The government fights a losing battle when it stands in the way of love. History may be on its side, but the arc of justice bends toward what is right. "Loving" is a story about a couple in Virginia, a white man and a black woman, who did something innocent. They fell in love. Knowing they couldn't get married in their home state, they made their way to Washington, D.C. to tie the knot. As they began their life together, their secret was discovered. After a few nights in jail, they began a battle that would take them all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States of America. It would be here that interracial marriage would be declared legal under the United States Constitution. This couple did something so innocent, yet they changed the country.
No longer were we as her citizens to be subjugated to man's interpretation of God's law. The door was opened. We were free to love who we choose. Decades later, this very case would be used to argue marital rights for members of the LGBTQ community. This film does an astounding job of showing us where that journey began. It began with an uncommon couple, born into uncommon times, wanting nothing more than a common life. For their bravery, they are American heroes and should be treated as such. This film gives them the recognition they deserve.
As a member of the LGBTQ community, I now find myself in a loving interracial relationship with the man I hope to marry one day. The "Loving" trial made everything I want possible. No longer am I required to hide. My family is legitimate. My children will be raised in a supportive home and hopefully without public fear that the relationship of their fathers is somehow damaging. The same children will grow up knowing the value of commitment. They will understand the content of character matters much more than the color of someone's skin or gender. That journey began in Virginia. I am thankful that this movie allowed me to give thanks.
Be good to each other,
-Nathan