As a gay couple, we worried about acceptance in conservative Michigan town
My husband and I were married two years ago this August, after dating for 11 years. Neither of us had been in a hurry to tie the knot. We've always had a loving and easy relationship, and formalizing it didn't seem all that important.That changed in June 2022, when I was infected with COVID-19 and double pneumonia. After spending nine days in the hospital, I returned home to recover. As my husband was hooking up my oxygen, it struck me — this was the most important person in the world to me. He was, and still is, the kindest person I know. I looked at him and said, 'Do you want to get married?' He said, 'Sure.'The next year, we had a small wedding attended by close friends and family, and we started to plan for the future. One of those plans included buying a cottage on a lake. We focused our search on the Irish Hills region of Michigan, not far from our home in Detroit. But we ended up falling in love with a house on a beautiful and peaceful lake in Hillsdale, Michigan, just outside the Irish Hills.
More from Freep Opinion: Democrats better hope Michigan Gov. Whitmer changes her mind about presidential run
To be honest, we were surprised. So were most of our friends.
Hillsdale is known as one of the most conservative areas in Michigan. Our friendship circle in Detroit is diverse, and mostly leans progressive. After the purchase, I had questions: Would we fit in? Would we be accepted as a gay couple? Would we feel welcome, and find other LGBTQ+ people? Yes, we probably should've asked those questions before buying. But the truth is, we were taken in by the countryside's beauty — we both grew up in rural areas, and it felt like coming home.
Now, after 15 months in Hillsdale, we couldn't be happier. We've built a community of friends from across the political spectrum, and have met other LGBTQ+ couples on a nearby lake.
One of our neighbors is Japanese, and we trade information about favorite restaurant and grocery stores in the metro Detroit area. And the most important lesson I've learned? Our neighbors in Hillsdale are just like our neighbors in Detroit.
They're kind. They work in all sorts of jobs. They have families. They look out for each other — and for us. Our neighbors in Hillsdale ― like in Detroit ― have keys to our house, and take the trash out or bring the can up when we aren't there.
We realized we don't have to necessarily be in a community of LGBTQ+ people. We just needed to be in an accepting community.
More from Freep Opinion: Ghost of Brooks Patterson and specter of Donald Trump collide in Oakland County
Soon after buying the house, there was a storm and tornado warning. I contacted one of our neighbors to check on the house. She texted back an image of a rainbow over our house and the comment, 'It must be a sign of welcome to the neighborhood.'
In today's uncertain world, we've found a sense of comfort here that mirrors what we feel in Detroit. Our experience in Hillsdale has challenged the assumptions I once held about 'red states' vs. 'blue states,' or conservatives vs. liberals. Most people, it turns out, fall somewhere in the middle. Some lean left on certain issues; others lean right. But what I've seen is that at the end of the day, what really matters is how we treat each other.
I hope that one day soon, we can all move past the constant divisions and labels. Let's focus on relationships, on building community, and — perhaps most importantly — simply being kind to one another.Brad Dick is a proud gay man living with his husband in Detroit's East English Village, and part time in Hillsdale, Michigan. He spent 18 years with the City of Detroit, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. He joined Wayne State University in the fall of 2024 as Sr. Associate Vice President and Deputy Chief Business Officer.
Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print.
Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan gay couple finds home in conservative Hillsdale | Opinion
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hypebeast
8 hours ago
- Hypebeast
Casablanca's First-Ever Store Is a Colorful Parisian Boutique
Parisian luxury labelCasablancahas opened its inaugural physical boutique with the opening of its colorful store on 62 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. NeighboringComme des GarçonsandHermès, the 2018-born label inaugurates its public-facing presence in the historic fashion capital, representing a new generation of Gen Z-focused luxury labels. Cast in a palette of blue, red, and green, he 5,000 sq ft store spans three levels and centers on a deconstructed tennis court inspired by architectCarlos Scarpa, according toWWD. Much like the eclectic influences of the label's North African heritage, the design draws from varied Japanese and Greek aesthetics, as well as the sport of tennis. The sleek space features Carrara marble mosaic floors, a futuristic illuminated ceiling, velvet finishes, and high-gloss lacquered wood applications. The lower floor is blanketed by a plush green carpet that extends to the walls, where transparent product displays reside, evocative of the clean modernism recently popularized by Apple TV'sSeverance. Elsewhere, arched niches and wall moldings are placed throughout the perimeter, rooting the space back in heritage with a mixture of traditional Parisian design elements. Following the opening of its inaugural Paris boutique, Casablanca will ready its Beverly Hills store, slated to open in that the brand aims to open more stores in cities including New York, Miami, London, Milan, and Dubai. See the gallery above for a closer look at the new space.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
As a gay couple, we worried about acceptance in conservative Michigan town
My husband and I were married two years ago this August, after dating for 11 years. Neither of us had been in a hurry to tie the knot. We've always had a loving and easy relationship, and formalizing it didn't seem all that changed in June 2022, when I was infected with COVID-19 and double pneumonia. After spending nine days in the hospital, I returned home to recover. As my husband was hooking up my oxygen, it struck me — this was the most important person in the world to me. He was, and still is, the kindest person I know. I looked at him and said, 'Do you want to get married?' He said, 'Sure.'The next year, we had a small wedding attended by close friends and family, and we started to plan for the future. One of those plans included buying a cottage on a lake. We focused our search on the Irish Hills region of Michigan, not far from our home in Detroit. But we ended up falling in love with a house on a beautiful and peaceful lake in Hillsdale, Michigan, just outside the Irish Hills. More from Freep Opinion: Democrats better hope Michigan Gov. Whitmer changes her