[Quintease]

To be honest, being in a 'straight' relationship has taught me that people treat gay relationships differently.

I had never experienced any homophobia or nastiness while in a gay relationship, in fact everyone was always very respectful and nice. Yet I would feel relief when I was in a gay space where I knew that everyone would understand. I never thought about why that was, I just knew that it was so.

Still I was completely unprepared for how accepting, appreciative and inclusive straight people would be toward my straight relationship, it feels so different to anything I've experienced before. I've had mothers and daughters, other straight couples, single men and women, and elderly strangers, all approach us with a smile, a nod, or an affectionate comment. As a result I feel safe now telling perfect strangers about my love in the grocery store, something I would never have done before.

I assume it's not a prejudice thing. I assume it's just because straight people see their own experiences reflected in other straight relationships, whereas gay relationships are still a mystery to them. I can only hope the growing acceptance of gay marriage will help to normalise gay relationships for straight people.