Today I am grateful that equality is becoming closer to reality. 

I don't know if it is my desperate hunger (I am on a clear liquid diet due to my impending colonoscopy tomorrow, oh joy!) that is causing me to crave more or to purge out my inner feelings.  Regardless, I read a story today that moved me to tears. 

It is the story that changed Obama's mind on the Defense of Marriage Act.  Two women fell in love and were together for more then 40 years when one of the two was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and decided only then that they would flee to Canada and get married.  She has since died and the government does not recognize their union causing her to pay immense fees in order tor receive her wife's inheritance. 

You can read Their Story here. 

I come from an extremely religious family.  I understand and respect their views on same sex relations and marriage but I also have to respectfully disagree.  My God does not discriminate against those who are gay.  He created us all in His image; why then would he not love Those who have fallen in love with someone of the same sex?  Our bodies and genitals are the mere exteriors that encompass our souls, our energies.  When two people fall in love, they fall in love with what is inside not what particular genital they have.  That is why we call them our SOUL mates. 

We live in a time where there is much hatred, destruction, and loss of morality.  Some might fear that by making same sex marriage legal and accepted it is sending a message that is morally corrupt.  But I must argue, morally corrupt to whom?  You?  Your church?  Your Bible?  Your family?  Imagine living a lie, living in a world where you have to hide who you really are and who you love?  Imagine not being able to bring home your soul mate to meet your family out of fear that they will disown you or frown upon you?  Or worse, tell you that they will pray for you?  Do you really believe that your God would not open the gates to heaven for those who loved with all of their hearts without discrimination and without hate when all He asked of us is to love with all of our hearts?!   

Think about it...

There once was a girl who all of her life "experimented" with her girl friends.  As she grew older the experiments turned to drunken make outs and touching.  This was "normal" behavior that was masked by the alcohol but deep down inside she knew that it was more than just that.  She dated boys and was always openly attracted to men.  There was no question regarding her sexuality but she did know that she was also open to the idea that she could possibly fall in love with a woman some day.  All of her best friends were also open to this idea and encouraged it.  This made her feel safe.  In her teenage years she met a wonderful man that she fell deeply in love with.  She was head over heels but also felt like there was part of her soul that was not being nurtured or understood. 

This strain grew more and more.  It caused a rift in the relationship and bond that was once so strong.  They grew apart and broke up many times but still loved one another and desperately wanted to make it work.  She knew that he was the one but that there was part of her soul that still needed to grow and be nurtured.  Around this time she met a girl who became a very close friend.  She adored her and looked up to her free spirit.  They had come from similar backgrounds and childhoods and understood each other on an emotional and intellectual level.  The part of her soul that had been neglected was finally being nurtured. 

The one twist was that this friend was also openly gay.  At first this was not a factor in the friendship that continued blossoming.  She respected her for her strength to be who she was and to love who she loved without fear.  She also wished that she could be more like her, so free.  In a moment of complete loneliness and separation she became vulnerable to the girl who satisfied her souls desperation but she knew she still loved the boy who got away. 

Things quickly grew complicated because this poor girls heart was torn.  She was in love with a boy who made her feel safe, who adored her, who was her soul mate but he could not relate to her on a deeper, more intellectual level.  The girl on the other hand filled all the voids that he could not.  She was mysterious, she was seductive, she was fun, she was adventurous, but she was all wrong.  In her heart she knew she could never be openly in a relationship with a girl, she loved God, she didn't have the courage to be bring her home to her family.  She was not sure that she was ready to be labeled as gay because she had fallen for the soul of another female. 

In the end she chose the man she loved.  She still thinks about that girl and they have remained friends.  She taught her how to love freely, to be open and honest, and to connect on a deeper level which then carried over into the relationship with her man.  The rest of the story is yet to unfold but the moral of the story is that she fell in love with the soul, the way that they both made her feel about herself, about life, about love. 

Everyone should have this right.