Boy oh boy, where do I begin.
It's a complex, yet easy (?) story to write. Boy meets boy, laws prohibit marriage, one day it allows it, and all is happily ever after. Right?
Well, follow me after the orange breakfast roll for some more of the things you don't always hear.
See, we have families that don't exactly agree with our "lifestyle choices". (For the record, then next person who tells me my life is a "lifestyle choice" I'm going to throttle them. I think of a lifestyle choice as wintering in Florida, not falling in love with my partner.)
But here in the great state of Minnesota, it's now an option to tie the knot. I never, ever, ever, in my life thought this would be possible, yet here I am.
I broke the news to my father in the gentlest of terms, and he immediately clenched his fists and went on a tirade about lisping fags we see prancing around a pride festival shoving their dresses down people's throats (which I've only actually had happen to me once, but I deserved it - wait, paid for it?) and my mom can't even bring herself to acknowledge that it's actually happening. VERBOTEN!
My partner's mom is praying for our souls, and was kind enough to send us literature detailing the ways we can give our life back to Christ by checking into an ex-Gay therapy clinic. We dutifully tucked the literature in the book case next to the tarot cards.
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All joking aside, just because something becomes legal, it doesn't magically make the pain go away, or families reconcile. There are still many hurdles for us to overcome. The one thing I can control is to be the best damn husband I can be, and the whole point of this diary is to say don't be afraid to reach for the stars. Even if your biological family won't be there, the family you get to choose - which is the most precious family of all - will show up. We've got a kick ass step-mom who is going to make damn sure the day is one we won't forget.
We have picked a quiet day in May to seal the deal with a garden party later on in the summer for the hoards of well-wishers. In lieu of gifts we've decided to see if people would like to bring something we can plant in out yard. Seeds, saplings, bushes, trees..whatever. I think that's a beautiful way to start a new chapter.
So my hat is off to all of you pioneers before me who have made this day possible. I, and countless others stand on your shoulders with tears in our eyes.
See, there is some good in this world after all. :-)