aspirations

A new study revealed that LGBTQIA+ people in the US want to get married.

In 2015, the queer community achieved a massive victory when same-sex marriage was legalised across all 50 states – following the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case.

Over the last decade, thousands of LGBTQIA+ couples have exercised their right to get married, with many more considering the possibility.

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, 59% of LGBTQIA+ US adults under 50 who have never been married say they want to get hitched. Comparatively, 63% of non-LGBTQIA+ individuals under the same age bracket say the same thing.

Upon further investigation, researchers found that of the surveyed LGBTQIA+ adults, those between the ages of 18 and 29 were more than likely to say they wanted to get married compared to those aged 30 to 49.

Non queer adults also displayed similar stats, with 79% of 18 to 29-year-olds embracing marriage, while only 49% of 30-49 year olds agreed.

When surveying those who are divorced, widowed or separated, 49% of LGBTQIA+ adults said they were more likely to get married again. The same couldn’t be said for their heterosexual peers, with only 33% expressing an interest.

The study also shed some light on the respective groups’ views about having children.

47% of non-LGBTQIA+ adults under 50, who don’t have kids, were shown to have more of an interest in starting a family, while only 33% of LGBTQIA+ adults shared the same sentiment.

However, a nearly equal portion of LGBTQIA+ adults (28%) and non-LGBTQIA+ adults (29%) were unsure if they wanted to have children.

Lastly, it was revealed that 37% of LGBTQIA+ women and 36% of LGBTQIA+ men want to have kids someday.

There was a bigger disparity between the straight individuals. 54% of non-LGBTQIA+ men were reported to want children, and 39% of non-LGBTQIA+ women shared the same interest.

The recent data comes at a time when marriage equality is facing a new wave of attacks from Republicans and conservative figures.

In July, former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis – who made headlines in 2015 when she refused to issue marriage licenses to LGBTQIA+ couples – filed a petition urging the US Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.

In the filing, she described the ruling as being “grounded entirely on the legal fiction of substantive due process” and further claimed that it forced her to choose “between her religious beliefs and her job.”

For more information about the petition and whether the Court will hear the case, click here.

It was perfect timing on Monday for the Moore League to hold its first football media day, considering that five of the seven head coaches are new and the host school, Long Beach Jordan, is opening its new stadium next week.

Alfred Rowe (Long Beach Jordan), Mario Morales (Lakewood), Justin Utupo (Long Beach Poly), Raudric Curtis (Long Beach Wilson) and Malcolm Manuel (Long Beach Cabrillo) all promised to lead their respective programs to success through passion and determination. The two returning coaches, Romeo Pellum (Long Beach Millikan) and Calvin Bryant (Compton), offered similar commitments.

“Just having a new stadium and changing the culture, it’s exciting,” said Rowe, who went to Long Beach Poly and played for Pete Carroll at USC. “The most important thing is effort. Our goal is nobody is going to outplay us.”

Compton has a new stadium and a new $225-million, 31-acre campus. Bryant spent five years having his students attend a former middle school. “Our guys are fired up,” Bryant said. “I can’t get them to go home.”

They love their weight room. They love their classrooms. The team went 3-7 last season but could be one of the most improved. They just added All-City running back Edward Rivera from South East.

Five of the seven head coaches are Black, reinforcing the diversity of the schools they represent. “The coaches and leaders look like their players,” Lakewood’s Morales said.

Curtis played at Pomona-Pitzer and is a former head coach at Bellflower and was an assistant at Mayfair. “Wilson is not going to be edged out any longer,” he vowed. “We’re not going to take a back seat any longer.”

There were big-time players in attendance, including 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end Jude Nelson of Long Beach Millikan. He’s bigger now than his brother, quarterback Malachi Nelson. “I can beat him up a little,” he joked.

Poly brought quarterback Deuce Jefferson (Weber State), cornerback Donte Wright Jr. (Georgia), tight end Jaden Hernandez (Colorado State), among others. Lineman Anthony Rodriguez certainly looked like he has spent the offseason in the weight room. He’s 6-5, 280 pounds, down 20 pounds from last season. Committed to UC Davis, he said, “I’m way leaner. I’m still chunky but thick.”

Wilson has 6-5 quarterback Mack Cooper, a three-year starter. Lakewood turns to three-year starter Tiwan Jones in the secondary.

One of the most intriguing players is 6-4 junior quarterback Sama’Jay Jackson of Jordan. He was an all-league basketball player. He’s returning to football for the first time since he gave up the sport in 2020 when the pandemic struck. He’s fast, running a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.

Millikan is opening its season next weekend in Nevada playing Foothill in Henderson.