The Right to Marry is not the Requirement to Marry

Why are nearly 50% of same sex couples still cohabitating without getting married? This post is part of my ongoing court cases around same sex divorce, civil rights, and trauma. I have three legal cases and one additional legal action sort of floating around involving my work to Protect Trans Kids. I still need help […]

Another (Quick) Update on the Appeal to Help With Housing Appraisal – We Need Just $112 in Donations

You can read the backstory here. Thanks to donations after the last update, our small goal is down to $112. Our next step is to arrange for a historic home appraisal. There are four points in time – purchase, date of domestic partnership, date of marriage, and date of separation. I’m genuinely curious about that […]

How to cope with relationship trauma and recovery

It feels important to acknowledge this day, this anniversary of a terrible series of events two years ago that upended my life forever. You can read the details here. The details matter, of course, but at the same time – it is today that matters. My due process rights were violated. I was homeless for […]

Snacktime in the Meadow of Love: My Third Wedding Anniversary

Today is the third anniversary of my wedding. Yet, I am alone at my friends’ home and assume my wife is at work. Happy anniversary! Yesterday, I looked at our wedding album, reread the newspaper coverage of the wedding, and – even though I was sad – I remembered how happy and excited I felt […]

Here Are 13 Things I Have Learned During My Separation

Obviously, a time of separation gives you reasons to reflect on your life and relationship. Not all lessons are about the relationship itself. Some are useful in other situations. All have come with a lot of sadness, pain, and struggle. But good things, too. Some of you are on the run, to escape a real […]

Gay Respectability and How Our Families Reacted to Our Wedding

lesbian wedding

Today marks our two week wedding anniversary. We had originally planned to celebrate with Mexican food and a Henry Louis Gates marathon, but the frigid temps make it patently unfair to ask any human being to go out into the weather to deliver food. So it is soup from the pantry and HLG marathon. Married […]

The Vulnerability of a Wedding Registry

Lesbian Wedding Registry

You would think a wedding registry would be the fun part of wedding planning, but oh no no no no. We had no intention of putting together a registry – we aren’t establisheding a new household, we aren’t young, it’s a pandemic, etc. It was hard enough figuring out the backyard logistics of serving apple […]

Alissa, 34, Is Just Another Girl in the Crowd in Lawrence County #AMPLIFY

Lawrence County Transgender

Name: Alissa Age: 34 County of Residence:  Lawrence Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? I’m a transgender female lesbian. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? All of my original support came from friends followed by my family and parents. The challenges I have faced have been working with […]

Kevin, 38, Talks About Jack Kerouac, Senior Housing and Gay Crushes #AMPLIFY

This is AMPLIFY post #92. We plan to publish continuously through the beginning of the week to reach #100 in time for our tenth blogaversary on December 29, 2015. Stay tuned!   Name: Kevin Age: 38 County of Residence: Allegheny, grew up in Oklahoma Preferred Pronouns: He How do you describe your identity? White gay male.  Please describe your coming […]

Shaquanna Wants Families To Have Positive Conversations With LGBTQ Relatives #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Lesbian

Name:  Shaquanna Age: 32 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: Female How do you describe your identity? Organic!  Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?   Being the oldest sister of three sisters, I grew up in a household where it was okay to voice your opinion, and speak […]