"The Unbearable Truth... Fear Eats The Soul"

Saturday, April 1, 2017

This story was originally published by Freedom to Marry in August 2012, one year after the New York Legislature extended the freedom to marry to same-sex couples in New York, including Richard and John.

Richard Dorr and John Mace met at the Juliard School of Music in 1948 and have been a couple since 1950, making Manhattan their home. Last year, they joined Freedom to Marry in making the case to the New York State Senate to pass the marriage bill.

After hearing Richard and John's story, thousands of New Yorkers contacted their state legislators to urge them to pass the marriage bill and end the wait for committed same-sex couples like Richard and John. Because after 61 years, hadn't they waited long enough to marry in the state they call home?

After 62 years together, Richard and John were finally married in New York!

Below, watch the video we recorded with Richard and John during the New York campaign.

"A Thought To Ponder..."

To have loved, to have been made happy thus,
What better fate has life in store for us?

- Arthur Symons

"It's True, Lovers Do Start To Look Alike..."

Amongst gay couples, it's often referred to as "A Boyfriend Twin"

"While you may be familiar with the old saying, “opposites attract,” in reality, what the heart wants is someone who resembles its owner and that resemblance increases the longer two lovebirds stay together.

University of Michigan psychologist Robert Zajonc conducted an experiment to test this phenomenon. He analyzed photographs of couples taken when they were newlyweds and photographs of the same couples taken 25 years later.

The results showed that the couples had grown to look more like each other over time. And, the happier that the couple said they were, the more likely they were to have increased in their physical similarity."

Read more about this interesting phenomenon here...

"Why Do Couples Start To Look Alike"

"Fear Eats the Soul"

Gotcha! Happy April Fool's Day!

"The Whisper Of Truth..."

The Whisper app allows users in anonymity to share secrets.

"Fear Eats the Soul"

"Same Gender Loving People - No. 2655"

"Love Brings Beauty To The World..."

Positive images of people like me... The truth of the matter is that we all need to see people like ourselves. So everyday, I'll post a photo, drawing or some other artwork that depicts Same Gender Loving People as what we are... Only Human.

"And The Truth Shall Set You Free..."

The "Land Down Under" has yet to come to terms with the fact that all love is equal and worthy of respect under the law. Although progress has been slow in the generally conservative nation, love has always been a part of the story of gay Australians.

Below in a recent televison story from the Australian television network program Studio Ten, Peter de Waal and life-long partner, Peter Bonsall-Boone share their story of love and of being the first couple to come out publicly on Australian television in 1972. The couple had hoped to marry on their 50 anniversary together last year, but Australia has yet to enact marriage equality and the couple lament that they may not live to see their nation recognize the truth that has lived in their heart for more than 50 years.

"The Truth About Who We Are..."

Mauricio, Filmmaker, Buenos Aires, Argentina

by thegaymenproject

photos by Kevin Truong

Mauricio, in his own words: "I remember being just 11 or 12 years old and one night going to bed crying; I had spent the afternoon at one of my closest friend's house hanging out with him and some other friends from school, at one point (I don’t remember why) one of them said I was weird and different because I liked boys, my other friends agreed but none of us really understood what that meant, all I knew was I was being set apart from the rest of my friends and it hurt. That night my mom asked what was wrong and called my dad into my room, I told them what had happened and how I did not understand why being different was wrong, I was so sad…

Without hesitating my dad said that there was nothing wrong with me and that of course I was different from everyone else, that that’s something we all have in common, differences. Then my mom asked me if I knew exactly what those kids were talking about, I said “I think they were saying I’m gay” and she said no one had the right to tell me what I am, and that if I actually was it was only a part of me to be proud of, like my brown eyes and my large ears. I slept like a baby that night.

I never came out, I just never felt like I had to tell anyone that I’m into guys and not girls, my friends and family know I’m gay because they asked and I said yes; at first I think I avoided confrontation fearing rejection, but happily that didn’t last long, the thing is I grew up surrounded by loving people, I know I’m extremely lucky because of this, and thanks to that I’m a proud young man, kind and confident and in the search of true happiness.

I’m not really in touch with the gay community in Buenos Aires, I try to be aware of what’s happening all the time but I keep my distance, because I respect it so much, I’m still trying to understand myself and when I feel ready I know I want to take an active part in it. Years ago I decided I wouldn’t let my sexuality define who I am and I know that people fighting for our rights have been responsible for this being possible and I’m so thankful, but I guess the truth was, until a few years ago, I didn’t want to belong to anything, I just wanted to be free. On the night the marriage equality bill passed I decided I wanted to be there to see it, so I stayed up all night waiting for the results in la Plaza del Congresso, happy, knowing that history was about to happen and that many people were closer to equality in the country I call home. That night I discovered that in order to be happily different everybody has to have chances in life.

I think the only thing I would advise my younger self would be to trust more in people, it took me a while to do it and when it happened I started living life at it’s fullest, closer to happiness surrounded by people whom I love and who love me."

"The Imitation Of Life..."

The Sum Of Us - This Austrailian film dealt with homosexuality in beautifully compassionate way for its time (1994). Starring a youthful Russell Crowe in the lead and featuring a tender love story of romance, acceptance and a father's love, "The Sum Of Us" is one of my favorite films of the LGBT genre.