“No longer may this liberty be denied. No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.” — Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
June 26 is a date that I will never forget for as long as I live. Today is the day that I am able to marry the person of my dreams and have that marriage regardless of where we live in the United States of America. At the age of twelve, I realized that I was different. I heard the word “bisexual” and when I found out what that meant, it all clicked for me. As a young boy myself, I knew that I liked other boys. Over the past ten years, my identity has evolved and changed and I stand before you today as nothing more than Chris Guidi. Labels are not for me. I do not label my sexuality. I do not label my gender. I will love who I love, and as long as I’m okay with that, then everyone else should be too. But people are not, and hopefully over the course of time that will change. I’m not naive enough to think that now that the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of marriage equality, that everyone will suddenly support it. Regardless of all of that, the war that the LGBT community– my community– has been fighting has come to an end.
Today, we are no longer partners. We are no longer relegated to civil unions at best in some areas of the country and blatantly ignored in other areas of the country. Today, we are husbands and wives and our marriages will be recognized everywhere that we go because the highest court in the land has deemed it so. One day, I will be married. And when that day comes, it is with great relief that I know that my marriage will recognized no matter where I travel in this beautiful country that I call home.
Friends, family, thank you for your unwavering support. At twelve years old, I convinced myself that I would never tell my family that I was attracted to the same sex, because I was afraid that they wouldn’t love me anymore. I vowed to myself that I only thought the other boys were attractive, but that I could only love a girl and that one day I would marry her and have a family because that is what I was supposed to do and that is what is “normal.” I remember having a panic attack because I thought “What if I’m gay?” The fear was so deeply ingrained in me, and over time that fear has changed and has gone away. Coming out to my family is the best decision I have ever made, because the support and love I have received since that moment is something that I hold so closely to my heart. Remembering the way my dad said “okay” like I had just told him any other bit of news, and following it up with “You’re my son, I will always love you” will be a memory to last a lifetime. When I told my mom, she told me that she didn’t care as long as I was safe (and she then launched into a safe sex lecture).
My family loves me. That is all I need.
I am proud to be me. I am proud to be a member of the LGBT community, but today is a victory for every member of that community, as well as every person who loves a member of that community, regardless of orientation. Love is love, and love always wins.
shutupchristopher 