Love wins again

Like many other American girls who were raised in the 90’s I grew up on Disney movies. I liked princesses but I liked the concept of love even more. These movies are the base of what kids have as a reference for love. As problematic as this idea of love is (as no love is like a Disney movie) this idea has become a part of how I see my future. A wedding, small, but a wedding. I always wanted to get married. I wanted to have a wedding. The event and public proclamation of love brings so much excitement and any good feeling. As I grew older, I would dream about my wedding, as girls do. It is normalized in society. We talk about wedding dresses and dream of them. The colors we have, our flowers, who we will invite and who will be in our wedding party. It is referenced in most movies and TV shows we watch. The older I got, the more I experimented with sexuality and landed inside the queer box as a lesbian, I never truly thought I would get married. I never thought it would be for me, even though I wanted it. It wasn’t until I was in college, June 26 2015, when America passed that same-sex marriage would be recognized in all 50 states did I even start to see it become possible again. As I pushed through my college years, meeting women and falling for them. Wondering if some of them were the ones only to have my heart broken and move forward. I graduated and moved across the world. I landed in Asia and started all over again. Living in South Korea was tough but molded me in a way I never saw possible. On I went to Taiwan. Taiwan is for lovers some might say. I do. Right after arriving here in 2015, I met someone. That someone made an impact on me. We have been together ever since. I am unconditionally in love with her and truly committed. May 17, 2019 Taiwan granted that same-sex marriage is now recognized. This has brought new hope to my life. I love Taiwan and my career is here. My love is here and that means my life is here I now feel like either place I settle, here or America I can live like the rest of the world. I don’t have to have a second-class relationship. LGBTQIA’s as a community still have a long road ahead of us but I never thought I would see this day of acceptance and change in two countries I consider home. This has been a long fight. I want to take this moment to acknowledge, while I have these rights and opportunities, I can’t forget those who fought to let me have those rights. I remember those who fought before me at Stonewall. I remember those who were publicly shamed and beaten. I remember those even today who are persecuted and killed for loving the ones they love. Being a part of the queer umbrella is not a choice. It was something I discovered about me and I would never change it for the world. I am proud of who I am and I am proud of who I love.

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