Sunday, the music industry and National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences made an unexpected move to marry couples from all walks of life during the Grammy's award ceremony, including many same sex couples.
For me, it is a moment of reflection back to the 1980's when the only gay character on TV was Steven on the show Dynasty. There were few LGBTQ role models in the mainstream media. There were a few trailblazers like Rip Taylor, Barney Frank, Martina Navritilova and Billie Jean King in the public eye, but let's face it, not as many as we have today. Coming out of the closet back then could have been career ending and often was. 2014 LGBTQ couples are getting married on the world stage, that is progress.
Twenty years ago, I met person who I love most in the world and who took my breath away the moment we met. Sunday, we were heading out of the house that morning to celebrate my partner's birthday. We went to a posh restaurant where men were expected to wear sport coats. We paired the coat with dress jeans (how very California of us).
As we were walking out the front the door of our close quartered condo building, I joked to the neighbors "Now were off to get married." The comment was greeted with a smiley and quick retort "Don't jump the gun" from my partner. It occurred to me this is the first time I have been back in a loving supportive relationship in a very long time. It had been over a decade since I have taken someone home for the holidays, my family is amazing and supports the belief that all of us should be and have the right to be happy. It is nice to have a person in my life that knows what I am thinking and can actually communicate like a grown up when it comes to matters of the heart.
Looking back at 2013, Sam Champion got married, Robin Roberts came out, Anderson Cooper not only comes out, but talks about those normal couple moments and experiences in day to day life. And of course, HLN Dan Lemon delivered why it is important to come out in support of Robin Roberts. He knocked the ball out of the park, his reasoning was right on point.
One thing is for certain, since June, it has become more comfortable being LGBTQ in society at least in the civilized states.
On Monday morning after the Grammy's, the haters started up with their usual anti-gay-rhetoric, to that I finally have something to say. Why is the LGBTQ community so afraid to say anything back to them. They play nice, but why? These people are twits, look at Sara Palin for a person who reads every publication every day as stated in an 2008 Katie Couric interview, Palin is incapable of winning an argument. Someone please take away her Twitter account, save her from herself. If people were offended by the awards show "dont watch it." The purpose of music is to unite us not divide us.
I am a really good person, I try not to judge people or say any unkind word to anyone, yet, I am the one going to hell? Well, I have met the devil and he came in the guise of a conservative Christian who has no ability to open their hearts and only spout hatred. How sad for them!
Sunday night, the music industry took a stand, saying enough is enough we love everybody. If one LGBTQ person on this planet decides not to take their life, they understand their life has worth and they are loved. Then something Christ-like happened at the Grammy's because love in never wrong. It is what separates us from the animals.
If I ever do get married, Queen Latifah you are the person to officiate my ceremony, I would want to be married by a real down home honest person. The world needs more people like you. You have an inner light that all people should strive for. After all "inside every gay man is a black women waiting to come out."
Incidentally my friend Jeff Moore from KOGO married his beautiful girlfriend Jamie Miles at the Grammy's on Sunday night. To them and all of the other happy couples that opted to share a loving beautiful life moment with the world and stand up for marriage equality, I say thank you.
"I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong." - John Lennon