Five Ways to Celebrate the First Marriage Equality Anniversary

By Alex Temblador

This Sunday, June 26, 2016, is the first anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v Hodges, which allowed the LGBT community the right to marry in the United States. June 26 may not be a national holiday (though some are fighting for it to be), it’s still a significant day in U.S. history especially for the LGBT community. And what do we do with significant days? We celebrate, whether it’s a national holiday or not.

As the holiday falls on a Sunday this year, it’s a perfect day to celebrate the day that gave LGBT Americans equal opportunity to love and family. Here’s a few ways how:

1. Raise the Rainbow Flag

Probably the easiest way to celebrate the first anniversary of marriage equality is to fly the Pride flag at your home. Don’t have a flag pole? No worries. Flags that can be stuck in the ground can be bought and/or stickers for your car. Either way, show your Pride and celebrate on this day.

2. Head to a local Marriage Equality Event

A quick search by us found that there’s a number of events and parties occurring in large cities across the U.S. in honor of the Marriage Equality anniversary on Sunday. Check your local LGBT Center website or google “Marriage Equality Event + [your city]” to see if anything is going on in your neighborhood. Grab a friend or your partner (and maybe your family if its family-friendly) and enjoy the company of others celebrating the historic day.

3. Find a Pride!

It’s June and therefore the month of Pride. This weekend there’s a number of Pride celebrations across the United States such as in Chicago, Oklahoma City, New York City, and San Francisco, with a few other cities having celebrations on the 25^th. Participating at Pride is a great way to celebrate the Marriage Equality anniversary because those involved in the march were those cheering across the nation when the decision for love was made. More importantly, it’s a great reminder that the LGBT community still has rights to march and fight for.

4. Have your own shindig!

Sometimes the best way to celebrate any holiday is to invite family and friends over for a good old-fashioned Sunday barbecue – and what better time to do that than for the Marriage Equality anniversary? Grab some hot dogs (or steaks if you’re feeling fancy) and invite family and friends to your casa for drinks, food, and fun. Having a Sunday celebration at your home is probably the most convenient way to celebrate if you have kids. Turn on water sprinklers for the kids to have some water play while the adults can sit back and be reminded how important the Marriage Equality decision was for the future of “family.”

5. Pass the knowledge on

Schools creatw lesson plans for holidays like Thanksgiving and July 4^th as a way to educate the younger generations about national holidays and the history surrounding them. Though perhaps some schools may discuss the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the reality is that most will not, which is why it is so important that parents share with their kids the significance of June 26, 2016.

Families can easily celebrate June 26 by just sharing the history and significance of the day with their children. Who was Obergefell? Why is the day so wonderful for the LGBT community? For your family? Rather than just explain the day, perhaps, involve some fun arts and crafts or LGBT-themed cookie baking.

Though the younger generations may not know the same struggle as their parents faced, it’s important that we instill within them the significance of the Marriage Equality fight so they too can know the power of love and determination.

 

 

Alex is a writer for The Next Family and founder of Fempotential, an inspirational blogazine for women.