mind about presidential run To be honest, we were surprised. So were most of our friends. Hillsdale is known as one of the most conservative areas in Michigan. Our friendship circle in Detroit is diverse, and mostly leans progressive. After the purchase, I had questions: Would we fit in? Would we be accepted as a gay couple? Would we feel welcome, and find other LGBTQ+ people? Yes, we probably should've asked those questions before buying. But the truth is, we were taken in by the countryside's beauty — we both grew up in rural areas, and it felt like coming home. Now, after 15 months in Hillsdale, we couldn't be happier. We've built a community of friends from across the political spectrum, and have met other LGBTQ+ couples on a nearby lake. One of our neighbors is Japanese, and we trade information about favorite restaurant and grocery stores in the metro Detroit area. And the most important lesson I've learned? Our neighbors in Hillsdale are just like our neighbors in Detroit. They're kind. They work in all sorts of jobs. They have families. They look out for each other — and for us. Our neighbors in Hillsdale ― like in Detroit ― have keys to our house, and take the trash out or bring the can up when we aren't there. We realized we don't have to necessarily be in a community of LGBTQ+ people. We just needed to be in an accepting community. More from Freep Opinion: Ghost of Brooks Patterson and specter of Donald Trump collide in Oakland County Soon after buying the house, there was a storm and tornado warning. I contacted one of our neighbors to check on the house. She texted back an image of a rainbow over our house and the comment, 'It must be a sign of welcome to the neighborhood.' In today's uncertain world, we've found a sense of comfort here that mirrors what we feel in Detroit. Our experience in Hillsdale has challenged the assumptions I once held about 'red states' vs. 'blue states,' or conservatives vs. liberals. Most people, it turns out, fall somewhere in the middle. Some lean left on certain issues; others lean right. But what I've seen is that at the end of the day, what really matters is how we treat each other. I hope that one day soon, we can all move past the constant divisions and labels. Let's focus on relationships, on building community, and — perhaps most importantly — simply being kind to one Dick is a proud gay man living with his husband in Detroit's East English Village, and part time in Hillsdale, Michigan. He spent 18 years with the City of Detroit, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. He joined Wayne State University in the fall of 2024 as Sr. Associate Vice President and Deputy Chief Business Officer. Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan gay couple finds home in conservative Hillsdale | Opinion
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Women's apparel chain makes a big move toward men
A shaky economy might not prevent people from getting married, but it may prompt them to streamline their wedding planning. That's yet another tough break for the wedding industry, which was severely impacted by the Covid pandemic. After all, social distancing pushed the pause button on wedding guests doing the Cha Cha Slide on dance floors for a long while. But one thing remains for many couples in love: They want to do everything possible to ensure their special day goes off without a hitch. Related: Top luxury fashion brands just made a quiet change About half (52%) of engaged couples start planning their wedding a year ahead, according to The Knot 2025 Real Wedding Study, which surveyed 17,000 U.S. couples who got married in 2024 and a number who plan to this year. After all, there's a lot that goes into putting together a memorable event. Plus, couples want to look as good as they feel on their special day. And that means making room in their budget for the perfect wedding wardrobe. Now a well-known brand in the space has just made it a bit easier. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Image source: Getty Images David's Bridal has just revealed its partnership with Generation Tux, a tuxedo and suit rental shop, as an exclusive in-store shop-in-shop for menswear. The goal is to create a one-stop location offering great deals to outfit the entire wedding party. "Through our partnership with Generation Tux, we know we are offering the highest-quality product to our customers, and doing it at the best possible prices," David's Bridal's President Elina Vilk said in a statement. "For over 70 years, brides have trusted us to ensure they feel beautiful on their big day. We're ready and excited to offer the same to grooms online and exclusively in 10 select stores, with more to come." Related: Popular women's retailer closing 30% of its stores The Knot study said 90% of couples' wedding planning takes place online. That impressive stat points to the fact that couples want convenience as they prepare for their big days. Yet even in the age of e-commerce, many brides also want to "say yes to the dress" in person. By partnering with Generation Tux, David's Bridal is now extending the same courtesy to grooms. Unlike weddings of the past, where it was believed to be bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony, over three-quarters of surveyed couples who married in 2024 shared a "first look" before the ceremony, according to Brides. David's Bridal and Generation Tux appear to be capitalizing on this trend by inviting couples to shop together at the same store. Related: Another popular furniture retailer files Chapter 11 bankruptcy "We're thrilled to partner with David's Bridal to offer a seamless, head-to-toe wedding style experience for couples and their wedding parties," said Generation Tux President Jason Jackson. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers In addition to the Generation Tux partnership, David's Bridal is rolling out a new store concept called Diamonds & Pearls, which will offer a more exclusive selection of merchandise that isn't available at other stores. The concept will debut in Delray Beach, Florida, with plans to expand. The company's new offerings come after it declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2023 with nearly $260 million in debt. It was acquired three months later by Cion Investment Corp., which lowered the retailer's debts to around $50 million and aimed to maintain up to 195 locations- and keep around 7,000 employees in their jobs. It wasn't the first time David's Bridal needed to take such measures. It also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy back in November 2018. A restructuring plan helped revive it, but like many other retailers, it wasn't prepared for the pandemic. Time will tell whether these new endeavors will bring about the happily-ever-after the bridal retailer has been hoping for. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
