Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is almost here again. Many people will be getting married. Married people will be celebrating their anniversaries, or simply having a night out (or a special night in, considering COVID precautions), 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 in social media, 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 has had the limited monogamous same-gender freedom to marry nationwide, which was a great step forward, for years now, and it hasn't hurt anything. Other victories for that freedom to marry since February 14, 2020 have included...

April 23, 2020...Same-sex marriage became legal in Sark.

May 26...Same-sex marriage became legal in Costa Rica.

June 11...The Swiss National Council voted to legalize same-sex marriage, along with artificial insemination for lesbian couples.

June 23...Same-sex marriage became legal in the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo.

July 1...Civil partnerships became legal in Montenegro. The act was subsequently signed by the incumbent president.

September 4...Recognition of same-sex civil partnerships in the Cayman Islands.

November 3...The legalization of same-sex marriage in Puebla was codified by the Congress of Puebla.

December 1...The Swiss Council of States voted to legalize same-sex marriage.

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.

Maybe you're stuck at home with family this year?

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. Or, if you prefer, contact Keith.