Whenever I’ve made the trip to Anthrocon, I’ve always found myself spending a major portion of my time at the mainstage, and rightly so, as on that stage can be seen some of the most awesome and inspiring moments our fandom has to show. In front of this stage, I’ve been astonished by the beauty and prowess of performers like Sardyuon and Tien Long, enrapt and inspired by the compositions of Fox Amoore, and humbled by the eulogy of fallen heroes. I hold these experiences dear because they are more than exhibitions of talent, creativity, and sacrifice; these are exaltations of what we as a culture are capable of, the kinds of people that we cultivate, the possibilities that we make real, and the potential that exists in all of us. Yet for all that I’ve seen in this place, no single moment has touched my heart so poignantly as what happened there this past Friday night. The most beautiful thing about Furry, I believe, is that it is a culture of love: we love each other, whether platonically or intimately, and we celebrate the love of others among us, without regard to gender, orientation, or identity. On this evening, I felt honored to witness the love of two young men, and moreover, I felt both fortunate and proud to find myself in a time and space—both physical and cultural—within which such love freely blossoms.

Congratulations to  zharr18 and  sarustreeleafwolf! I wish you both a long and happy journey together, and I thank you for sharing your embarkation upon that voyage with all of us.

Full-res image is available here. If you zoom in close enough, you can just make out the ring.