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Sir, Please go ahead and send my response to everyone, as I am not overly Internet or blog savvy. I found the thread when searching for articles related to Cecil’s passing, as we have been interviewed by several TV and newspapers over the last day or so due to this issue. I have no problem with someone opposing my sexual preference. I grew up myself in a very conservative Catholic family. My own family no longer recognizes me as their child. As I stated in my initial response, as a veteran myself, I truly believe and would vehemently fight to defend the right of this church to reject us. The only trouble again is the manner in which they did it. It bothers me that the minister of the church even is quoted in the article as stating that there were very strong images of homosexuality in the pictures. This is absolutely not true. I am doubtful that whomever made the decision to shut us out even looked at them. We have given a copy of all 83 pictures we sent to the church to all of the interviewers over the last day, but none of the stories I have seen on TV at least have called this preacher to task for his blatant lie. I dislike the fact that he is using falsehoods to cover up the decision they made. The hypocrisy of that astounds me. That is truly the part of the story I want heard. I personally do not think we were trying to push any gay or homosexual agenda. In fact, through the entire ceremony that we did hold, the only actual reference towards his orientation was that reading the obituary did recognize me as his partner. If the church was opposed to that, I would have disagreed with it, but bitten my tough and gone along with it. The reason we chose the church is because his brother is a very active member there. He is one of the most loving, gentle, and giving people I have ever met in my life. He works as a maintenance man, normally putting in 60 or more hours a week there for little more than minimum wage. He has no insurance or benefits, as the multimillion dollar congregation states they cannot afford it. He is a simple man, with a severe learning disability, and is also hearing disabled, and never truly understood how ill his brother was until the day he died. He ran from his hospital room, and we found him later in a hallway, curled into a fetal position and nearly non- responsive. His wife, who is also hearing and mentally impaired, called their church and they sent someone over. This kind man consoled Lee, and spend a long time with him quietly reading passages to him from the Bible until he became more responsive and was able to join us back in the room. This man then led us in a prayer on behalf of Cecil, and it was at that time this all began. After the prayer, he asked us if we had made any arrangements. At that time we had not. He said he worked at the church with Lee, and so then left to make some phone calls. He came back to us about 15 minutes later and advised us that the church was willing to host the funeral. Again, we never asked, they offered, and we accepted. Another thing that was not explained in the article, and I do not think I mentioned in my response to you, is that there was no body. Cecil was suffering from end stage heart failure. He had had a portable artificial pump installed and was awaiting a heart transplant. This device is quite new, and the doctors even after nearly a year had yet been able to identify the initial cause of his heart disease. Due to this, we spoke with the medical school, and then donated his body to the school for medical research into both his disease and the device. So there was no burial being done. We were not in need of a cemetery or anything else. Essentially, all we needed was a building for people to gather in. Since the church is located quite near our home, about a mile or so, and since it meant so much to his brother, was the reason we accepted. In all honestly, had we known at any time that anyhting we proposed was offensive to this church, we would have done everything we could to accommodate them for the sake of Cecil's brother. As I said in my earlier reply, we were never contacted by anyone. At no time did anyone advise us that they disagreed with any of the plans we presented. I am sorry, as I am really starting to ramble, but I just want you to understand this from our perspective. I am not trying to convert you to our “side”, as I don’t believe there is a right or wrong side in this issue. But I do want the truth told. You are also welcome to post this reply into the group as well if you wish.