Loving Day Celebration, NYC

They had been out for a few hours already, it was muggy and hot, the kind of weather that makes one want to either be at the beach, near a pool, or in an air conditioned room.  Instead, NYCity Mama and her husband were excited about joining those taking part in the Loving Day Celebration in NYC.  

It’s been something Mama had not only been thinking about, but also talking about for almost a week now and though the weather was tempting them to head to the beach, nothing was going to keep them away from being a part of this.

When they entered the room, about an hour after the event had started, it was a bit overwhelming seeing so many interracial couples in the room.  Lovers, friends, families, they were all there, some dancing, some drinking and laughing, some on the very long line to the grilled hot dogs and hamburgers.  The energy was positive and happy.  Mama’s husband slowed down his pace a bit as they entered the room.

Mama leaned over to him and said, “It’s kinda like realizing you’re a member of a cool club you didn’t even know you signed up for, huh?”

“Yeah,” he said, complete awe on his face.

Her 2.5 yo slept the entire time they were there, but her 3.5 and 11 year old joined others in the “Family Area” and spent time drawing while Mama walked around taking pictures.

At one point Ken Tanabe, founder of Loving Day, got on stage and spoke about not only the history that led to the Loving vs Virginia Supreme Court case, but also about the current history made when our country elected a multiracial President for office. The two things he pointed out that stood the most for Mama was the fact that when President Obama’s parents got married, it was illegal for them to do so in 22 of the United States. And the fact that since not too long ago has it been acceptable to mark oneself as multiracial on census reports.  

It was strange for Mama to stand there, knowing how incredibly personal all of this was.  How incredibly lucky she and her husband were for having been born in a time when their love was legal, and more accepted than it was for others not too long before their birth. It was very emotional.  So, instead of going on and on with words, trying to describe the beauty of it all, she decided to share with you all what the faces of love look like.

To find how to host your own Loving Day Celebration, or find the Loving Day Celebration nearest you, visit the Loving Day site.

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Tags: nyc
Posted in Performances/Events/Charities | 7 Comments »