Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is here again. Many people will be getting married. Married people will be celebrating their anniversaries, or simply having a night out, as will other people hoping to get married someday, or maybe just enjoying being together in public.

If you are in such a situation, good for you and enjoy it.

Whether you are or not, take a moment to think about all of the people who can’t marry the person or person(s) they love, or can’t so much as hold hands in public without being accosted. Think about the people, consenting adults, who have to completely hide their relationships because they could be sent to prison for simply having sex in private. Think about the people who have to hide who they are because, where they live, they could be killed for being who they are. Think about the people who can’t accept gifts from their their lover(s) at work, or even a loving comment on their Facebook wall, because it would out them and get them fired.

This is what goes on because some people are being denied their rights to share sex, love, residence, and marriage. The US now has the limited monogamous same-gender freedom to marry nationwide, which was a great step forward. Other victories for that freedom to marry since February 14, 2016 have included...

Columbia ...April 28, 2016
Tulalip Tribes of Washington ...May 6, 2016
Jalisco, Mexico ...May 12, 2016
Campeche, Mexico ...May 20, 2016
Colina, Mexico ...June 12, 2016
Michoacán, Mexico ...June 23, 2016
Morelos, Mexico ...July 5, 2016
Isle of Man ... July 22, 2016
San Pedro Cholula, Puebla, Mexico ...September 18, 2016
British Antarctic Territory ...October13, 2016
Menominee Indiana Tribe of Wisconsin ...November 3, 2016
Cherokee Nation ...December 9, 2016
Gibraltar ...December 15, 2016
Ascension Island ...January 1, 2017
Finland ...March 1, 2017


In most of the world, a man can’t marry both of the women he loves, despite both women being in favor of such a marriage.

The people in most of these interviews can't have legally recognized marriages anywhere in the world, with perhaps one or two exceptions, and we need full marriage equality before people like Linda, Melissa, and Matthew can tie the knot.

So enjoy Valentine's Day if you are able, but think for a moment about the people who will only be able to fully enjoy theirs when we have full marriage equality so that an adult, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion, is free to share love, sex, residence, and marriage with any and all consenting adults without prosecution, persecution, or discrimination. Help make it happen sooner rather than later.


Do you have special plans? Or, if you're reading this after Valentine's Day, do you have anything special to report? If so, comment below. Remember, you can comment anonymously.