Love is for all
“Love” by Heather Keith Freeman
8.85″”x11.75″, pen and ink on watercolor paper
Image description: Two women embrace against a rainbow background.
On June 24th, 2011, along with thousands of other people all over the United States, I sat glued to the live video feed of the New York State Senate as they finally voted to pass marriage equality for same-sex couples. The sixth and largest state to do so, New York joins the ranks of those who recognize that marriage has its basis in love, not a magic combination of genitalia.
I tried in this image to communicate that love, steering clear of the common representation of woman-to-woman affection as something performed for the male gaze. These are two women deeply in love, and if they live in New York, one small step closer to having their relationship recognized as equal to any heterosexual one.
I am a woman married to a man, and I declare that my marriage shall be worth more on the day that marriage rights are extended to everyone, not less.
There’s a long, long way to go yet. Not just marriage rights, but employment and housing non-discrimination, proper support and assistance for GLBT youth who have been kicked out of their homes, and the elimination of the shocking murder rate of trans people, just for a start.
My right to live as myself does not take away from your right to be a bigoted asshole. Hmm – that could make a good bumper sticker for my Zazzle store.
Date: August 18, 2011
