OPEN LETTER: D.O.M.A.

D.O.M.A.

Dear Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA),

Goodbye and good riddance! During the Clinton era, you came along to limit the lives of those within my community. I am happy to see you go because you represented the hate perpetrated by those who thought they had a lock on morality and societal norms. Well, I don’t know why they felt the need to carry those because the things in my community are the same things in their community. We seek to raise well adjusted children, pay off our mortgages, and leave a legacy that will make our posterity proud to know our name. You sought to keep us from those things in our authenticity. Your time has come though and the twisted ideas you had about marriage and love are outdated. As the LGBTQIA+ community has determined that we will no longer be invisible, we have become the 'in your face’ history makers. Too long we stood in line for crumbs when we deserved to be at the table for a whole meal…no more. On December 13, 2022, you met your death, DOMA. A greater move toward creating the more perfect union gave birth to another child, Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) and we continue to build a village around some of our most vulnerable. The fruition of RMA was partly born out of fear though because some of your same friends, DOMA, are seated on the highest court in the land and they recently overturned a decision that most thought wasn’t possible. But it happened! The shock propelled us into action to recognize that there is no sitting idly by to wait for an outcome. We must act. So, some took action, and they began the process of taking you down, DOMA. You were being eroded away by those brave souls who knew it wasn’t enough to just talk about it. We must be about the business of creating the world we want to see. And it’s happening. To strike you down, DOMA, there had to be bi-partisan action. Now, some may have taken up the mantle of RMA because of the ops, but either way here we are. When you came into the world only 30% of Americans supported same sex marriage, but now that number is more like 70% (NPR). Hate still exists, but change is possible. Love will always overtake the darkness. DOMA, you are relegated to the history books!

SINCERELY,

THOSE WHO STAND FOR RIGHT