All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
~Section 1 of the 14th Amendment
I Do. Two simple words that somehow hold so much meaning. I Do... I was lucky enough to say these words a little over four years ago, and with these two words my life was forever changed for the better. Those two words carried within them all my emotions towards my wife, the joy that we had shared, and the promise to share so much more in the years ahead. Before that moment I had no idea how powerful those two words were, and today I was shown once again their importance. This morning I was lucky enough to be able to go down to the Salt Lake County Clerks Office and witness my childhood friend finally be able to say these two words with the man he loves, and to finally be able to call him his legal husband. I was lucky enough to see the joy in his eyes when he said those words, to see that moment when he finally got to understand just how important those words are.
My friends were the 123rd couple that got married this morning, and as I stood there waiting for there turn I was able to witness (and in some cases be the actual witness) the joy and happiness of 122 other couples, who before today were strangers to me, and now they are all my friends. They have to be friends now, what else could they be? For as I shared in the moment where their lives changed for the better, mine changed as well. I watched some couples who were young and just starting their adventures together, and I saw some who had spend a lifetime loving each other without being able to have it recognized. With each kiss the crowds cheered and tears flowed from happy eyes, and within me the belief that this was the right thing was reinforced.
I was there for three hours, and for those three hours I saw nothing but the best from people, from ministers who came down to help marry couples free of charge, to people who brought in donuts and juice for those who were waiting for loved ones, strangers wishing each other congratulations and wishes of good luck. For three hours I surrounded myself with this, listened to sighs of relief and murmurs of I love you . Watched kisses of the newly married couples, hugs from friends and families, and tears of joy. I watched pure joy and love for three hours, how can that be a bad thing? How can any of that have a negative impact on the relationship I have with my wife?
It can't. It won't. It hasn't.
Find love in your world and embrace it. You will find yourself a better person because of it.
Troy Mangum
