The Most Powerful and Devastating Case Ever Made for Marriage Equality

[William769]

Shane Bitney Crone (left) and Tom Bridegroom (right) were a young couple residing in California who shared a business, a mortgage, and a life full of love. A year into their relationship, both of the Indiana natives came out to their families. Crone's family embraced him and his partner, while Bridegroom's rejected him, called him a sinner and physically threatened him.

They did not have the legal protection of marriage, nor had they made wills. When Bridgegroom fell from a roof and died in 2011, his family excluded Crone from any involvement in Tom's memorial service and burial.

http://www.gay.net/video/2012/05/08/watch-most-powerful-and-devastating-case-ever-made-marriage-equality

This is a very sad but powerful video, please use care when watching.

[teddy51]

1. Damn that was moving and powerful and extremely sad! I haven't cried in 10 years and all of a

sudden tears twice in one day, WTH. An absolutely moving video.

Thanks William for posting this.

[annabanana]

2. Heartbreaking

tweeted/facebooked

The more hearts touched the sooner the victory.

[mitchtv]

3. Sad story indeed

what's really sad is that this is an old, quite common tale in the Gay community. It reminds me of a friend if mine, and of many times I've heard these poor guys' story over my lifetime. I am 67 with a husband , a will, a trust, and a power of attorney. I've seen too much of this.

[susanr516]

4. Heartbreaking

Around 1990 when so many people were dying, one of my co-workers had that happen to him. His partner had been totally estranged from his family, who basically told him he was going to hell for being gay. He finally had to be hospitalized and the Catholic hospital was more than happy to go along with the family and have my co-worker prevented from visiting. His partner died with only his "family" around. You know, the family who treated him like shit and told him it was God's punishment because he was dying. Some comfort. Then they told my co-worker that he wasn't welcome at the rosary or Mass. About 8-10 people who worked with him called bullshit on that; we all went with him and figured they can't throw all of us out. And they didn't. But it was so sad, all of his family crying crocodile tears when it was my friend who had taken care of him for years.

[dickthegrouch]

5. Our "Constitutional Scholar" is partly responsible for this

Anyone incapable of upholding the constitution should refrain from standing for office.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. The opponents of equality do not care about the humans they harm.

They are remorseless, soulless, ignorant and selfish to the core.