Four years after legalized same-sex marriage, greater LGBTQ acceptance

same sex marriage

People in Washington, D.C. interviewed this month agreed that acceptance of same sex marriage has been on the rise in the United States in the four years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on the subject.

same sex marriage
Marriage equality activists outside the U.S. Supreme Court. (Photo by Stephen Luke courtesy of Creative Commons)

Brittany Proudfoot-Ginder, 30, an employee at American University, thinks the culture has become more aware and will continue to change toward acceptance in the years to come. Ginder explained opposition is dependent on geographic location and socioeconomic status.

Despite groups who disagree with same sex marriage, Ginder says people feel more comfortable speaking about it and there has been more visibility for the LGBTQ community.

The opposition is “fairly similar to how it’s always been, but now there is more of a community fighting back,” said Ginder, whose sister identifies as lesbian and is getting married later this year.

Ginder spoke passionately about the benefits of marriage, such as filing taxes together, sharing a health insurance plan, and being able to visit them in the hospital.

A May 2019 report from Pew Research Center found the opinions of same sex marriage have remained largely unchanged since 2017. While opposition is slowly declining, it remains a part of the culture in the United States.

Jack Sullivan, 66, sat on a bench on the American University campus on a recent day in June. He believes marriage being held as a constitutional right has only helped create acceptance and education.

“Acceptance provoked the legalization of marriage,” Sullivan said.

Aubrey Amos,16, has seen a lot more about LGBTQ groups on social media, but has also seen opposition more frequently, too.

“They are speaking their minds,” Amos said of those still opposed to same-sex marriage.

Jabriela Calderon, 30, thinks opposition groups have become more verbal and occasionally violent. She attributed this to same sex marriage and the LGBTQ community being normalized after years of marginalization.

“There seems to be more of an understanding towards same sex couples,” Calderon said.

According to a Pew Research report from May 2013, people are more open to same sex marriage after being exposed to someone from the LGBTQ community.

For Tyler Massias, 19, same-sex marriage has meant larger acceptance for others, too, including people of color who identify as transgender. He says that in the four years since that Supreme Court ruling, it has “generated a permissive culture.”

On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case Obergefell v. Hodges, “requiring all states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Hannah Ruth Wellons, who worked at the American University library, said she believes that the issue now goes beyond marriage. It means that ignorance also is being taken away.

 

 

SCOTUS same-sex ruling brings diverse opinions

Students and residents in the Washington D.C. area offered diverse opinions regarding June’s historic U.S. Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling, with many people’s views mirroring how they feel about homosexuality as more than just the right to marry.

On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled same sex marriage is a Constitutional right, prompting passionate response from dissenters but candid support from those who contend homosexuality is natural and the denial of rights misguided.

People celebrate the June 26 same-sex marriage decision by the U.S. Supreme Court decision.  Associated Press photo by Jaquelyn Martin.
People celebrate the June 26 same-sex marriage decision by the U.S. Supreme Court decision. Associated Press photo by Jaquelyn Martin.

“It isn’t right to denigrate people for something that isn’t their fault,” said Cafoncelli Antonio, a 76-year-old professor at American University, who explained that revolutionary genetic studies have proven the genomes of a person determine their sexuality.

While Antonio cited scientific arguments about homosexuality’s origins, others interviewed cited personal relationships and religion as reasons to favor or oppose same-sex marriage.

Pro-gay sentiment however, was rather high amongst the majority of people interviewed in Northwest Washington D.C. as many believed that they were not affected by homosexuals getting more rights, so they said it made no sense to fight against same-sex marriage.

“Who am I to judge?” said Sarah Belson, dean of the American University’s School of Education.

However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, those who didn’t favor the ruling, were firm in their dissent.

“Family business is a woman’s business,” said Alex Medouni, a 50-year-old resident of Washington D.C. discussing his opposition the same-sex marriage ruling. “The victims are children.”

Four people interviewed this month who were against the ruling agreed children would not have a solid family foundation or moral compass under laws granting same-sex marriage.

But, Ned McFadden, 45, found the argument that children would be harmed unpersuasive. He noted children who grow up in a society that grants marriage rights to those regardless of sexual orientation will be better off.

“The family is changing,” McFadden said while discussing the ruling’s societal consequences.

Others interviewed this month said they were opposed to the ruling because the federal government had no business interfering in state and local self-rule.

That argument, however, didn’t sit well with American student Kara Suvada.

“Human rights take precedent over states’ rights,” Suvada.

 

D.C. residents and visitors say SCOTUS same-sex ruling long overdue

Washington D.C. residents and tourists to the city overwhelmingly expressed joy about the legalization of same-sex marriage across America after June’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on the matter.

In more than a dozen interviews across Washington D.C. this week, most were thrilled with only a few expressing indifference. Most declared it was a long overdue decision and those on the other side were hard to find.

Chris Morgan, 25, shared his personal connection to the issue.

Morgan explained that his father is homosexual and can now officially get married to his boyfriend if they want.

“That could potentially be an affect, a pretty profound affect, on my life,” Morgan said.

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Photo courtesy of Associated Press.

Others like Mia Molina, a 24-year-old visiting the National Mall from New York, was born in Spain. She said same sex marriage was legalized there long ago and was surprised when she moved to the U.S. and found it against the law.

“I think it’s a right everyone should have to be able to…love and marry whoever they want.” said Molina

The legalization of same-sex marriage has had a major impact on many people in the country. Not everyone is Washington D.C. has been personally affected by it, but they believe we are now moving in the right direction.

“I’m not surprised that we’ve finally come to this point,” said Maria Crudele, 47, who agreed with the ruling.

 

(Photo courtesy by Associated Press)