Happy Wedding Anniversary To Us! #gaymarriage #marriagequality #marriage

Thanks to Facebook I was reminded that four years ago today I legally married my partner of 20 years, congrats on our gay marriage!

We lived together for 20 years, and as far as I am concerned, the day he moved in was the day we were married. Because, I believe when you live together, you are committed 100% to each other. Period. No dress rehearsal, but full on marriage no matter what the government said at the time.

Marriage had been legalized in New York State the year before and I thought, what the heck, lets get another piece of paper that says we are married. Because 12 years earlier we had gotten our domestic partnership papers so that adopting a child would be a little easier.

And yes, let me say this loud and clear to everyone, this was just another piece of paper. Marriage is not a piece of paper, it is not a chanting from your religious figure, it is very simply a commitment to each other. A commitment to death do you part to be together with only that one person. That is what I was raised to believe, and that is what works for us.

Our marriage did not become federally recognized for two more years, and that is when I truly felt equal to everyone in a heterosexual marriage. Gay marriage ended that year, because it simply became marriage.

In conclusion, congratulations to Peter for becoming the luckiest man alive four years ago! And no, I did not do it for his social security benefits! I mean, not only for that!