love

Partners Sam Collins and Cricket Osborn met in Chicago and have been together for about three years. They spoke about the somewhat chaotic start to their relationship and their decision to choose love over fear.

Husbands Jeff Terry and Travis Griffin met growing up in Joplin, but didn’t reconnect – or fall in love – until after the 2011 Joplin tornado. They spoke about some of the differences in their upbringings and about learning how to love each other during the early years of their marriage.

Jeff Terry and Travis Griffin both grew up in Joplin and met in middle school. They met in middle school growing up in Joplin, but didn’t reconnect – or fall in love – until their 30s after living through the 2011 Joplin tornado.

Wives Rosie Geiser and Dottie Mathews are in both in their 70s and have been together since the 1990s. They spoke about their connection and commitment to each other — as well as how their love encourages them to grow every day.

Wives Laura Borghard and Kristie Douglas have a large, blended family – with four sons between the ages of 10 and 25 and a relatively new grandbaby. They’ve been married since 2020, and they spoke about the origins of their love.

Oliver Ackerman and Danielle Workman are both transgender and are in a T4T, or trans for trans relationship. They’ve known each other since they were young and shared a little about their relationship, and how they support each other.

Kat and Aly Wright are a queer married couple in Columbia. Kat is queer and nonbinary, and Aly is a bisexual transgender woman. They met and fell in love while playing roller derby. They spoke about how some unexpected circumstances changed their original wedding plans – perhaps for the better.

Fin Crowder and Emery Wakefield are both nonbinary and asexual. They’ve been friends since they were young, and, today, live in a queer platonic relationship. They spoke a little about their relationship and how they show love and support for each other.

62-year-old Tony Lutz was born and raised in Jefferson City. He came out later in life – in his 40s. He and his partner, Doug got married in 2020. Doug passed away two years later. Tony shared about his life and family – and spoke about the importance of being present in rural Missouri.

Here Say is a project in community storytelling. We travel to a new place each week and ask people to share true stories about things we all experience:…