To many, the final nails were placed in the coffin of the same-sex marriage issue when five unelected judges wrongfully made the decision to make same-sex marriage legal in the United States. I find myself asking how we got here.

It all began, in my opinion, with the sexual revolution. This social movement lasted for two decades (1960 – 1980), and confronted the traditional social norms related to sexuality. With the advent of the sexual revolution, there was increased acceptance of premarital sex, homosexuality and alternative forms of sexuality. The sexual revolution also advanced the pro-abortion movement, which has resulted in the death of an estimated 54 million babies since 1973 when it was legalized (according to the US. Centers for Disease Control).

No doubt, the sexual revolution has devastated American culture. As a result, we have witnessed the decline of morality in our nation and the continual breakdown of the family. The proportion of children in single parent homes has more than doubled since the 1960s. Now, there is less emphasis placed on creating and maintaining intact families and more emphasis placed on one’s individualism.

Coinciding with the sexual revolution of the 1960s, we had the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to end racial segregation and discrimination in America.  As a result of this movement, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was established, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Civil Rights Act paved the way for other groups to receive protection from discrimination. For example, Americans with disabilities were afforded similar protections against discrimination with the enactment of The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

However, while the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protected “sex” as a class in terms of “male” or “female,” the act did not pertain to sexual orientation and did not protect the right to have sex with someone of the same sex.

Nonetheless, in recent years, the militant LGBT community has sought to hijack the civil rights movement and claim “equal” protection under the law.  They have been pushing for same-sex marriage in the name of marriage equality and have used the Courts to gain their “special” right to not only “marry,” but to normalize the LGBT culture.

“We The People” put same-sex marriage on the ballot, and 50 million Americans voted in 31 states to protect natural marriage by amending their respective state constitutions. Radical homosexuals, however, challenged these state amendments in the courts. Some activist federal judges and lawless politicians overturned the votes of millions of Americans and allowed same-sex unions in a majority of states. The heavily financed and audacious plaintiffs took their cases to the Supreme Court. With the support of many in the media, Hollywood, billionaires, and, of course, President Barack Obama, the militant LGBT community has been effective with their campaign to normalize same-sex marriage and strategic with their clever and simple message: love is love.

We have witnessed the effects of the sexual revolution. We have allowed ourselves as a country to place our own individualism first instead of placing what’s good for children and families first. The result: a society that says live and let live. We are a society that goes along to get along. The facts are clear in the wake of the recent Supreme Court hearing on same-sex marriage.

The sexual revolution has reached its climax! The same-sex marriage debate is over. So, what’s next?

We must protect our faith and religious freedom. Same-sex couples are now able to get married, but their ability to marry will never substitute or alter the true meaning of natural marriage: one man and one woman. Same-sex marriage advocates should not infringe on Christians’ right to believe in God’s design for marriage. People of faith must commit themselves to building a stronger marriage culture because so much of our future depends upon it. We have not begun to see the effects of the LGBT revolution. That will be revealed over time.

Dr. Deborah De Sousa Owens holds a Doctor of Education degree from Vanderbilt University. She travels extensively speaking about her core values: choices in education, the sanctity of life, the free expression of faith, and building a healthy marriage culture. Please send any inquiries to dowens@caapusa.org