Love Wins! Congratulating all of my LGBT clients, friends and family.

This morning I awoke to the stunning news that the supreme court had ruled in favor of marriage equality. As I listened to the radio in disbelief, I felt the weight of many bitter defeats sliding heavily off my shoulders - particularly the 2008 election when Obama won but the Mormon church succeeded in passing it's hateful Prop. 8. I know I have people in my life who have given money to anti-LGBT groups. Today I feel a righteous anger and a powerful joy. No, you did not win. You will never win because any one of us can be persecuted if we don't enforce the basic moral imperative of justice.

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To me, this ruling is all about Obama. Obviously it's the direct result of his Supreme Court nomination victories, but more generally it's due to one of his core beliefs - equality serves the greater good. As many nations in Europe have discovered, marriage equality makes society stronger and generates economic stability. I'm so proud of his administration, and of this country, for slowly turning the giant ship of public opinion. Perhaps now, finally, we can pivot our resources to a much more pressing issue that affects all beings everywhere - climate change.
As LGBT business owners we've networked to build our community economically. As LGBT couples we've kept in touch with our religiously contrary families. As LGBT cliques we've struggled to put our own house in order, fighting the racism, sexism and transphobia among us. As LGBT individuals we've come out, worked phone banks, marched and donated. We can be a positive force for change every day in the smallest things we do. Like a tiny trickle turns into a mighty river.
I wish I could visit my younger self on the day we failed to prevent the passage of anti-gay Prop. 22, on the days when it felt like my gay brothers were dying right and left, on the day that my lesbian friend was dishonorably discharged from the Navy, on the day we mourned Matthew Shepard, and on the day Prop 8 passed. I'd whisper to younger me, "Keep going! Keep loving. Keep fighting. There is a sweet, sweet, beautiful day ahead when the highest court in our nation affirms that you are, indeed, no less and no more than equal. Love wins."