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Lunch Break Video: Please watch and share the deeply moving “It Could Happen to You”
Filmmaker Shane Bitney Crone lost the love of his life in 2011.
He and Tom Bridegroom had been together for six years when Tom died in a fall. They owned a business and a home together but could not get married.
Shane’s grief over losing Tom was compounded by the heartless actions of Tom’s homophobic family who threatened Shane with violence if he tried to attend the funeral and made no mention of Shane in the funeral program.
They tried to erase Shane from Tom’s life.
But Shane has made sure that will never happen with this heart-wrenching video It Could Happen to You. We see video and photos of this couple enjoying their life together to the fullest – a lot of laughter.
Shane writes: “It has been said that sharing personal stories is one of the most effective ways to change people’s hearts and minds. This is my story and I hope you are inspired to share it with others.”
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Richard says:
I sat here watching this video and cried my eyes out. I am married to the man I love. We have been together for 27 years and were married in California on July 5, 2008 when it was legal to do so. I can’t imagine living my life without my husband. I totally relate to this video and my heart breaks for Shane. I hope EVERYONE sees this video. Love is love. I will pray for Shane to find peace to go on with his life because I know if I were him I don’t know how I would go on. I think through this tragedy Shane is now a voice in the gay rights movement and will go on to do even more.
RichB in PS says:
Definitely moving and heartfelt, I too posted on my FB for family and friends.
2201 East says:
I can’t even begin to say what the family of my partner of seventeen years did to exclude me when he died. At least I was able to attend the funeral services that he very clearly stated he did not want. I was his “good” friend. I can say this, no way could they eliminate what we had for those years as time has proved. My suggestion is that any couple find a good (gay or friendly) attorney and cover themselves legally in as many ways possible. In the long run, it is worth the money no matter how friendly everyone may be toward a life partner.
Just to give you an idea of what I had to deal with. My Bill was dying. I called his sister to let her know that if she wanted to see her brother again, she’d better come quick. She never did. But when the question of money and his vehicle came up, she was right there. Bitch. And that was the nicer of the two sisters.
KJH says:
This is one of the most powerful and moving video’s that I have ever seen. I’m saddened by the pain that was caused by a lost love and disgusted by the added agony brought about by the intolerance shown by the young man’s family. I pray that I live long enough to see the change that will eventually come. “No army can withstand the power of an idea whose time has come.”
Shane I hope you can find peace in the fond remembrance that Tom loved you and that your words have not gone in vain. Love speaks volumes and yours will hopefully drown out the voices of ignorance.
FAEN says:
This makes me so fucking ANGRY! Yet another example of why we need to get rid of DOMA!
Shane, you are not alone. We’re all with you!
Armando Plata says:
Such a sad and unfortunately too common situation. Does anyone know the artist and title of the final song in the video?
The chorus begins with “young beautiful boy making his way up to the golden doors…”
Thanks
Armando
jp says:
A very moving tribute and I agree with Shane’s reasons for making this video tribute and am a complete proponent of marriage equality. I just feel that there are many unanswered questions. Why was Tom on the roof of the building, why did he fall? Maybe Shane doesn’t know, which makes this even more heart-breaking.
Jye says:
I just watched this and had to hold back tears. I am looking at my own life perhaps becoming that, as I have fallen in love with a guy who’s parents are heavy Catholics, although I’m a guy, too. This is so sad. :'(
Also, what is the last song in the clip? I searched up the lyrics and couldn’t find any matches on Google.
Love the clip and the song. EQUAL LOVE, EQUAL RIGHTS!!! PROMOTE!! 😛
VDUFFORD says:
@JP
Ditto!
The video tribute was so well made… to leave that part out.
We all need a wills and anything else we can do legally to make sure our wish’s are carried out!
Larry says:
Very heartfelt and moving. A tragedy for all involved made worse by pure ignorance. Tom fell off a four story Silverlake building while taking photos of a model.
Armando Plata says:
The final song is called “Beautiful boy” by Coleen McMahon
Jye says:
Thanks, Aramando. You did me heaps.
By the way, if anyone wants the lyrics, I just wrote some out, so:
Oooooo ooh yeah yay.
Today, you’re gone;
Today, you left me:
Left me for Heaven.
