Blog-Versary Post : Let’s Raise A Glass + Giveaway, Kevin Klehr
Another Aussie joins us on the blog today, Kevin Klehr – and a Sydneysider as well. Go, us š We thank Kevin for dropping by and writing an author post. For those who don’t know, Australia still does not have marriage equality. It isĀ being discussed and poked and prodded by our politicians, and remains on the back-burner,Ā in spite of the vast majority of Aussies being in favour. So with that said, we extendĀ a warm On Top Down Under welcome to Kevin Klehr.Ā
LETāS RAISE A GLASS
Blog by Kevin Klehr
Ā
Earlier this year I met a woman on vacation from The Netherlands. She sidled up to me sipping champagne at a book launch we were both at. We said the usual things two perfect strangers making small talk say at a social event. You know, where sheād been before she ended up in Sydney? Who was she staying with? Has she found love on the way?
But then she asked a question. Why was Marriage Equality still illegal in a progressive country like Australia?
I told her about my own relationship which will clock up twenty-five years next month, so we went on to chat about whether my partner and I would tie the knot if our country made it to the twenty-first century. Which brings me to an advantage of being a long term couple living in sin.
On Facebook last week I saw a Canadian friend who was celebrating his marriage anniversary of several years, even though he and his man have been together for nineteen. And Iām quite sure one of them proposed to the other knowing full well what the answer would be. After that amount of time, thereās no need to fear the reply.
So imagine what it must be like for our straight counterparts to build up to that question. For centuries men have paced in front of their belovedās front door, downing a beer or three beforehand to pluck up the courage and put their pride on the line while they rehearse the words that could prove fatal to their ego.
And what if the woman says no? How does a grown man cry? What does he tell his mates?
Picture how she feels. A nice man whips out a jewelry case on bended knee after an 
expensive meal. She only knows him from the sandwich shop because he makes the best egg salad roll on the planet. She smiles in appreciation. He smiles back because no woman has flirted with him like that since MySpace was a thing. He finally asks her out after rehearsing night after night, as if he was some desirable movie star who always gets his leading lady.
But he stutters as he asks her to an art exhibit, because thatās what he believes girls like her are into. She likes him and thinks heāll be an okay friend to have around. They realize they have the same taste for early Sia. She laughs at his jokes, even the ones it takes her a while to get. He is enchanted by the blue streak in her hair, considering it adorably retro.
But the world stops as he waits on bended knee for her answer. How does she say no? She doesnāt want him to cry. She doesnāt want to lose her friend.
And that, my dear fellow long-term gay and lesbian couples, is the heartache we avoided. We met our partners and just floated into the relationship with little thought. There was no gut churning over-evaluation. We never asked our potential father-in-law for permission to share rings. We just did without the āI doā.
And that is our blessing. So Iād like to raise a glass to all those straight couples who have weathered storms, brought up offspring, dealt with each other’s neurosis and gently slipped into a wise old age.
For you risked the possible rejection of a marriage proposal, yet you still gaze into each otherās eyes, grin as if you just met, and continue to say āI doā.
**Giveaway**
Kevin Klehr is offering 2 e-books – Drama Queens With Love Scenes and Drama Queens With Adult ThemesĀ –Ā to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment below for a chance to win these 2 great e-books before midnight October 23rd USA EST. (If you receive a spam message, don’t worry, we will see it and add it to the comments section.)
Contact Kevin Klehr
Blog : http://kevinklehr.com/
Twitter : @kevinklehr
Goodreads : Kevin Klehr’s GR Profile
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Fantastic post and one that makes you stop and think. I’ve been married to my husband for almost three decades. Thankfully we were young and naive when that proposal thing happened. š I guess we just knew we’d get married. As an ally, I was cheering loudly when marriage equality came to America. I keep hoping to see the same happen in other parts of the world. I saw something recently that said that Sydney is the most gay friendly place in the world, yet no marriage equality in Australia. It’s a shame the politicians aren’t doing the right thing… Read more »
I’ve cheered for so many countries who passed marriage equality laws and sat and waited, waited and still keep waiting for Australia to get with the program – that love is love and it’s a basic human right for someone to be able to marry their love if they so choose. I cannot believe a country that has been so forward in many ways is so backward now. I am ashamed of my country at this point in time. Totally and thoroughly ashamed and embarrassed. But I’ll keep shouting the joint down about ME until it happens here. You old… Read more »
Thanks for the words of encouragement about my novels, Kazza. And yes, sadly because of too many years of conservative government we have slipped backward in so many ways.
Thanks Cindi. Thanks very much for having me over as part of your celebrations, and Happy Third Anniversary!
I really enjoyed the Let’s Raise a Glass article. It gave me a new perspective. Marriage equality should be for everyone! Love is Love!
Agreed, Ree Dee, (marriage) equality should be for everyone. Love is love is so true. We should all have a choice, not just some š
Thanks Ree Dee.
Interesting way to look at it; see the positives š And I think it’s a catchy thought as many straight couples I know choose to forgo the stress and expense of marriage too. For me though, I believe in equality, for better or worse, and people having a choice. I’m glad you see the silver lining of the storm cloud, but I’m looking forward to the rainbow after the storm <3
I love how you said that you’re “looking forward to the rainbow after the storm,” I’m looking for that too, Pandorash š
I also raise a glass to your sentiments, Pandorash, while looking at that rainbow.
Cheers Kevin š
Cheers Kazza and Kevin š
Love is love and it’s not fair that people can’t marry someone they’re in love with. Like the other person said you have a positive outlook but I hope you can marry your partner one day soon. Good luck! š
Thank-you LS. It’s odd because over the years we’ve had differing opinions on whether we’d get married or not, and they’ve yo-yo’d back and forth between us. But we both know deep down, we’d tie the knot.
Next month we’re hosting a huge party to celebrate our many years together.
I enjoyed the post here in the UK we have marriage equality and I’m kind of puzzled why Australia hasn’t. I think that everyone should have the choice to marry the person they love.
Thanks Shirley. We’ve had too much in-party politics to progress on a lot of issues for a while, including the inhumane Asylum Centres. As you may have noticed, our Prime Ministers change as much as the weather, without elections.
I’m aussie and it’s so embarrasing that there’s no marriage eq here. People are always shocked we don’t have it. It’s sad. All the very best for your own celebrations and not many can say they’ve been loved and they’ve loved for 25 years. Thanks for let’s raise a glass. š
Thanks Jana. āŗ
Great post. I’ll never understand why people care so much about who loves who. Nobody should be denied the same rights the rest of us have been given. Hopefully Australia and the other countries will get with the program soon. š
Amen, Alexi.
I’m engaged to my bf and I want to be able to marry him but I still can’t do that because I’m Australian. We’ve thought about going to NZ but it’s not the same. Good luck with the anniversary you and your partner are having for your 25th but you should have had the right to marry a long time ago.
Thanks for the post. I really appreciate every voice and so many women on here are supportive too. It makes me glad.
Thanks Josh. And yes, you can always rely on women for support.