Homecoming Court has historically been a high school popularity contest; the most popular girl in school and her boyfriend are voted the homecoming queen and king for the night. The two spend the night together, receiving both congratulations and envy. This honor, for one San Diego school, now belongs to two females.
Rebeca Arellano and her girlfriend Haileigh Adams, seniors at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego, Calif., were recognized this weekend as Homecoming King and Queen, respectively. The two have gained a lot of publicity for being named the first same-sex couple to be voted to such titles.
While some are up in arms against the idea of a young woman being named Homecoming King, I applaud the student and school administration for taking a large step towards equality. The teenage years are hard enough, regardless of one's sexual orientation. To ostracize these girls and deprive them of the opportunity to take full advantage of their high school experiences shakes the very core of a nation based on equality for all.
Some of you, however, are going to approach any idea of same-sex marriage as a social breakdown, condemning these girls to eternal damnation for who they are. I urge you, however, to remember the fact that these girls are covered under the same Constitution that you are.
And if you're calling for a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, and therefore squashing the dreams of your fellow human beings, dream on. Many of those arguments are based in religious values, which have no place in a government based on the separation of church and state. With six states and Washington D.C. already allowing same-sex marriages, I celebrate the fact that same-sex culture is making its way into mainstream society, and hope that this act of equality sends a shock around the nation that it doesn't matter who you love.
I have hope for our generation, accepting people who are different – that may not look or act that same as what our parents or grandparents told us was "right" – for who they are. Most of all, I have respect for Rebeca and Haileigh for having the guts to stand for what they believe in. The two of them have had a relationship for two years and I hope it keeps growing strong. For those who want to argue that same-sex relationships don't last due to nature, I hope that you can look at these two and accept that YOU are the one who might want to change your ways.
Whether or not you agree with same-sex relationships is a discussion all to itself, but this event speaks volumes to the shifting social standards of American society. Rewind 100, 50, or even 20 years and these women would be considered outcasts – rejected by society. These girls, however, are taking one more step in the journey for equality that so many before them have tread. In our ever-changing modern-day world, these young women have broken new ground, getting closer to giving equality for all people, regardless of their age, sex, or orientation.
Email: steven.wrobel@ubspectrum.com
