A decade in the past, the Supreme Court docket cracked open historical past’s closet and eventually stated “I do” to like in all its kinds. Obergefell v. Hodges made same-sex marriage the regulation of the land on June 26, 2015, and with it got here the tears, the tuxedos, the bouquet tosses and the overdue justice. For a lot of Black LGBTQ+ people, it was a long-awaited second of validation. For others, it was a reminder that marriage was only one milestone on a for much longer street towards full freedom.
Ten years later, the cake’s been lower, however the battle continues.
As a result of whereas rainbows might flood your feed each June, Black queer {couples} nonetheless face limitations that may’t be solved with a hashtag or a Hallmark card. Authorized doesn’t at all times imply equal, and in a rustic nonetheless snarled in racism, homophobia and respectability politics, marriage isn’t the end line—it’s a sophisticated checkpoint.
A few of us by no means dreamed of marriage within the first place, whereas others did, however grew uninterested in watching love get politicized each election cycle. And the remainder of us walked down the aisle proper right into a storm of rejection from household, religion communities and even the very LGBTQ+ areas that heart whiteness greater than actual inclusion.
Nonetheless, we have fun.
We have fun the Black trans girls officiating weddings in public parks. The butch aunties in bowties dancing with their wives underneath disco balls. The Black homosexual males reclaiming softness and security of their unions. We have fun those that select home partnerships, non secular unions or just being in love out loud—no paperwork required.
And sure, we keep in mind that the very case that modified every part was led by white plaintiffs, however we additionally keep in mind the Black queer activists—Bayard Rustin, Marsha P. Johnson, Barbara Smith—who laid the muse lengthy earlier than the court docket caught up.
So, whereas the anniversary of marriage equality is definitely worth the champagne toast, it’s additionally a immediate to verify on our folks: Are our marriages protected? Are our rights safe? Are our chosen households protected?
As a result of 10 years in, love nonetheless wins—however provided that we hold displaying up, talking out and constructing one thing much more radical than marriage: a future the place each sort of Black love is seen, revered and celebrated. No disclaimers. No exceptions. Simply love, in all its glory.