Ten years ago in May 2004 Massachusetts became the first state to allow same-sex marriage. As soon as this happened eleven states quickly passed bans on same-sex marriage. Now it is 2014 and twenty-six of the United States now allow same sex marriage, bans on same-sex marriage have been abolished and now forty four percent of Americans now live in states that allow same-sex marriage. Up until 2008 California allowed same-sex marriage, but on November 4, 2008 voters passed Proposition 8, which banned same-sex couples from marrying. All same-sex marriages performed in California before proposition 8 was passed are still recognized. I myself have a cousin who is a lesbian and the topic a proposition 8 hits home to me because when she was nineteen she moved to California, she felt that she would be more welcomed there, but luckily for her on August 4, 2010 a federal judge ruled that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution and barred its enforcement. 

Now, you may be wondering why I am bringing up past issues that have now been resolved? Without these accomplishments we would not be at the point we are today with this long dragged out debate. The twenty-four states that still have yet to legalize same-sex marriage are allowing for people to stay hidden in the closet. Some LGBTS are scared to enter into a world where they are not accepted, I mean who wouldn’t be? Then there are others who do not hide who they are at all and this is because their community and state have accepted who they are. Although everyone is not pleased by passing of these laws and the abolishment’s of the bans many people who used to have an issue with are starting to accept it.

Speaking about this makes me think of my grandfather, for the longest time he wouldn’t speak of what my cousin is, or whom she was dating. He has now grown to accept her for who she is, he now asks her about her girlfriend and if she is happy. He now knows that he could not change her so he changed his own view and accepted it. Older generations like my grandfathers have a harder time accepting LGBTS but they have started to come around, some will always be set in their ways constantly judging and being unsupportive because that is the way they grew up, but we should be thankful for the people in these older generations who changed their own views for the ones they love and care about.

Without support those in the LGBT community would continue to feel uncomfortable in their own skin. Without our support we are allowing for their lives to become the debate. The 1900’s saw a similar debate on the topic of marriage, that being interracial marriage. In the 1960s, there was a push to end the anti-miscegenation laws that had been passed throughout the nation. Many who read about this former debate would look with hatred upon opponents of interracial marriages as rude racists. It is obvious that today it is an undeniable right for two people who love each other regardless of race and to be able to marry each other. The public opinion of people has dramatically changed in the past half a century on interracial marriage. Consider how our future grandchildren and the future generations will look upon this generation for even having this debate over same-sex couples’ right to marry each other. The debate should already be over or never have had been started. Legalize gay marriage and choose equality and love over discrimination and hate.