It's strange.
When the Florida decision happened, I was amazed. But somehow the Supreme Court decision today has affected me in such a way that I'm experiencing what I can only explain as an emotional breakdown.
Only fitting that David Warner, CL Editor in Chief, broke the news to me — as my work partner for many years (and, like me, a gay man in a longtime relationship), he and I have had many conversations about marriage equality.
I then opened Facebook to see reports trickling in from NYT, MSNBC, etc.
That's when I wept.
I thought back to my cousin's wedding about a decade ago that I attended with my partner, Eddie (we had been together for over 10 years at that point). I proclaimed to my mother that I hoped someday Eddie and I could get married — and she replied, "Maybe a civil union, but marriage is between a man and a woman."
I knew at that point that there was a lot of work to do, and a lot of minds to change, if my own mother couldn't see that my relationship with my significant other was just as equal as anyone else's.
Convincing my mom was easy. Convincing the rest of the world would be a bigger task. Over time, when the issue came up, I stuck to my guns and insisted on setting anyone straight (or "gayly" forward) about the facts regarding same-gender marriage. It's not religious, it's not about procreation, it doesn't threaten opposite sex marriage, and on and on.
Yes, ultimately the legal system has gotten us to this point of true equality. But I'd like to thank the millions of men and women who took this issue on through tough conversations with friends, family, coworkers and strangers to turn the tide of public opinion.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2015.