I live in a lovely house home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida owned and shared by a great loving couple that is soon to have their 1 year anniversary. The legal and fabulous marriage ceremony last February was wonderful, followed by a memorable reception on board a ship on the intracoastal.
The only sorrowful aspect of the entire event was that one of the groomsman's parents were not present. Now I say it was sad, but knowing him and his past, his family hasn't really been there for him since he opened up to them about his sexuality. At the wedding, he had an amazing crew of friends present and of course I was there, but even though the familial split had occurred years before and not because of the wedding, I was a little emotional about it.
And it is even more sad for I know it happens across this country, this world too many times.
How can a family throw away a family member because of love? It's a rhetorical question, but we saw this ordeal play out on Australia's Bride and Prejudice this past week.
Here's the stab to the heart moment as Chris asks his parents to come to his and Grant's wedding.
How would you have reacted? Friends come and go, but do parents? Chris is counseled in the next video as to what he would like to see happen and if he feels his parents deserve a second chance.
I have not been in this situation before. I currently live 1500 miles away from my parents and even when I was living in the same state as them, they never met anyone I was dating. That might be just as awkward for me as it would be for them. I honestly do not know how they would react. They're very supportive of me, but I have not done anything to bring my sexuality home to them in something that would be so palpable as a boyfriend. It kind of makes me think, how would this very Roman Catholic set of parents react if they saw their son in a gay relationship. They know I'm gay and say they are fine with it, and they have met several of my gay friends, but when it is brought into their home … I wonder.
Even though my parents live so far away, we still see each other like 3 times a year or so. I couldn't imagine my life without them, especially since they are still alive.
Can you relate to Chris and Grant's experience?
Have one of your sets of parents not accepted your love?
If it wasn't your parents that said no way, how has that affected your relationship with your own parents?
For more on Chris and Grant and their time on the Channel 7 show, here's their Live recap session from Monday.
Yes my twin brother, my only
Yes my twin brother, my only surviving family member did the same thing to me. I csn never get over the pain. In spite of this my husband and I were surrounded by hundreds of extended family and friends who celebrated our love.
All of the above comments
All of the above comments make perfect sense. Your HUSBAND is your family now.
Of course it's hurtful when your family rejects you, but it's their problem, not yours, and life ain't that long. Maybe they'll come around eventually and if they do, great. If they don't, they dont.
As an adult I never asked for
As an adult I never asked for or cared for parent's approval on anything. When I got married, I never bothered to invite them because this was a special day for my husband and myself. Not that I don't get along with them, but they are of a different generation and a different world basically.
Our society places a huge
Our society places a huge value on the concept of "family."
May I offer one opinion on this, please? Without going into labored detail, my family tacitly accepted my marriage to my husband, but still, their view was clear, "Marriage is between a man and a woman."
Since they are devoutly religious in their faith paths and our gatherings are nearly always centered on religious experiences (baptisms, funerals, weddings, etc.), I reevaluated my relationship with them. I came to the realization that "family" is an accident of birth. Did I really want these people in my life? Would I accept them voluntarily as friends? After long thought, because I recognized how important society views family, I realized I did not share that recognition, and the answer to both questions was irrefutably no.
I left my family, and now, some 8 years later, have never once regretted it.
My choice is not for everyone, but it has made me happy and at peace. For those going through their own rejection by their family, I hope you will consider deeply what will make you happy and not be swayed by what society thinks you should feel. I bid you the peace that I found.
I, too, know what is like to
I, too, know what is like to have a wonderful man in my life and not be able to share my happiness with my prejudice family. It's taken many years to not have anger or hatred for people that are suppose to love you unconditionally. But when you find Mr. RIGHT all those feeling melt away and you realize that the only happiness that matters, it's your own. To hell with the rest