Love Never Dies. Part One.

I've come to realize again and again as an adult that this is simply not true. In my opinion, in general, men, at least those I know around my age, find it harder to fall in love, tend to be more afraid of commitment, but then lock themselves in and are not quick to leave an empty marriage.  This doesn't mean they won't cheat, but they are more secure with the life they know the world unknown.

Women have historically felt a need to succumb to pressures to appease societal expectations, first and foremost those of family waiting for the wedding, the children, the home, etc. Men do face some of this pressure, but not nearly to the same extent and in most cases, men can more easily suppress such family pressure and in today's world, their friend's and workplace are not as likely to be questioning or pressuring their "family values."  I do believe, in general, women are more prone to want to be in relationships and have a family and while much more committed to a loving relationship in general, do fall out of love and are more willing to accept if and when it is over and want to move on. In same sex relationships, which I have the most personal experience on the male-male side, it's bluntly ever evolving. Some men aren't quick to commitment; others are showing up for a second date with a U-haul (old Lesbian joke). In gay relationships, one's in my generation and earlier tended to be much more fluid in terms of allowing for outside encounters, even other relationships. I am noticing that younger gay men are far more traditional. I actually see that a lot of "old school" traditional values seem to be in play in younger married couples in general, albeit with modernization, if you will, like Dad's having active participation with babies. Gay couples can serve in the military, get married, safely be protected in the workplace in most of the country (still not entirely worked out) and for the most part adopt or have children and some 20% of them do across the country. It goes to an argument I made for gay rights over 20 years ago; if you want us to live to the same standard, give us the same rights. If you are 20 and gay today, you . I am proud to know all the time and money I spent on LGBT efforts have made such a difference. I remember a 21 year old saying to me about gay marriage "I don't understand what the big deal was about all this time." I responded, "You try and learn and thank the likes of us (my husband and I) who spent years fighting it." He immediately did, though I felt it was half genuine, quarter his generation that just doesn't accept being told what to do, and quarter still not really understanding why.

I started this blog after returning from the new Andrew Lloyd Webb Musical by my title: Love Never Dies. It is a follow up 10 years after the Phantom of the Opera (though many more than 10 years since the production). Given that love is a topic in our lives each and every day. Right now, for me, I have family and some of closest friends ending marriages, a couple others beginning them, then I have my own about to approach it's 10 year anniversary. This might be something I can run with for a while.

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