections as heterosexual couples. The recognition of same-sex marriage offers significant benefits to LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and society as a whole by improving financial stability, promoting better health outcomes, and fostering greater social inclusion. 

Benefits for same-sex couples and their families

• Legal protection: Prior to marriage equality, same-sex couples were often considered "legal strangers," creating enormous hardships related to healthcare, inheritance, and parenting. Legalizing same-sex marriage granted access to over 1,000 state and federal rights and responsibilities, including:

  • Financial stability: Marriage provides critical financial benefits, such as joint tax filing, spousal and survivor Social Security benefits, inheritance rights, and exemptions from estate and gift taxes.

  • Medical decisions: Spouses are legally able to make medical decisions for their partners in the event of incapacitation and have guaranteed hospital visitation rights.

  • Family stability: Marriage provides children of same-sex couples with greater security and legal legitimacy by allowing both parents to be recognized legally.

• Improved well-being: Research shows that marriage equality has a positive impact on the mental and physical health of LGBTQ+ individuals.

  Benefits for society as a whole

  • Economic growth: Marriage equality provides an economic boost to state and local economies. The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law estimated that since the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in 2015, wedding spending by same-sex couples has generated billions of dollars in economic activity and sales tax revenue.

  • Reduced health disparities: By reducing the stigma and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community, marriage equality helps to alleviate minority stress, which contributes to overall better health outcomes for the population. This, in turn, can lower healthcare costs for all.

  • Reinforcement of democratic values: Extending the right to marry to all couples is consistent with the American tradition of expanding civil rights to previously marginalized groups, including the right for interracial couples to marry. It affirms the values of freedom and equal protection under the law.

“…but, the Bible says…”

Please Take a moment to watch this short video regarding the Principle of Compassion, Mutual respect and the interpretation of Scripture:

Religion and scriptural interpretation can positively transform individuals and society. However, when they stray from core spiritual goals, they risk becoming systems of control, manipulation, and prejudice. This harms adherents and society, fostering hypocrisy, hatred, and societal division.

As we mature into adolescents and adults, we naturally begin to examine and sometimes challenge the values and beliefs instilled in us during childhood. This critical process is a vital part of our development. However, it can also be difficult and even painful when our childhood beliefs clash with our lived experiences, especially when cultural or religious values lead to exclusion rather than integration within a community.

Socrates famously stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living." For gay and lesbian individuals, whose identities may not align with social norms or many religious doctrines, this internal examination can be particularly intense. This often leads to questioning themselves, attempting to conform to societal and/or religious expectations, and tragically, denying their authentic selves. The consequences can include self-loathing, depression, and entering into marriages that perpetuate a false identity.

Legislating against marriage equality forces gay and lesbian individuals into solitary lives. It raises critical questions: Who truly benefits from such policies? How does society benefit by isolating a minority group and denying them the fundamental union of love and life that marriage represents? How is the institution of marriage protected by intimidating gay and lesbian individuals into loveless and lonely existences? What positive outcome is achieved by these actions? Even more detrimental is the coercion of a gay or lesbian person into a heterosexual marriage, which is often doomed from the start and creates two victims instead of one.

Saint Augustine wrote “Love and do as you will.”

He meant that if authentic love is your ethical touchstone, you’re on the right path.

Spirituality has two Transformative Goals and defining characteristics.

• Integrity

• Compassion

These transform both the individual and our society.

The word integrity evolved from the Latin adjective integer, meaning whole or complete. It is defined as 'an undivided or unbroken completeness' or a state of being complete or whole.

• By suppressing integrity and wholeness, you deny yourself the opportunity to live authentically and prevent your family and friends from connecting with the real you.

• Suppressing and denying the real you effectively hold back the gifts you have to offer the world by not being true to yourself.

• You become invisible and deny others the opportunity to discover, know, and love the real you.

• Society, the people who love you and yourself, are deprived of authenticity and attaining a more significant potential.

• Fear is a hindrance to integrity and self-actualization, and it ultimately leads to repression, division, resentment, and hatred.

A comedian once quipped, "The last person you come out to is yourself."

Accepting and loving yourself empowers you to accept and love others.

What makes a Marriage?

On your wedding day, you commit to each other in front of family, friends, and society. In your vows, you promise:

"I will be there with and for you, come what may."

• You gift yourself to another, which is the greatest gift you can give.

• Another person gives themselves to you.

• You entrust yourselves to each other’s care.

• You encourage, strengthen, help, and challenge each other.

• You help each other reach your full potential in this life.

• You anticipate each other’s needs, even before they are voiced.

• Marriage means being with each other, supporting each other, loving each other for who you are, and prioritizing each other's needs, hopes, and dreams.

I love you

(Love is both a verb & a state of being.)

Marriage Equality empowers Integrity and inspires Compassion.

It ensures that all individuals are respected and valued and have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, regardless of their orientation. Marriage Equality also facilitates everyone's participation in the legal and social institution of marriage, fostering personal development and a healthy and complete society based on universal human dignity.

What greater happiness is there for two people than to feel united to support each other in life’s work, comfort each other in trials, savor life’s joys together, and be one with each other in the still of their hearts?