Bradley Rymph:  

Life After high school and college in Kansas, I knew I needed to leave Kansas to expand my horizons and find myself. I went east to Washington, DC, for graduate school to study international and cross-cultural communication. I got my M.A. degree, worked as an editor for various DC organizations, shifted to government contract work, and eventually became a contract project manager specializing in conference planning and communications support. Since 1993, I have been in a committed relationship with my partner Jose. We date the start of our relationship together to September 15, 1993, when we had our first date. We had known each other as friends for several years before that, but had only been feeling each other out as potential partners since the summer of that year. On September 15, 2008, Jose and I celebrated our 15th Anniversary together. To celebrate this important milestone, and to pledge our continued, lifetime commitment to each eother, we were legally married in San Mateo County, California. Although this marriage is (unfortunately) not legally recognized in Maryland, where we live, we are excited to have taken this step as part of the increasingly strong movement advancing marriage equality in the United States. In addition, as we age and approach the retirement years, it becomes important to us to secure the health-care, financial, and property rights that married heterosexual couples automatiically enjoy. Knowing and working with numerous heterosexuals who have been -- or remain -- in marraiges that are much less committed to fidelity, love, and family than are Jose and I in our union, we are committed to do our parts, by the example of our lives together, in advancing understanding of where the true threats to family values lie. The Sunday after our wedding in California, the Episcopal church we attend in Maryland offered a rite for Blessing of a Civil Marriage for us as part of regular Sunday morning worshop. As one of the most senior members of the congregation said to each of us after worship, "Some people say that gay weddings are a threat to the sanctity of marriage. I say that gay marriage is no threat; the real threat to marriage is all the heterosexuals who are unfaithful and don't take their own vows seriously." AMEN. Workplace In June 2001, I began work for Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. (SSS), an employee-owned consulting company based in Silver Spring, Maryland. As Senior Project / Conference Manager, I serve as Project Manager for multiple technical and logistical ...Expand for more