Last weekend was a big one for the LGBT community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans*): 33 gay and straight couples got married at the Grammys and the show “Good Luck Charlie” on Disney channel broadcasted the network’s first openly lesbian couple. There were many people cheering  for both events, but just as many people were “disgusted” and “disappointed” by both. Where is the love?

When asking someone who is against marriage equality why they are against it, the usual answer is that it is a sin, and to just read Leviticus 20:13, but if everyone is going to take the whole Bible literally, then they might as well follow some of these rules as well:

-Women cannot speak in houses of God (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
-No tattoos (Leviticus 19:28)
-No blending fabrics (Leviticus 19:19)
-No one can eat shellfish (actually, a lot of other foods too) (Leviticus 11:10)
-No one can wear gold. (1 Timothy 2:9)

It is basically saying, “Yes, we want to enforce this one Biblical law about something completely harmless to ourselves but let’s just pretend these other little ones do not exist!”

The episode was a great way to show kids how completely normal and okay it is for two consenting adults to love each other.

“I thought it was perfect. Most parents who are against gay marriage always say ‘how are we going to explain to our children why they have two moms or two dads?’ Well, here’s the answer: show the simple example of love and good parenting on a kids’ show. Kids don’t know racism, sexism or other kinds of hate until it’s taught to them. The episode showed how innocent a child’s acceptance is, and how loving the moms are. Simple love calls for simple examples,” a Bob Jones alumni Marissa Walker said.

Like Marissa said, children do not know hate until it is taught to them. There are LGBT children, teens, and even adults still “in the closet” due to the hate around them. Those brave enough to come out have endured bullying, and, in some cases, that bullying leads to suicide.

“Modern Family” and “Orange Is the New Black” are television shows that depict nontraditional relationships. “Orange Is the New Black” even has a transgender character. If more shows have real life relationships between people, especially shows for children, especially involving all types of relationships and all of the differences in the world today, then maybe that will be one big step toward having less hate in the world.

*DISCLAIMER* This is an opinion piece. It is my opinion and not that of Patriot Pages or Bob Jones High School.