At queerguru we like nothing more than a happy ever after love story, and if there ever was a real deserving case for someone having one of these, then it would be Shane Bitney Crone.
He first came to public attention in 2012 when he released a YouTube video “It Could Happen to You” a year after the accidental death of his longtime partner 29-year-old Tim Bridegroom. If losing his soulmate wasn’t bad enough, Crone had to deal with Bridegroom’s parent’s rampant homophobia, and they actually threatened him with physical violence if he attended Bridegroom’s funeral, and he was not mentioned in Bridegroom’s obituary or memorial service. This after already having been denied hospital visitations and other rights accorded married couples because he was not recognized as Bridegroom’s partner or family.
His very emotional video went viral and then morphed into a documentary directed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason called Bridegroom. She based it on the story of Crone’s and Bridegroom’s relationship and the difficulties Crone faced after his partner’s death.
When it premiered at Tribeca Film Festival the film was actually introduced by former President Bill Clinton. In his remarks, Clinton stated, “This is really, on one level, a wonderful, sad, heartbreaking yet exhilarating and life-affirming story … and on another level, it’s a story about our nation’s struggle to make one more step in forming a more perfect union, for which marriage is both the symbol and substance.”
Bridegroom won the Tribeca Film Festival Audience’s non-fiction award, and Crone has now become an activist to work for further positive change for same-sex couples in the United States.
He had a tough few years but then in 2016 Crone met and fell head over heel in love with American Idol finalist Rayvon Owen, who even featured him as the romantic lead in his music video “Can’t Fight It”. Both men are good friends of the singer Demi Lovato, and so two days ago with her help, Crone did a surprise proposal to Owen on stage in the middle of her concert.
If watching Bridegroom (available on most streaming platforms) has you weeping out of anger and sadness, then be prepared watching the video below as it will have you crying tears of joy.
We are so happy for Shane especially as he so deserves this wonderful second chance,
Labels: 2018, Demi Lovato, news, romance, Shane Bitney Crone
