Why Facebook Profile Pictures Are Going Red

Noticed that everyone on Facebook seems to be changing their profile picture to a red background with a pink equal sign?

The signs are a variation of the Human Rights Campaign logo.

HRC describes themselves as a 'civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.'

The reason it is all over Facebook, is because, in case you missed it, the Supreme Court met this week to decide the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Proposition 8. They both deal with the legalization of gay marriage.

In 1996, DOMA federally defined legal marriage (for the purpose of receiving benefits and having marriages recognized between states) as only those between a man and a woman.

California's Prop 8 passed in 2008, and made only marriages between a man and a woman legally valid and recognized in California.

The HRC logo is meant as a sign of support for marriage equality, between any two individuals, whether homosexual, heterosexual, or somewhere in between.

I've especially enjoyed the variations of the logo:

Here's the thing, and I know many of you will angrily disagree: If Elizabeth Taylor can get married 8 times, Kim Kardashian can end her marriage after 72 days, and the woman on My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding gave up on her marriage after 6 DAYS...why is it still such a big deal?

Clearly the institution of marriage isn't a serious or sacred ordeal for those people...and yet they had free reign to do it.

Maybe instead of restricting marriage because of sexuality or gender, we should restrict it for people who want to make a real commitment to someone they love, for people who have spent 40 years together in a monogamous relationship, yet can't sit by their partners bedside in a hospital, and for people who are no different from you and me.

I understand that for many, religion plays a huge role in their opinion on this issue. However, no one is asking to let a gay couple marry in a church, or other place of worship...it's just a legal thing.

Separation of church and state, right?

A gay couple getting married this weekend has the same effect on my life as every other couple getting married this weekend: none.

We have so many more important things to worry about than who someone else chooses to love.

It's all going to be okay, I promise. We're not going to spontaneously combust when gays can marry.

Can we move on now?

Feel free to agree or disagree, just please keep your comments civil.