Are you engaged? I’m not. But I’m starting to feel like the odd one out. I’m not sure if it’s just because I’ve hit my 30s, but so many of my queer lady pals are either proposing to their girlfriends or have already gotten hitched in New York or other places cooler than here.
While I’m a sucker for romance – part of me wonders if we’re all just getting swept up in the love-buzz as Australia edges closer to legalising same-sex marriage.
It’s like equality is so close you can almost hear the gay wedding bells, and we’re pre-booking our tickets and choosing our frilly, and not-so-frilly, outfits in anticipation of the party.
I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. I’m just wondering if the reason we’ve all got marriage on the brain is because that’s what everyone’s talking about – from punters to pollies to prime time panel shows.
I mean, it’s hard to not consider the future of your own relationship when gay marriage is the issue of the moment.
I don’t know if I’m ready. But we’re great together! I’m sooo not wearing a dress. Will I look too “Ellen”? White chocolate mudcake. Oh my Nan’s gonna be stoked. New York honeymoon! Whoa whoa whoa what the shit? I don’t even know if I want to get married.
Damn you marriage equality movement for planting these ideas in my head.
I’ve even seen queers who’ve previously said marriage is a dying institution show off their engagement rings. For some, maybe it’s as much a political statement as it is a romantic one, because a sparkly thing on your finger can certainly pack a punch. Not only do they look pretty, they’re an emotive and powerful symbol of queers claiming what’s rightfully theirs; equal rights.
Or maybe some of us never realised we wanted to get married because it simply wasn’t an option. Why would you buy into the romance of walking down the aisle, when you’re denied the opportunity? But now that the momentum for same-sex marriage is unstoppable, perhaps the idea of being some lady’s wife, or even her wusband, seems kinda cool.
If lesbians are renowned for moving in with each other on the second date, I can now see rings being exchanged on the third. Don’t know about you guys, but I’m a little scared.
INFO: You can follow Monique Schafter on Twitter @MoniqueSchafter
