I have two sons and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder). One son is married to a wonderful woman. They have a grandbaby on the way and I will most likely see this child born into the world. I'm a bit of a weeper, so I'll probably cry. But my other son lives with me. He works, but he lives with me because I'm old and he feels the need to take care of his old man. All of them do, really. I'm rich only in love, guys.
Yet the son that lives with me is gay. I've known this since he was in high school. I love him more than life itself. And I want what my married son has for him.
My plea to my nation below.
I was a good father. I think. I worked. Sold vacations. Worked my ass off. When my wife divorced me she was in a bad state, so both my boys stayed with me. I love her to this day, and unfortunately she died of cancer some six years ago. I loved her very much. And we were married. And this society recognized our marriage. And my son is married. And our society recognizes his marriage.
America, why can't my gay son get married? His love is every bit as strong as mine, my other son's. His love is boundless. His love is like any other love on this loveless planet. I see the pain in his eyes when he sees bigotry on the news. I have tried not to make him feel different from the general populous, but that has been impossible. He has been called horrible names. A brick was thrown through our window one night when he was in high school.
Why are we like this? I grew up during civil rights in the sixties. My father was a barber--the only barber in our town--to serve black people. We lived civil rights. This debate ended then. I thought we were better. I thought we were more. I thought we were equal.
But my son has someone he loves. And because my son loves this man, I love this man. He is a good and decent man and it makes me feel good to see them together. I enjoy their company. And I want to see them married. I want to attend their wedding.
Yet they can't validate their love. As if their love needed YOUR goddamned validation.
Love simply is.
It isn't a wedge issue.
It isn't a policy position.
It isn't even a religious issue.
They want to be married. Here in North Carolina. That, my good kossacks, is a fucking CIVIL RIGHTS issue. So let me ask you...why can't they be married? Why is one son better and more normal than the other? Bullshit! I love my boys equally and they love the loves of their lives equally and love is about more than politics!
Now is the time.
Bigotry and homophobia ends with this generation, I feel it. I feel it, even though I am old and sick. I feel it because I can feel the passion and energy coming from this site and from the very core of our society that we WILL NOT tolerate hatred and ignorance any longer.
This is a simple plea to my nation. I am old. Let me see my son married to his love before I die.
Please.