We've got gays working there. If they can demonstrate long-term relationships we make same-sex benefits available just as we do with common-law marriages. Gays are productive people. Some fly airplanes some work in breweries.
Don't ignore the past but deal with it on your own pace. Once you deal with it you are free of it and you are free to embrace your life and be a happy loving person because if you don't the past will come back to haunt and keep coming back to haunt you.