I’m on my knees,
Crying and begging.
Please let me be, dreaming.
Please…
Let me be, dreaming.
Young, beautiful boy,
Making his way up to the golden doors.
Time will not erase all of the tears
Streaming down our faces for you.
We’ll miss you, baby boy.
Oooooo ooh yeah yay, mmm mmm.
Remembering
The way your smile
Made my world alright.
The sudden loss
Of what has made
My life worth living
Has left me
So broken
Young, beautiful boy,
Making his way up to the golden doors.
Time will not erase all of the tears
Streaming down our faces for you.
We’ll miss you, baby boy.
We’ll miss you, baby boy.
Ooooh, oh!
You were the one who gave me life:
A reason to wake up and try!
So why’d you have to die?
You were the one who gave me wings:
A reason to wake up a day and sing ??? Not sure about this sentence.
The song of your life!
Ooh.
We’ll miss you, baby boy.
We’ll miss you, baby boy.
Young, beautiful boy,
Making his way up to the golden doors.
Time will not erase all of the tears
Streaming down our faces for you.
We’ll miss you, baby boy.
We’ll miss you, baby boy.
We’ll miss you, baby boy.
Ooooo (Improv.)
SHANX, Y’ALL!!!! CIAO! 😛
Travis says:
At first I was lost for words, because as a gay single man who has never loved I never saw a seriousness to standing up for my rights, and not only for my rights but for all who deserves equality in life. This clip has significantly shaken my lazy stance on gay marriage and equality for rights.
Shane… my heart sincerely goes out to you and hope that you can find happiness once more.’
Rikki says:
I’m truly moved by your story. I really don’t know what to say apart from good luck to you and I’m so pleased you’re being heard…… Hugs.
Peter says:
Thank you for sharing this moving story with the world. It is time people start listening. It is time for action. I live in the UK at the moment, where at least Civil Partnerships are ”allowed” between same sex partners. Even so, it shouldn’t be a case of ”allowing” gay marriage to go forward – it is a basic human right! Freedom of choice, freedom to love who you choose, freedom to live your life as you please (as long as you don’t engage in anything illegal)… therefore it should have been a given that same sex marriages took place! As I said, I live in the UK, where things are moving in the right direction at least – I am originally from Cyprus however and the concept of two men/women being able to love each other or two men/women being able to get married is something that people laugh at. We are nowhere near any form of acceptance or equality and although the gay population in cyprus represents the same percentage of the population as anywhere else in the world, people are afraid to speak up because of homophobic bigots and violence against gay people (which seems to go unnoticed by our corrupt police force). It makes me sick just thinking about it.
My heart goes out to you Shane, thank you for being brave enough to share your story. Nothing we can say will ever mend the hole in your heart this has caused, but I hope you can take some comfort in the fact that you are doing the right thing, you are speaking up for what you believe in and you have inspired millions across the world by sharing your experience. So thank you and I hope time helps you heal and get your life back together.
Patrick says:
nothing is more important than equality and diversity. no one should have to fight for equal rights. in a modern world, the fact the a clerical elite still control our every move and decision is a disgrace. we may as well live in the 15th century. what caused this sudden shift back towards repression? fanaticism. i believe in my equal rights, and those of others, and i will always work for freedom and liberty, but i will not take up arms, it will not consume me. hatred in your heart breeds hatred in the hearts of others. stay strong shane, i watched a few of your videos of the work you and tom did together, and it was brilliant. mourn his passing, but forgive those who tresspass opun you and his memory, because no one can take that from you. [and i feel like i have a few of your memories now too :)]
Anthony Hutchinson says:
Shane thank you for such a moving tribute. My heart goes out to you in your time of need. I live in Australia where we do not have civil unions or marriage rights. We are currently lobbying for these rights however it does not seem likely. My parents are Christians and are very supportive of me and do not believe that being gay is a sin they believe I am just the way God wanted me to be. If they can be accepting then I do not understand why the rest of the world can’t be. If two people love each other the way you both did and make each other happy as it’s clear you both did that should be enough. I am sure more gay marriages would stand the test of time then the 50% of straight marriages that end in divorce. Shane again thank you for sharing your memories and stay strong. I hope the world can see the importance of equality and Shane you have helped spread the importance of this.