Happy 3rd (wedding) anniversary today to my honey of 14 years!
When marriage equality became legal in California for same sex couples in June of 2008, we decided to get married. Not because we needed to validate our 11 year (at the time) relationship. We simply thought, we can, so we will.
Funny thing happened that day on the steps of San Francisco city hall... when the justice of the peace pronounced us 'spouses for life', the realization of what marriage is hit both of us like a ton of bricks...
...and not in a bad way. In an 'oh now I get it' kind of way. You see... before marriage equality became a reality, growing up gay, you just know in your head that marriage will never be an option for you. So marriage is not something you would allow yourself to dream of.
Oh sure, we dream of holding a 'ceremony' with friends and family but in your heart you know its not a real state sanctioned marriage so it wasn't quite the same. Separate. Not equal.
So... back to that moment in front of 2 very close friends and a coworker who wanted to bring his 14 year old daughter to experience firsthand what marriage equality really meant, when the JP said 'I pronounce you spouses for life' is when we realized just how much weight that simple little word has. The depth of understanding that comes from the word marriage or words like husband or wife when you talk to people.
No more confusion when I say partner, lover, roommate... all the coded references we use so easily. Too easily. Now I can proudly say husband and there is no confusion what that word means.
So... happy anniversary husband! Hard to believe it's been 3 years since we said 'I do!'. I love you and have never been happier.