This article is written by Nikita Bala, a contributing author for Lightning Speed Dating blog     

In today’s world where we have had so many advances in fields of technology and science, unfortunately, we aren’t rid of an oppressive and conservative society especially when it comes to same-sex relationships.

If you choose from your heart, you can Love whomever you want. Yet in this world, it has been viewed as unacceptable. No one can acknowledge the mere fact that a same-sex relationship has got the potential for personal growth as any other relationship.

In fact, love gives us a way to connect beyond the physical world and this means that it is free of gender or sexuality. We are looking for love and to be loved. So why this bias towards same-sex relations? There are no seeming differences between the two except that the beliefs tend to not be parallel to that of the society.

People are slowly coming to their senses and embracing the fact that everyone is equal in God’s eyes, irrespective of their gender or whom they show their love to. These anti-gay cultures are especially prevalent in three world regions: the Muslim world, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc, and sub-Saharan Africa. As of March 2017, 23 countries, most of them located in the America and Western Europe, recognize same-sex Marriage. There are several countries in Asia and other continents as well that recognize domestic partnership at least, which is definitely a start in the right direction.

The globalized media also played a role, by promoting “both the acceptance of homosexuality and the conceptualization of homosexuality as an identity, but not just a behavior”. Countries that were more exposed to global ideas, communication, travel and also had better-educated citizens, in general, were more open and they welcomed gay couples wholeheartedly.

In the eyes of our Lord, all are born equal and it doesn’t say anywhere that people can be discriminated in any manner, least of all based on who they show their love to. So, I think it’s time for parents to wake up and be loving and understanding of their children’s decisions because they are your children and nothing can change that. It’s time friends and family began to support their siblings and kids in their decision to love irrespective of gender. Just a few days back, an Australian MP was in the news because he proposed to his boyfriend while the parliament was debating passing a law legalizing gay marriage.

Here are the words of Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, “Let’s be honest with each other, the threat to traditional marriage is not from gay people but a lack of loving commitment, whether found in the form of neglect, indifference, cruelty or adultery – to name just a few manifestations of that loveless desert in which too many marriages come to grief”.

So let’s open our hearts and minds and be more accepting of whom we can love. And, let’s support our friends who come out in the open.

Love conquers all and everyone.

This blog was edited by Amalia Abbar from our Corporate Office.