Vishen Lakhiani and a speaker celebrate Taiwan becoming the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The speaker came out at 16, fell in love with a woman, and found joy despite conflict. Lakhiani argues that denying people love rejects a fundamental human force.
Chapters
Taiwan becomes the first country in Asia to legalize same sex marriage. Lawmakers there have voted in favor of legalizing same sex marriage. I knew from very early on the experience of falling in love with her was going to forever change me. The person I was before that love was completely gone.
If I remember the first time that I kissed someone from the same sex, I would say that it was. I felt safe.
Love is a feeling of being safe. Wanted complete happiness, and my heart was racing every time I got to be with her. I came out when I was around 16. I was looking for the one within the stories that I had been told. I was looking for the prince coming on the horse. And I did find the one. I did fall in love. But my surprise was that that one came in the shape of a beautiful woman. We want love to fit neatly into this box and the ideas that we've been taught as children and it's just ever how it works. And really, at the end of the day, I don't think love is something that we get to choose. I really believe that love is something that chooses us. I knew that it felt really, really good, but at the same time, it was so wrong. Today, I am so grateful. I said yes to her. I said yes to us. I said yes to love.
When we fail to accept people based on who they love, we are rejecting one of the most powerful forces on the planet. No matter what you believe, no matter where you come from, you are alive today because of love. Every single one of us has benefited from love, and none of us deserve to be denied access to it. So for those of you who are willing to challenge what you were raised to believe in order to make the world a more loving place, I love you.
To those who feel different but not supported, I know. To all of you who are struggling with your sexuality, I love you. For those of you who do not want to be put on a box but still want to be able to love freely, I love you.
To those who are resistant to this message and still don't know what they think is right, I love you.
This is the first decision that states that it's a natural right. The big step.
The LGBTQ community in India, like the rest of the world, is too large to ignore Sam.
