Love Wins. Love Will Always Win.

So, for those who don’t know I’m an ordained minister. Whenever I tell people that they normally laugh in my face and think it’s the most outlandish thing I’ve ever said (and believe me, I’ve said some outlandish things). I know I don’t look like the typical minister, but that’s because I’m not. I’m young, I’m edgy and I’m untraditional. It all started back when I was in 11th grade and I was avoiding the SATs, so I became ordained online. Fast forward a few years my mother is getting married and she asked me to do her ceremony, so I accepted. After officiating her wedding I was like, hey, this is something I really enjoy doing. I love the atmosphere of weddings, I love public speaking, and I love to see people happy. Alas, Reverend T was born. JK I am a minister and a minister only, that is it. To be a reverend I need different credentials, and sometimes people get offended. 

Now, I’ll get to the real story. I officiated a wedding last weekend that was my absolute favorite wedding I’ve done. I did my first LGBT wedding and it was amazing. Thinking back, I didn’t cry at my mother’s wedding, nor my father’s wedding, but I got very teary-eyed at the wedding I recently did.  At first I couldn’t figure out why and then I realized, it was because it was my first LGBT wedding. It just so happened to be PRIDE month, and I already knew I was going to march in Philly PRIDE on Sunday, so performing this wedding was the icing on the cake. I thought about the fact that back when I first became ordained, same-sex marriage wasn’t even a thing. It was unrecognized by the law, and it was unthought of. I felt so happy and excited that I was able to engage in an unbelievably special moment. I was so happy to see how much the world has changed in just 4 years, and it quickly dawned on me; I got to watch love win. I got to help love win, I got to see love win. It is an amazing feeling to be able to help and promote the spirit of love. It is amazing to see someone filled with joy, it is amazing to see someone’s eyes filled with love. In short, the wedding was amazing.

We all know on Sunday the United States woke up to horrible news about a hate crime that happened at a gay nightclub in Orlando. To the LGBT community, I want you to know that there are people who are here for you. There is no place for hate, and even when people do evil things like that, please always remember that. It is time for us as country to come together to support those who are oppressed, hurt, harassed, beaten and even murdered for being themselves. My heart goes out to all of the Orlando victims and their families, and I hope that you never change who you are. The bad guys want you to live in fear, and you should never give them that power. You should stand strong, and tall, and in your convictions 100%. You are who you are, and nobody can take that away from you.