Loading ...Mildred Loving Is Dead; Why Her Case Still Matters
May 6th, 2008 by SteveIn 1967, the Supreme Court unanimously overturned state bans on interracial marriage, aka miscegenation, in the appropriately-named Loving v. Virginia. Unfortunately, Ms. Loving has passed away. Last year, in a rare public statement, Ms. Loving said:
Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the “wrong kind of person” for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights.
I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.
I’ve written before about how the arguments against gay marriage were either identical to those opposed to interracial marriage or just really, really stupid. And it’s true! Let’s fill in the blanks to prove it!
“Almighty God created the [genders, male and female], and he [made them different]. The fact that he separated the [genders] shows that he … intend[ed] for the[m] to [complement each other].”
“[Same-sex] marriage between [2 men or 2 women] is repulsive and averse to every sentiment of pure American spirit. Let us uproot and exterminate now this debasing, ultra-demoralizing, un-American and inhuman leprosy.”
No difference.