Loving Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Loving Day is an annual celebration held on June 12, the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia which struck down the miscegenation laws remaining in 16 states. Loving Day is not an officially, government-recognized holiday, but is celebrated by a growing number of people throughout the United States.
Many organizations sponsor annual parties across the country, with Lovingday.org providing an online legal map, courtroom history of miscegenation laws, as well as offering testimonials by and resources for interracial couples. Inspired by Juneteenth, Loving Day seeks both to commemorate and celebrate this decision, keeping its importance fresh in the minds of a generation which has grown up with interracial relationships being legalized, as well as explore issues facing couples currently in interracial relationships. The Loving Day website features information, including court transcripts, about the case and other key miscegenation laws. To celebrate the holiday, people are encouraged to hold parties in which the case and its modern-day legacy are discussed, in smaller settings such as living rooms, backyards, etc., as well as in larger gatherings. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, several hundred people have celebrated at events in New York City, with seven major public parties taking place in 2006 in New York, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and Eugene and Portland, Oregon. While taking its name from the case, the holiday is not officially endorsed by or affiliated with the Loving family.
