Inspirational Photo Assignment

Controversial, loving, celebratory, and united are all words that could be used to describe this picture. To me it is a bittersweet photograph. The couple holding hands in the photograph are in a committed relationship but they are still legally unable to marry.

My friend Taylor took this picture while at the National Equality March in Washington D.C. The march was one of the most inspirational and emotional days I have had while at GW. Human rights, especially the right to equal treatment regardless of sexual orientation is a cause I am extremely invested in and supportive of. The march was incredibly inspirational for me. While there I heard stories from countless people who had traveled across the country to be at the march and talked about the discrimination they have faced due to their sexual orientation. Many couples made signs announcing how many years they had been together yet still could not legally marry. Other people had stories about their partner passing away before they could legally marry and made signs with a picture of them together. My favorite posters, like the ones seen in the picture, had one line quotes like “Do we get to vote on your marriage next?” or “Excuse me, you’re stepping on my civil rights.”

I think this picture sums up the feelings of unity and belief in a common cause that permeated the entire march. I was unable to even fathom the amount of people in attendance until seeing the media’s coverage of the march. Their aerial shots showing the hundreds of thousands of people converging on the steps of the capital barely began to demonstrate the massive size of the crowd. This shot encompasses many of the elements that I still remember from the march, the hand-decorated posters, a complete saturation of rainbow colors, a diverse mix of people, and love felt all around.

This photo would never make the cover of a magazine or even the Washington Post, but it is still inspirational to me every time I see it. It reminds me how we can all come together, regardless of anyone’s age, gender, race or nationality, because if we all share a common belief and hope for the future anything is possible. In this case it was the shared goal of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and reminding the world that gender shouldn’t restrict whom you’re legally allowed to marry.