This Is My Story
By Ray Matyjasik
This is a story about how I met Eric, and almost immediately fell in love. We both had to be coaxed into meeting, and we didn’t even speak to each other for the first part of the evening, but we eventually wound up conversing until daylight broke the following morning. He helped me out of many tight squeezes in the first few weeks of our relationship and when I thought he would grow tired of me, he stayed by my side until the dust had settled.
This is a story about how my partner was accepted with open arms and warm love into my family, who treated him like another son. My partner grew to love my family as well, treating them as a part of his own and possibly loving the fact that our family wasn’t as dysfunctional as one he was accustomed to. He took my siblings under his wing and became someone they could rely on and look up to.
This is a story about a family whom I was afraid to come out to, but ultimately proved me wrong by being supporting, accepting and as loving as the day I was born. My family, although broken and dysfunctional at times, is my bastion and my strength.
This is a story about my employer, which received a 100 percent score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index this year. My company is one of the best that I’ve ever worked for; I’ve never felt so safe and unafraid to tell my co-workers about what we did over the weekend as a couple. At times I’ve had to be an educator. Other times, I’ve had to be a defender. Overall, I'm treated just like everyone else.
This is a story of my life upon meeting my sweetheart. This is the story of when our lives combined, and changed us both. This is the kind of story that people need to hear in these days — that two people can meet, fall in love, establish a life together and be treated just like everyone else.
Sept. 25, 2006