[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4118]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           ESSAY BY EMILY JUE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. 
They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that 
sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice 
to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the 
importance of being an active participant in the political process. 
Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics 
and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues.
  Emily Jue attends Clear Springs High School in League City, Texas. 
The essay topic is: Select an important event that has occurred in the 
past year and explain how that event has changed/shaped our country.

       An important event that occurred this past year was the 
     legalization of same-sex marriage throughout the country. 
     Thousands of Americans gathered in Washington D.C. to hear 
     the ruling of the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage. On June 
     26, 2015 the Supreme Court declared through a vote of 5-4 
     that all Americans would be able to marry nationwide, no 
     matter their gender or sexual orientation. This ruling made 
     the United States the twenty-first country to legalize same-
     sex marriage and specifically affected thirteen states that 
     had a ban on same-sex marriage. This momentous event brought 
     a new civil right to the United States and a victory to gay 
     rights advocates.
       The legalization of same-sex marriage has changed our 
     country by offering the privilege of marriage to couples that 
     are not the traditional ``male and female'' couples. Marriage 
     offers a promise of love and commitment within couples and 
     through the legalization of same-sex marriage, couples of the 
     same-sex are able to give the same commitment and love that 
     traditional male and female couples are able to give. The 
     legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States also 
     represents acceptance and equality to those in the LGBTQ 
     community by offering these people the same civil rights as 
     other citizens in the country have. By giving this 
     fundamental freedom to couples of the same-sex, the United 
     States is able to offer equality to all couples regardless of 
     gender or sexual orientation.
       The legalization of same-sex marriage has also changed our 
     country by normalizing and bringing acceptance to those of 
     the LGBTQ community. By allowing people in the LGBTQ 
     community to marry, the United States fosters a sense of 
     acceptance to these people who are sometimes treated with 
     disrespect and contempt. Through accepting same-sex marriage, 
     the United States accepts those in the LGBTQ community which 
     is a step towards the equality for all people and has had 
     momentous impacts on the United States. By legalizing same-
     sex marriage, the United States moves one step closer to 
     equality for all people, regardless of gender or orientation, 
     and offers a beacon of hope to those in the LGBTQ community 
     and a means for acceptance.

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