Loving Day

June 12th is officially known as "Loving Day." For those who have never heard of this day the title is both appropriate and ironic. How can this be?

Loving Day is the day that the Supreme Court in 1967, struck down as unconstitutional, laws against "racial miscegenation" that were used as barriers to inter-racial marriage. First arrested in 1958, just a few weeks after their marriage, Richard and Mildred Loving (yes, believe it or not, that was their name) were charged under the state of Virginia's Racial Integrity Act. They were made to pay a fine and forced to leave the state of Virginia where they resided. Sixteen other states had similar laws on the books at that time. Alabama finally rescinded its final laws on miscegenation in 2000.

The Lovings, who had known each other for years before their marriage, were not the typical challengers of social convention. Working class people, they were not trying to change the law or make a constitutional point. They just happened to have married the person they loved and society did not approve. Loving Day is an appropriate name in that it has turned out to be a celebration of love between people others did not want to recognize.

But there is also irony to the name Loving Day. Had the Loving's not encountered such hatred and bigotry we would never have known of them. Also, the date chosen is the date of the legal case. What does the law have to do with love? Likely, had they not chosen to legalize their union no one would have cared. It was the very act of marriage that caused problems with their local sheriff.

In the final analysis it is fortuitous that Richard and Mildred Loving had the name they did. I doubt that had their name been "Smith" or "Jones" that we would have Smith Day or Jones Day. But perhaps there is more here than just a name. In the year before her death Mildred Loving issued a statement that she supported the right of gays and lesbians to marry. Like she and her husband, gays and lesbians primarily raise the ire of bigots when they want to marry and be out in the open. As long as gays and lesbians don't attempt to formalize their unions, but just live together, no one cares. Mildred Loving saw that connection. So should we all.

Why do I make such a big deal about this? You see, Mildred and Richard Loving changed the course of my life. Were it not for them, I legally could not have married my wife. To Mildred and Richard, this June 12th I will remember you.