In the debate on same-sex marriage, opponents often refer to a “homosexual lifestyle” they claim is incompatible with family values. Their argument doesn’t acknowledge the impact discriminatory legislation has had on gays and lesbians; what it meant not being able to raise a family in a homophobic society.

The opponents of gay rights routinely refuse to see that the sex-driven queer culture is not that different from the heterosexual equivalent. Straight men and women look for sex in bars and nightclubs, too. And the only thing that separates the gay bathhouses from the straight swingers clubs is the gender of those participating.

Allowing gay people to get married would normalize same-sex family life. I think that is what scares the homophobes the most. They want us to be freaks.

On 27 April, the New York Times published an article about a new generation of gay men who—unlike my generation—is able to form open, stable, and publicly recognized relationships from early adulthood. Read it here.

I must say I envy the young gay men of today. When I was a teenager, so much energy was wasted on hiding my love life and to fear for violence and stigmatization. The progress in the past fifteen years is truly amazing.