I am just a two hour drive away from being able to get married on Tuesday.

[William769]

I am ecstatic that this is happening and over joyed that many people I know will take full advantage of this.

But the more I think about this, the more I remember the man of my dreams (we spent 16 glorious years together before he passed in 2006). I also have a angry side in me over this because we could not legally show our love for each other, hell most of the time we were together we could have been arrested and sent to prison just for having sex between two consenting adults.

I have went through so much to get to this point in my life and to see our rights as LGBT Americans come to life, yes I have good memories and bad memories and I will be celebrating, I just hope I can let the bitterness in me subside because of having to wait so damn long to have our wrongs righted.

So here's to you David (the love of my life), I know you are watching down on me and when I finally get to meet you at the pearly gates, we will be as one again.

Thanks for listening to an old fool ramble on.

Peace to all.

[PeaceNikki]

1. .

I am so sorry for your loss.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. ...

[cyberswede]

3. I can understand how all these recent changes could be bittersweet.

It's wrong that you and your partner weren't allowed to be yourselves and enjoy the rights we all should share.
At the same time, it's terrific that the old ways are giving way, slowly but surely, to the way things should be.

[bluesbassman]

4. ...

[Little Star]

5. Hear, hear!.....

[sheshe2]

6. ~

[one_voice]

7. .

[JI7]

8. sometimes i'm not sure you want to let the anger totally go away

it's good to remember and let future generations know things were not always like this.

for example look at what is happening to many of the rights women and people of color have fought for.

and while rights for lgbt have made gains there is still a culture of hate out there.

i think best is not to try to forget it but use it as a way to do more to celebrate .

[Agschmid]

9. Kick.

Peace to you.

[seabeyond]

10. to david...

and i am glad that you are able to experience this william. today.

[RobertEarl]

11. Slowly the status quo is being erased

A better semblance of true individual freedom replaces the old ways of: crush anyone not in the right clique.

It should have happened years ago, but progressives just have not come together until now to make it happen.

What we are witnessing is progress writ large on the big screen of modern US society.

[Arugula Latte]

12. It's a long, slow struggle

for both women and gay people. And I appreciate your support of women's rights. It seems like we go two steps forward, one back, or, recently, with reproductive rights, one step forward, two back. I can definitely see why you would be bitter. So much hatred and strife for decades -- over what? People loving each other...I don't get it.

Here's to you and David.

[stevenleser]

13. K&R&Bookmarked

[Aerows]

14. You are a fine man, William :)

[herding cats]

15. It's a bitter sweet experience for far too many Americans.

You're not the only person feeling joy mixed with sadness. The wait has been long and painful and too many never got to reap the benefits. I'm just relieved to finally be seeing real progress made toward equality.

Peace to you.

[PeaceNikki]

16. 13 months ago when DOMA was overturned, my dear friend got "engayged"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018416815

and 2 months later he suddenly passed away. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023552428

I, too, had the pangs of bittersweet when the ban in Wisconsin was ruled unconstitutional last month. I really wish he could have lived to see what's happening. And to marry the love of his life.

Here's another

[ReRe]

17. K&R

Proceed, William. Live your life to the fullest... as I'm sure that's what David would want you to do.
Peace be with you.

[littlemissmartypants]

18. ...

Love, Peace and Shelter.

👬

[Coventina]

19. "Why We Can't Wait" by Martin Luther King, Jr.

A short book that explains why it is NEVER too soon for people to have their human and civil rights.

A blistering explanation as to why the "slow and cautious" approach is cruel and wrong.

[beam me up scottie]

20. I don't know about old,

but you're not a fool.

I wish you all the best.

[uppityperson]

21. To David and Bill and others who now can marry.

[Sissyk]

22. .

[Rex]

23. We've come a long way from the horrible attitude of the Reagan era

to the wonderful attitude of the Obama era.

We need more good social policy! Hopefully whoever it is in 2016...will continue what Obama has started.

RIP David.

[freshwest]

24. Ah, sweet Will, you got me crying again. Take care.

[brer cat]

25. Peace to you , William769.

It came to late for David, but I wish you happiness as you move forward.

[riderinthestorm]

26. Congratulations! Try, try not to let the old bitterness taint your beautiful day

((Hugs)) to you and your new beloved

[pnwmom]

27. Here's to both you and David. I'm glad that you, at least,

have been able to see so much change in your lifetime.

[shenmue]

28. {{{Hugs}}}

[RKP5637]

29. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[William769]

30. I had to step away for a couple of hours after writing this.

But I want to everybody for all your thoughtful comments.

[Cha]

31. What a beautiful tribute to your

love, David, William.

[niyad]

32. I am so very sorry that you and your love were not able to marry--that restriction never

made any sense to me.

[tavernier]

33. You must live pretty close to me.

Maybe we can car pool to KW as soon as the stay is lifted and the weddings begin. Just standing on the steps of the courthouse that first day will be an amazing thing. I'll buy the first round.

[dsc]

34. My aunt is in Kentucky

her partner since the late 70's, not wife yet, has altzheimers and she is pretty much unable to travel. She is waiting for KY's ruling to finally be final so she can get married. I hope they make it but fear they won't. I am sorry your David didn't.

[Starry Messenger]

35. K&R

((hugs))

[tandot]

36. My sister lives in OK and wanted to get married in Arkansas

when they struck down the gay marriage ban ... then they had a stay ... so they just drove to New Mexico and got married anyway ... today she posted the first letter addressed to them as a couple. It is hard to imagine for straight couple of how much that little letter meant to them.

It is heart breaking for the couples who never had the chance ... but the future is bright

[daleanime]

37. ........

[emsimon33]

38. In just wish we had arrived here as a nation so much sooner

It has ALWAYS been an issue of equality. That the so-called "Christians" are blind to the actual teachings of their religion would be so ironic if it weren't so soul damaging and crushing.

[riqster]

39. Dude. Many thanks for this.

Civil rights shouldn't be something you wait for. Your anger is fair and righteous.

Blessings to you and the love of your life.