The result is a more united family, but above that, I think it’s a testament to people’s flexibility. My grandmother has rarely left her farm and rural community of 150 people. I doubt she could name more than a couple of black people by name, but she made it clear to my family of 60-plus uncles, aunts and cousins that a rejection of me and my partner would result in a rejection from her. Her warning before our first Thanksgiving last November was that if anyone said anything, she would be leaving the event with us.

The vast majority of my extended family has seen little variance in their lives, but the majority of them have chosen us over stereotype, and love over rejection. While many coastal liberals see Trump-supporting rural dwellers as beyond salvation, I’ve seen an incredible capacity for change, acceptance and growth.

Image Tasnim Shahjahan and Kem Ramirez

Tasnim Shahjahan, 30, and Kem Ramirez, 35

Where they met: In graduate school.

Tasnim: When I first told my parents about our relationship, they cried for three days before calling me back. People often think that being opposed to interracial relationships is for uneducated and untraveled folks. I disagree.

In the immigrant community, the need to protect your culture is strong. Ideally, immigrants will often prefer their children marry within their own culture and race. And if they are religious, then within their religion. And when that doesn’t happen, it is often a shock to the community where the couple often face discrimination and rejection. It doesn’t matter, the number of degrees you have or the number of countries you’ve lived in or visited.

My partner, Kem, is both from a different country — I was born in Bangladesh and he grew up in Peru — and a different religion from me. But we are both Americans who immigrated during childhood. This makes it worse because religion is harder to go against than culture or race. With culture or race, you can argue for inclusion, saying, “The times are changing and people are becoming more progressive and open-minded.” With religion, that argument doesn’t work. You are going against God’s laws, therefore you are to be shunned. The end.