Archive Version of
Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Online from 1995-2022

Demian and Steve Bryant originally founded Partners as a monthly newsletter in 1986. By late 1990 it was reformatted into a bi-monthly magazine. Print publication was halted by 1995 when Demian published Partners as a Web site, which greatly expanded readership.

In 1988, the Partners National Survey of Lesbian & Gay Couples report was published; the first major U.S. survey on same-sex couples in a decade.

In 1996, Demian produced The Right to Marry, a video documentary based on the dire need for equality that was made clear by the data from the survey mentioned above. The video featured interviews with Rev. Mel White, Evan Wolfson, Phyllis Burke, Richard Mohr, Kevin Cathcart, Faygele benMiriam, Benjamin Cable-McCarthy, Susan Reardon, Frances Fuchs, Tina Podlodowski, and Chelle Mileur.

Demian has been the sole operator during the last two decades of Partners.

Demian stopped work on Partners Task Force in order to realize his other time-consuming projects, which include publishing the book “Operating Manual for Same-Sex Couples: Navigating the rules, rites & rights” - which is now available on Amazon. The book is based on the Partners Survey mentioned above, his interviews of scores of couples, and 36 years of writing hundreds of articles about same-sex couples. It’s also been informed by his personal experience in a 20-year, same-sex relationship.

Demian’s other project is to publish his “Photo Stories by Demian” books based on his more than six decades as a photographer and writer.


Partners Task Force for Gay & Lesbian Couples
Demian, director    206-935-1206    demian@buddybuddy.com    Seattle, WA    Founded 1986

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The Couples Chronicles
Interviews of Same-Sex Couples
© January 7, 2018, Demian



The following interviews with couples were conducted by Demian, usually via telephone, with editorial collaboration from Steve Bryant. They were first released in the no longer published “Partners Newsletter for Gay and Lesbian Couples” and “Partners Magazine” from December 1986 to the Spring of 1993. All interviews are copyrighted, and may not be reprinted, by any means, without expressed permission.
  1. Lesbian Parents Find Support & Joy
    Roxanne and Margarette
          College teacher and scientist birth raise a child

  2. Building a Life Together
    Tom Conway and Hil Simpkins [also see Interview #32]
          Social workers in a loving relationship for 14 years

  3. Yours, Mine, Ours
    Jan Sudak and Cindy Moors
          Buying a house together

  4. Lives Wrapped Around Each Other
    Richard Merk and Brad Peyton
          10-year couple; supporting each other through career changes

  5. That Little Twinge in My Heart
    Patty Carlisle and Karen Jensen
          Retaining individuality; living and working together

  6. The Couple Who Created The Wedding
    Walter L. Wheeler and J. Carey Junkin
          Mixing their relationship with politics

  7. Everyone Needs Someone to Love
    Justine Michaud and Meg Bachtel
          Sorting communication styles, redefining sex

  8. Devastated: Surviving a Relationship Breakup
    Robert
          The difficulty of leaving an abusive relationship

  9. The Rest of Our Lives
    Bruce MacDonald and Sam Shimabukuro
          Interracial relationship; dealing with serious illness

  10. Living Together Forever
    Chris Pasinski and Nancy Smiegowski
          Similar spiritual aspirations

  11. I Love Him and He Loves Me
    Dale and David
          Religious, sexually open seven-year couple

  12. Something Very Special
    Rhonda and Ellen
          Balancing professional life and raising three kids

  13. Until Death Divides Us
          Two men and their big church wedding
          Interview removed for career considerations

  14. I’ve Become an Activist and Feminist
    Karen Thompson
          Attempting to care for her disabled partner, Sharon Kowalski

  15. The Ultimate Act of Loving
    Peter Shalit and Andy Wilks
          Lived apart the first five years

  16. I Fell Head Over Heals in Love with Her
    Marguerite Scroggie and Kala Payne
          No models from youth, forging a relationship

  17. Always a Listening Ear and a Welcoming Hug
    Alan Hultquist and Brendan Hadash
          Spent their first year trying to change each other

  18. I Can’t Imagine a Life without Both of Them
    Bob and Mark and Don
          A male trio

  19. I Can’t Think of Anybody in the World I’d Rather Parent With
    Two women
          Interview removed for career considerations

  20. There is Something Good in Continuing to Empower this
    Relationship, Even Though It Causes Me Great Pain

    Jim Crotty and Michael Lane
          The guys who publish Monk Magazine

  21. I’m Incredibly Happy with This Relationship
    Elaine Mikels and Jean Tait
          31 years age difference

  22. The Thought of Loosing Charley and Carl
    at the Same Time was Just Unbearable

    Carl and Tim
          Parenting partners — not lovers

  23. Delores Has Come to Me Freely — That Makes It Real Sweet
    Jeanne McCamish and Dolores Anselment
          Partner was a nun and her teacher

  24. The Best Thing in My Life
    Gary and Bob
          In business together

  25. Because I Love Her So Much
    Celeste and Sharane
          Second parent adoption

  26. A Very Satisfying 16 Years
    Gerry Blunt and Ed Fortier
          11 year age difference; dealing with stress

  27. To Meet Both of Our Dreams
    Carol duBois and Michele duBois
          Different religions; alternative insemination

  28. So Grateful to be Next to Him Every Night
    Frank Mapson and Ken Mondshine
          17 year couple; one partner is physically disabled

  29. It’s Never Going to Break Up
    Sonny Rivera and Pam
          Different races; planned for parenting

  30. I Love Him More Today Then I Ever Have
    Bill Urban and Charlie Mueller
          Living and working together; AIDS and no medical insurance

  31. I Can’t See Myself Being Anywhere But in this Relationship
    Barbara Grier and Donna J. McBride
          Living and working together; publishers

  32. There’s No Better Place to Be
    Tom Conway and Hil Simpkins [also see Interview #2]
          17 year male couple; counseling to stay together

  33. Bonded Together as Friends
    Nancy Hugman and Sandy Stelter
          15 year couple; oppression from relatives; planning for kids

More interviews will be forthcoming as they are formatted.

Return to: Partners: Table of Contents

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