10 years next month, why can't others?

[The Straight Story]

10 years I have been with the woman I love. The light of my life and the fruition of my dreams.

My best friend James and his lover have been together for well over 13 years in Ohio, and still cannot marry. Just because they are the same sex.

I found my special someone, and we were able to come together before all and be joined as one couple - one name, and so on.

It has been rough for us, not always perfect, but we had an underlying strength in that we were seen as one not just by each other but by society as well.

We were recognized as a couple, as two people who took the ultimate step in a relationship and pledge before others our commitment. We were accepted for who we are - two different people in love who chose a life together. We weren't sure we could ever have kids due to her cervical cancer before and such, and that we had our daughter is still a miracle to us (10 years, no birth control, sex like bunnies, and only one child).

Marriage is about 2 people coming together and spending a life together as partners. How hard is it for the rest of society to simply allow that?

Through her sickness and all the other hell we have been through people have recognized us as a single unit, a couple. Why can't we simply give that to us all?

I have my rights, but I won't stop thinking about the rights of so many others like my brother-in-law and best friend James until they have equal protection and the same rights I and my wife do.

here's to you babe for being with me for 10 years now, and here's to all those out there who just want what so many of us have been 'given' by our government - the ability to just be you.

May we always be together and never forget those we love that are left waiting on the most basic of rights that two people can have - the ability to choose whom they want to spend their life with and having others accept that.

THIS is my family - and even if your family ISN'T recognized by the government, please feel free to show YOUR family here. Because us here that are progressives value you and love you just as you are. At least here on DU you will be accepted, so screw all the rest. Soon I hope it will all change for you.

So share pics of your loved ones - gay or straight, show us your family - and maybe someday others will soon see more than just these pics and realize that love is not dependent on one simple thing, but that it comes from the heart for someone else; No matter if they are same sex or not.

To defend gay marriage is to defend the love of two people to one another. And that is worth defending.

[murielm99]

1. You have a beautiful family.

I have seen your many posts about your wife, and your love for her.

A little over a year ago, my daughter broke up with her partner of six years. She came home to live for a few months while she healed and arranged a new living situation. She was devastated.

I tried to listen to her and comfort her. Of course, it did not take me long to say the wrong thing. I told her that I was convinced that if she and her girlfriend had been allowed to marry, that extra recognition of their commitment just might have gotten them through their crisis. If they had been legally married, they might still be together. Her father and I have faced many problems in our thirty years together. Sometimes I still get exasperated enough to blow a gasket, but I am not going anywhere.

She cried. I am a bad and insensitive mom. But I want to give my beautiful, talented, incredible daughter a wedding. She deserves it.

I don't feel comfortable posting a picture without her permission, but take my word for it. She is beautiful.

[The Straight Story]

3. I am not so sure you said the wrong thing

There is a lot of pressure on same sex couples in this world, ones I cannot understand fully as I am not in that situation.

You and I have been given a chance others have not, so the pressures they feel are different. I think you had it partially right (but then there might have been more to it, many straight couples also break up even though they can marry).

We need things to be equal. It won't hurt straights at all, but it will help gays by alleviating one big problem for them. Gay couples have the same problems straight ones do, they just have some extra stress we never had to deal with.

[alarimer]

2. It's been an uphill battle for sure when even the Democratic Party is opposed to gay marriage.

I don't understand why. I thought we were supposed to be in favor of civil rights. To me, that is what it is all about. Simple fairness and equality. I don't know why Obama (or anyone) has a problem with it. It's frustrating.

[The Straight Story]

4. Fear (for some reason)

So many fear people of the same sex being able to love one another.

And when you throw in politics you get people who are trying to please everyone instead of working for the betterment of all even when it is not popular.

[alarimer]

5. Obama's position is that it should be left to the states.

So it's okay for California and Massachusetts to have legal marriages for gays but not the other states? But what if the couple then moves to a state where their union is not recognized? Isn't that discriminatory because a straight couple would not have that problem. I don't think I've seen this point addressed anywhere.

[old mark]

6. My nephew and his partner have been aotether over 12 years,

were recently married in NY.

Stupid "christain" hatred and fear runs the laws of this country.

mark

[deaniac21]

7. Partners sounds nice. I had a husband and it was more like a

competition.