My True Love . . . in Romania

After developing a long-term relationship on the internet, I decided I wanted to meet my Romanian friend, in real life, to make sure that he was who he said he was. I traveled all the way to Bucharest, Romania and met him for the first time in 2008. He was all that I thought he was and more. Cristi was the most sincere, interesting and beautiful man I had ever met. Love at first site? Well, for me yes, but I’m sure he was influenced by his own country’s oppressive atmosphere toward gay persons. Yes, my own society is not so warm towards gay people either, but his is worse. At a gay pride parade, allowed by law there, but not really encouraged at all, one of my gay Romanian friends was hit over the head with a bottle, and sent to the emergency room of an unnamed hospital. He never saw the bottle coming, and police were standing by, and did nothing about the incident, other than to help the man get to the hospital, after the fact. Police there have been known to “look the other way” when discrimination and violence is perpetrated against the gay victim.

After my second visit to see my friend and confidante, Cristi, we have decided we would like to make our relationship one of a legitimate couple. We would like to marry. Much to my dismay, immigration authorities do not yet recognize gay and lesbian marriage. While several states and the District of Columbia allow these marriages, and other states will recognize those marriages as well, our Federal government has not allowed immigration services to recognize these marriages (because of DOMA, though recent developments are showing some promise that DOMA will not be recognized as constitutional at some future time). I hope this can be expedited so that two people who love each other and want to share their lives, “till death do us part,” can marry as soon as possible, and so he can immigrate to this country, out of his oppressive society where he lives, to enjoy the freedoms that ALL U.S. CITIZENS are supposed to enjoy under the constitution.

Not long ago, I considered moving to Canada because of our incredibly corrupt health care system, and now this. Canada is looking awfully attractive these days, but I still love my country, and hope that I can live freely with whom I want to live and love, not worrying about what will become of him in his current situation. I should be able to protect the one I love, and take care of him the way that he would for me in the same situation. Let’s get this issue rolling so that it clears the way for future international couples, before we, heaven forbid, end up with a Republican in the most powerful position our country allows.