On David’s Bridal, Michael Weiner and A Few Musings on the Subject of Gay Marriage

I’ve been rather silent on the subject of gay marriage. As a gay man, I’m all for it. As a compassionate human being who believes in love, I think it’s the only way to go. As an American, I find it deeply disappointing that I live in a country where all men are indeed not treated equally.

I’ve been silent on the subject because everyone else has been doing enough talking for all of us. I don’t always feel like I have anything fresh to offer. I’d also like to think that anyone reading my musings on any kind of regular basis can surmise exactly how I feel about gay men and women being allowed to marry in the United States.

Today, however, I’d like to share a few thoughts and experiences related to the subject of gay marriage. Please excuse the lack of cohesion. In fact, think of what follows as a set of related mini posts. And please do not look here for some grand statement about why gays should be allowed the same human rights as everyone else. If you are truly looking for that, look inside yourself.

Over the last week or so I have been slammed with emails from David’ Bridal. I do not know how I got on their radar. I do not know why they feel the need to send at least two emails a day. All I know is that I’ve been getting the emails and I am not amused. This morning I clicked on the link at the bottom of the email in order to unsubscribe myself. In doing so, I was brought to a web page that asked me why I wanted to unsubscribe. A list of options appeared as well as a space in which I could type my own reason. I chose to do that. “I’m a gay male,” I typed. “I am not allowed to get married and I have absolutely no need for your services.”

I was reading Voenix Rising this morning and came across this post. Michael Weiner, co-founder of the Rockstar Energy Drink company, is a complete bastard. Among other things (“When I hear someone’s in the civil rights business, I oil up my AR-15!”), the bastard had some choice words to say on the subject of gay marriage. “I don’t like a woman married to a woman. It makes me want to puke … I want to vomit when I hear it. I think it’s child abuse.” Boycott this bastard. And, if I may be so bold (and slightly hypocritical), oil up your AR-15 just in case you run into him.

My best friend is in love with a man. That man is from Australia. Because they are gay they can not be married. Because they can not be married, my best friend’s partner has to be in the United States on a visa. That means that his time here is perpetually limited. Until they can legally be together, they will continue to live their lives being uprooted from their homes. It breaks my heart. It makes me sick.

Lastly, I would like to just say that I believe in people. I believe in love. I believe that one day soon we will have moved beyond all the fear and hate that currently dominates our society. I have to believe that. I have to have hope. I have to accept that the antiquated beliefs of an older generation will give way to the open-mindedness of those who will soon make the crucial decisions in this country.

Believe with me.