50 Years Together - 1 Year Married. Summary: After 50 years of life together, a gay marriage finally becomes recognized by the state of Massachusetts. Excerpt from Straight Into Gay America: One time, long ago, on a corner in Lexington, Kentucky, Trappist monk Thomas Merton had his famous experience of standing on a sidewalk corner and realizing suddenly that he was part of everyone, and everyone was part of him. Standing on the corner of 5th and 52nd, I watch this whole loud scene turn beautiful before my eyes, drag queens included.Two elder men in matching red shirts and black pants walk towards me, carrying a sign, FIFTY YEARS TOGETHER— ONE YEAR MARRIED. They live in Massachusetts now. Fifty years ago they met in Central Park. One week later they moved in together. They have been partners ever since. Fifty years. Last year’s Massachusetts marriage law allowed them to finally get married. "We weren't going to do it," they tell me. "After 49 years who needs a wedding? But when other couples started lining up for marriages, we realized the story we have, and we decided on a wedding. We went all out. It became so meaningful to us." Their 50-year journey is beyond my imagining. As I step back from them and watch others come forward to touch their story, I feel both grateful for their persistence and angry at their need to struggle for these rights. I feel thankful these men lived long enough to see gay marriage in Massachusetts, but so many others have not lived to see the day. The Thomas Merton feeling of connection to everything is still with me. One piece of this parade day feels hopeful and beautiful. Energy has gathered from all different walks of life, to celebrate identity, hope and commitment to justice. The other piece of this day feels like tragedy to me, a death-march memory for all the lives lost, a funeral procession for all the opportunities that have gone unrealized because of forced closets, discriminatory laws, and bigoted oppression.  Oppression damages far more than the target group. What if LGBT rights had never been questioned? What if people could have spent 50 years working on something other than gaining official recognition in Massachusetts for the love of these two red-shirted men? What if LGBT rights were here now? What if the political force of this parade could turn to world hunger, global peace, sustainable living, safety for all children?  I could think “what if” thoughts all day long, but I would miss out on this parade. This is a day to soak in experience. I wave farewell to the newlyweds and continue my pre-parade walk, discovering who else I share this day with.

Straight Into Gay America: My Unicycle Journey for Equal Rights. by Lars Clausen (Soulscapers, 2006)

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