A couple of years after my father’s death, the once-forbidden concepts of same-sex marriage and same-sex parenting were socially and politically progressing. Prior to this time, I never felt that these options were available to me, and quite honestly, I was not a fan of the institution of marriage and never saw myself as a father. During the time I was shooting this series, the issue of same-sex marriage was a contentious topic in our homes, in the media and in the courts.
Roses addresses historical marriage roles and choices. Around this same time, a number of newborns had infiltrated my life, and the notion of fatherhood was on my mind. When I was in college, I got my girlfriend pregnant. Although she miscarried very early on in the pregnancy, those weeks were both frightening and enlightening; in fact, that experience revealed my true feelings about fatherhood and inspired more honesty in my sexual being.