While scouring YouTube the other day, I came across marriage proposals. One video led to about 20 videos as I sat engulfed and on the verge of crying happy tears along with the people in the videos. I was struck by the amount of same-sex couples publicly displaying their love for their partners.

Over the past few years, fear has become less of a factor in relationships and many are becoming vocal about marriage, at least. But, marriage is just one of many issues facing the LGBTQ community.

“I also feel like the media has changed what the issues are,” said Taylor Bergeron, junior sociology major.“There’s a lot of violence and there’s a lot of suicide and a lot of mental health problems that are going on within the community. That’s not being talked about, but marriage is. So, it’s a simplified version, but it is still getting a conversation started.”

Too many people have trouble understanding and accepting something that may be unfamiliar to them or that they were taught to hate by a guardian or religious institution.

“I think the religion is such a beautiful thing and such a great vessel for human understanding and compassion and morals. I just think that religion isn’t to blame for the stigma.” Bergeron said. “I think it’s people on an individual level who have made the decision that that’s their values and then use religion to fuel their agenda.”

The U.S. has its fair share of problems, but being able to be with your person, if you are lucky enough to find him or her, should not be one of them.

“States are definitely allowing [marriage] now and I think we’re definitely moving in the right direction. But, yeah, more states could totally move in the right direction,” said Cody Goodwine, sophomore finance major. “Who’s it going to hurt if we’re allowed to do the same stuff normal couples do? It doesn’t hurt anybody. At all.”

People fail to see the harm in this hate. But, on an international level, this has become a major issue. Other countries kill people for being gay. Under no circumstances should genocide be accepted, yet it is on the verge of occurring in countries like Uganda.

“With Uganda, kind of what we’re seeing is a lot of people from the United States who are fundamental religious folks going over there and spreading their beliefs and, also perpetuating that homophobia and that violence,” said Haley Wilson, junior biology major.

Genocides start with hate and discrimination and it would be foolish to deny the prevalence of those two things when it comes to same-sex relationships in our nation.

I will probably continue to watch more proposals videos. Although it is only part of the problem, I feel happiness in knowing that some states allow everyone to marry the significant other of their choosing. I don’t care whether who they are looking at is a same or different sex. Love is hard to find and easy to lose. Let’s value it when it’s there.

Collegian Entertainment Reporter Cassie Maack can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com.