by Charles McAlpine | Jun 28, 2015 | Blog
What a week it has been. Marriage Equality is now the law of the land! Trust me, this is a BIG deal when you have experienced the desire to take that oath of commitment with someone you love and have been denied. To see other family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers.., hell, even strangers celebrate the magic of their relationship; yet be denied that same joy. This is a BIG deal for a lot of us! And yet, there is another side to this story. There are also many people, some who are reading this, that aren’t celebrating this decision. Some who know and even love me or other gay people, who are trying to reconcile this against religious or cultural teachings and beliefs that they have held for a long time. For others, they are so opposed to it, they feel as if they have been hit in the gut. Life will never be the same for any of us again. And the impact and adjustments will play out over time. Much as they have for other significant human rights and social changes. This is the beginning of a new chapter. For me, I typed the hashtag #LoveWins so many times the last couple of days, that it became a mantra. I was celebrating. Feeling recognized. Feeling equal in the eyes of the law. Probably even gloating over those who worked so tirelessly against this new law. Maybe even a little superior for being on the side that won. Yet the entire time, I also realized this came down to a difference of one person’s position. I also felt...
by Charles McAlpine | Sep 2, 2013 | Blog
Seven years ago this weekend Fito and I had a beautiful ceremony to celebrate our commitment to each other. It was intimate, honoring and heart-felt. It was, and always will be, the most important day of my life! And this Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 6:30pm, on our 7th Anniversary, we will be getting (legally) married! We are doing this in California, as our home state still does not offer or recognize marriage equality. And yet, in this moment, it seems inevitable that someday soon, Arizona will! There are so many things that could be said about the politics of marriage equality. But that is not what this is about. This newsletter is about Love. I have had a full and blessed life. I have been able to do and create so many amazing experiences. And if you think I have been fortunate… You should see what Fito has been able to do and create for himself! Yet, when you find the Love of your Life… ALL of this is easier and more joyful. The loving relationship that two people create is it’s own entity. You both remain independent and whole, while you then give equally of yourselves to create this third aspect… the relationship. The relationship gets fed through intimacy. The more we reveal of ourselves to one another, the more the relationship grows. Those aspects of ourselves that we thought we would be able to hide, find their way into the light. We are seen, known and loved for who we are in entirety. And we discover that some of our perceived flaws are actually beautiful and they...
