Kids Reacting To Gay Marriage Will Make You Smile

Many of us were frustrated on Monday when the Supreme Court delayed its ruling on same-sex marriage, which could effectively legalize gay marriage in the United States. The decision should be coming on Thursday or next Monday; in the meantime, take a few minutes to watch this excellent video from the Fine Bros. showing how kids react to gay marriage. Filmed in 2013, the video went viral when it was first released and has now been viewed well over 28 million times. Its popularity then and now is understandable, as it shows a sea of change in cultural attitudes about homosexuality and gay marriage. Its general message is simple: Some adults may have issues with gay marriage, but kids? They don’t really care.

At the beginning of the video, thirteen kids, ranging in age from 5 to 13, watch two YouTube videos of elaborate, public marriage proposals—one featuring a gay couple and another featuring a lesbian couple. Interviewers then ask the kids how they feel about them. The intro to the video explains why talking to kids about gay marriage matters:

The opinions of children about these issues can give incredibly valuable insight into where our society currently stands and where we are headed as people. It's important to discuss these topics openly in hopes of a better tomorrow through dialogue and conversation.

The kids react to the proposal videos in a variety of ways. Some are completely delighted:

Some are confused:

But, for the most part, even those who are surprised say in the interviews that they think gay people should be allowed to marry and shouldn’t be discriminated against for their sexual orientation. Toward the end of the video, the interviewer asks a question that seems especially prescient now: “Do you think that by the time you have grown up, that gay marriage will be legal everywhere?” The kids are unsure; reactions range from “Yes” to “It should be” to “I’m not sure. People are selfish.” It’s amazing to think that it could happen within the next few days, when less than two years ago, such a thing seemed decades away.

My favorite bit is the girl on the left’s response to “What would you say to the people out there who believe gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed?”:

PREACH.

Images: YouTube (4)