I would go--with a camera just for fun. You are lucky to have a cousin. Enjoy the celebration.
Some things happen in our lives that result in permanent damage to relationships and not even time will heal them.
If you care for this cousin as much as you stated, then his gayness apparently wasn't a problem in the past. So why let it be now? He gave you your moment by coming to your wedding. Doesn't he deserve that in return? So what if is a 'gay wedding'? Isn't his friendship worth more than that? If not, then all that previous caring apparently wasn't so caring after all.
Go. Have an Hors d'oeuvre. Smile. Tell him you hope they both have found happiness. Enjoy. And keep a friend.
Or stay home and lose one.
Forget the politics.
This is a ceremony for two people to profess their love to the world. If those people are important to you, then you be there.
Political correctness be damned.
We both think a Marriage is between a man and woman – but we both also think “civil unions” may be an option that Gay couples should be able to utilize.
Wouldn't you feel hypocritical supporting their "marriage celebration"? -- which is what you would be doing by attending the "wedding". That is the only reason to have an public wedding, to signify the family's support of the marriage.
We don't need to redefine the institution of marriage so that people can live together. We need to support marriage and family, its weakening has been so destructive to the vulnerable ones in our society.
I have to wonder how many of the posters here have had a wedding and their unmarried guests got rooms together under their discount block?
Life is too short - especially with family
All of these family squabbles usually patch up once the couple has children.
No.
Send a card wishing him well, not a wedding card, and tell him while you love him and care for his significant other, you hope that he will respect your deeply held beliefs.
It probably will end your relationship for a time, but if you do not stand for something, you may as well stand for nothing.
If YOU feel very strongly about your relative's sojourn into the committed form of this behavior pattern & "alternative lifestyle", perhaps a clear but dignified conveyance of your convictions before the fact would be appropriate??
Then he would understand if you do not attend the event.
This is not a "wedding" or a "marriage" - I would not take a guilt trip over either choice that you make.
In the final analysis--
If your presence at the event, and your gifts or good wishes would violate your spiritual convictions and moral conscience by condoning his lifestyle choice---
Be faithful to your own conscience & principles-- politely...
Regards
Go, and enjoy the wedding. You invited him to yours, didn't you?
As another poster said, "life is too short". Politics, and that's all it is, shouldn't interfere with Family.
NO!
...he thought enough of you to invite you. Go and enjoy seeing other family members who may attend. All to often once you get pass 50 years of age, the only time you see family members, is when they are "leaving" this world.
Doogle
Nyet. I don't like to encourage psychotics in their delusions.
I would go to the wedding of a gay family member. It would not be an easy thing for me to do, opposed as I am to gay marriage, but I would go and wish them happiness.
You can support someone without agreeing with their every position. I have both a sister and daughter in Boston, so I have plenty of experience with disagreeing but still loving.
No
No.
"I have a cousin whom I love, and with whom I am close. I grew up with this guy."
You guys are both men and you are close.
The two of you can work this out over the phone with a heart to heart buddy talk. Working together, you two can figure out your boundaries, and figure out any compromises together.
Once that is decided then you can work out the cover story to tell your respective mates.
Just remember that during the discussion that you might have to allow for some wriggle room on his end too, because during your talk he has to maintain a part of his loyalty to his boyfriend.
Two good man friends should be able to speak freely and come to an understanding between themselves, as long as outside forces are kept out of it, don't even let your mates know that you guys are in this conversation until it is settled.