Today is a day in history that I have been waiting for, ever since I could remember. Today is the first day that marriage is legal for LGBT couples in my hometown of Orlando, Florida. I have both family members and close friends in the LGBT community and I consider myself to be a strong ally.
Over the years, knowing the privilege that I have had over others in my hometown has weighed heavily on me. I was able to legally marry the love of my life without giving politics and the government a second thought. I also didn’t have to give any thought to whether or not others (including people who I do not know) would approve of my marriage. However, this is what the LGBT community must go through after finding the one they are meant to be with.
Over six months ago, I started a wedding blog called Equal and Forever. Equal and Forever highlights the journey’s of LGBT couples from around the globe. Not only do I fight for a world where anyone can marry whoever they love, I also want all unions to be normalized and accepted. Equal and Forever has been an excellent platform to do that from and marriage equality in my home state means even more legal love to be shared with the world. As I update the Equal and Forever Equality Map this morning, I feel a huge sense of pride for my birthplace and a huge sense of relief that this monumental day has finally come. There is still a long road ahead of us but today, my heart is happy because we are taking a big step towards love.
