The Loving's, Glamour Magazine, Interracial Marriage and LOVE!

Us, living in LOVE!

Today is a special day for interracial marriage...the movie, Loving, opens in theaters in New York and Los Angeles! Richard and Mildred Loving had to fight for their interracial marriage and fight they did, all the way to the Supreme Court...and they WON! 

Loving vs. Virginia ~ "There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause."
    
(Movie's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lovingthefilm/?fref=ts)

I have been writing about the Loving's for many years (see story here: http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2011/06/right-to-live-in-love.html) and they will forever hold a special place in my heart. Because of their courage, strength and most importantly, LOVE -- my husband and I, and so many others, have the right to marry and live our lives just like everyone else. The thing is, we ARE like everyone else. There is no difference between our love and any other love. We might look different on the outside, but as we all know, love comes from the heart...where everyone is the same. Love is love!!

A personal piece to the story is: my husband and I are honored to be part of the Glamour Magazine story about; The Loving's, interracial marriage, and the Loving movie. The Loving's made us possible and for that, we are forever grateful! 

We chose love and love won...again! 

#VoteLoving
#LoveWins
#Interracial Marriage
#Glamour Magazine

The Right to Live in Love......

There are days when I simply forget how far we have come because I'm just living, and then there are days when I realize how far we still have to go. However, there is one day that will always be special to me...Loving Day. I'm sure there are many of you out there that don't even realize what Loving Day is or what it represents, but to me it represents my heart, my marriage, my love. So what is it? It's the anniversary of the June 12th, 1967 Supreme Court decision....

Loving vs. Virginia ~ "There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause."

Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple....(how PERFECT is their last name by the way...REALLY, that is their last name!).....were forced to leave their home state of Virginia after they married, because back in the late 60's their union was still illegal in 16 states. Yes, illegal! They had two options....go to jail, or leave Virginia. They packed up and moved to WA, D.C. and the rest, as they say, is history. They didn't just move, they fought (all the way to the Supreme Court), they won, they LOVED! Bravery, courage, determination, and true love won out. How cool is that!?! Because of this amazing couple my husband and I are free to live and free to love. I can't imagine having to fight for the right to marry the man I love. I would though...no doubt...no question in my mind. I would fight like a lion! It still boggles my mind to even think that it was illegal for two people to marry solely because of the color of their skin. This was during my lifetime no less. How insane were "we" back then!? This is why it is so important to always stand up for what is right. If we stay quiet and do nothing, then nothing happens. If we speak up, and teach tolerance, then everything can happen! Sometimes laws might be changed and sometimes minds might be changed.....either way, we move forward, and that my friends, is a good thing! So to Richard and Mildred Loving, a brave couple who stood up for the their love and their rights, here's to you, from all of "us"....thank you Loving's for giving us the RIGHT to live in LOVE!

For more information about this special day and this amazing couple visit:

http://www.lovingday.org/

For more information on their struggle:

http://www.lovingday.org/the-loving-story

(Originally posted in 2010)

Marriage is LOVE...

I am a BIG believer in equal rights for all. I haven't written anything about the gay marriage debate on my blog because this blog is all about interracial marriage. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I have to write about gay marriage, because this blog is about LOVE!

So here's the thing...in light of the fact that the heterosexual divorce rate is 50%+ -- maybe, instead of working so hard to stop gay marriages, we should work a little harder on our marriages so we stay married. Yes?

I respect everyone's right to believe what they believe. However, I don't respect those beliefs when they turn from believing to hating. Gay people don't go around bullying or bashing heterosexuals because they are straight, yet there are straight people who justify bullying gays because they don't believe in their lifestyle. I'd say we have work to do in our houses before we start judging other houses. 

Then there is religion and gay marriage. For the love of God, please don't bring God into this. God loves everyone and I can guarantee he doesn't approve of judging or hating. That is not Christian behavior, that is bad behavior. 

If someone doesn't believe in gay marriage, cool. Don't be in one. If someone doesn't believe in interracial marriage. Cool. Don't be in that either. Just don't take away someone else's right to love because of differing beliefs. Wish them well, walk away, and move on.

Not long ago an AMAZING couple went all the way to the Supreme Court to fight for their marriage. They paved the way for interracial marriage to become legal. The Loving's (yes, that is really their last name) never gave up and because of them my husband and I are allowed to live in love today. To see the gay marriage debate at the Supreme Court truly gives me chills. I get it. To my core. Another fight for love.

Let's stop making this sooooo difficult! In the end it's about being able to love whom our heart falls in love with.

Marriage is LOVE. ALL marriage. And yes, it IS that simple!