Well, we don't have gay marriage laws here in Illinois and if anyone doesn't think it makes a difference, right now, I'm in a state of disbelief, more upset than you could imagine.
I just found out that one of my very closest, and dearest friends passed away--2 months ago! He was only 40, and died suddenly of pneumonia. He was gay, his family lives in Texas, and they wouldn't allow his partner to stay with him in the hospital, nor did they invite him to the funeral, regardless of the fact that they had been together for almost 20 years and owned a home together. His family didn't invite or tell me either, or any of his other friends here. They just took him back to Texas, and didn't even place an obituary for him in the newspaper. His mom won't even answer my phone calls so I can offer my condolences. They won't talk to his partner, or any of his other friends here either.
His family never accepted the fact that he was gay, and really had a problem with his performing in drag in some of the local clubs here.
His partner tried to contact me, but I've been working out of town and he didn't have my new cell number. He is grieving and excruciating pain, especially at not being allowed to take part in his funeral, so he could say his good byes. To add insult to injury, the only contact his family made was through their attorney, for his possessions and property, because at the age of 40, he hadn't drawn up a will yet. Fortunately, they owned their home jointly, "tenancy in the entirety" so his family can't take that, but they took everything else, leaving his partner nothing to remember him by. His family even instructed the attorney not to give his partner any information regarding his remains, so he doesn't even know whether they had him cremated or buried.
He used to tell me some of the more outrageous stunts his family would pull, and I used to think he had to exaggerating, that they couldn't possibly be that cruel. I don't even know what to say.
I just found out that one of my very closest, and dearest friends passed away--2 months ago! He was only 40, and died suddenly of pneumonia. He was gay, his family lives in Texas, and they wouldn't allow his partner to stay with him in the hospital, nor did they invite him to the funeral, regardless of the fact that they had been together for almost 20 years and owned a home together. His family didn't invite or tell me either, or any of his other friends here. They just took him back to Texas, and didn't even place an obituary for him in the newspaper. His mom won't even answer my phone calls so I can offer my condolences. They won't talk to his partner, or any of his other friends here either.
His family never accepted the fact that he was gay, and really had a problem with his performing in drag in some of the local clubs here.
His partner tried to contact me, but I've been working out of town and he didn't have my new cell number. He is grieving and excruciating pain, especially at not being allowed to take part in his funeral, so he could say his good byes. To add insult to injury, the only contact his family made was through their attorney, for his possessions and property, because at the age of 40, he hadn't drawn up a will yet. Fortunately, they owned their home jointly, "tenancy in the entirety" so his family can't take that, but they took everything else, leaving his partner nothing to remember him by. His family even instructed the attorney not to give his partner any information regarding his remains, so he doesn't even know whether they had him cremated or buried.
He used to tell me some of the more outrageous stunts his family would pull, and I used to think he had to exaggerating, that they couldn't possibly be that cruel. I don't even know what to say.