Happy Loving Day! Celebrating 50 Years Of Love Without Boundaries
7 real-life couples pay tribute to Richard and Mildred Loving, whose landmark case made interracial marriages possible
Fifty years ago on June 12, 1967, Mildred and Richard Loving won a Supreme Court case that not only changed history, but the lives of countless real-life couples since. Their story, which comes to life in Jeff Nichols’ award-winning film, Loving, began in 1958, after a white man named Richard Loving (Joel Edgerton) married his girlfriend Mildred (Ruth Negga), who was of African-American descent. Their marriage was illegal in Virginia, the state they called home. After multiple arrests, and years of living in exile and fear, the Lovings finally achieved a significant victory. The landmark 1968 case, Loving vs. Virgina, ended all race-based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States, and holds firm today.
Last fall, Focus Features and the team behind Loving had the chance to connect with many real-life couples whose lives were affected by the Lovings' brave battle. Through a social campaign called #ThankYouLovings, families of all shades and nationalities shared gratitude in images and words.
We hope you’ll join us in taking a moment to celebrate Loving Day, and be inspired by these tales of love.
Loving is available on iTunes and Amazon.
Watch the Loving trailer.
"We count our blessings every day!"
"My husband and I were just married this past August!" -- Whitney Dunn
"They made 'us' possible!"
"My husband and I have been married for 23 years. We have gone through 'it' and back again. I have been writing about interracial marriage for years and have written about the Lovings many times. Their story is a piece of history that is still so unknown to the masses." -- Amy Wise
"Thank you Mildred and Richard for paving the way!"
"This is me and my husband. We've been together for 15 years and have five beautiful mixed-race children. This movie it brought tears to my eyes and filled my heart with heartache, hope, love, and anger all at once!" - Maria Guidubaldi Smith
"Because of your struggles, we can have this blessed life!"
"Thank you to everyone that had a part in breaking ignorance and spreading love!" -- Kwailan M. Barsotti
"I am thankful everyday and well aware how lucky we are!"
"My husband and I have been married for 12 years and have two beautiful children." -- Katie Osborn-Nurrenbern
"Because of them my husband and I are able to grow old together."
"Thank you to this wonderful, courageous couple, for they fought a hard fight to do what we all should be naturally able to do -- fall in love with your soulmate and live happily ever after." -- Indhira Leonardo-Trepal
"Love breaks down all barriers."
"December of 2015, my husband and I were married. Love is love no matter the race, ethnicity, or nationality." -- Candace Shamieh
Sign up for the Focus Insider newsletter to be first in line for free advance screenings, world premiere travel packages, weekend set visits, and so much more!