esrosedotblog

FOUR MORE YEARS

Today is our fourth wedding anniversary.

Nevermind that we have been together 37 years. 33 of them without benefit of clergy.

Matter of fact it is still without benefit of clergy. More the support of the state.

There are benefits. Since California is a community property state we can even file our IRS forms jointly. And there are more benefits within California.

But most of all it is the signifier that gay people do have the same rights as others. That we are not hidden. For the state, it means that all of its people count and have full citizenship.

But the real payoff is emotional.

We had a hundred friends in our back yard. All our kids came to see.

We were married by a member of the City Council who had been a friend.

Our kids led us to the front of the congregation and our dog Franklin followed us just as though it had been rehearsed. Try rehearsing anything with an Airedale.

When the moment came, the declaration that we were man and husband, everyone applauded. And Franklin barked loud and clear. We hadn't rehearsed that either.

A thrill. A realization that the bond we set years ago was not only recognized and validated but that we had, after a long hard struggle, arrived in our proper place in society.

Pretty important stuff.

Labels: gay wedding, life