My favorite Uncle on my dad's side was a "bachelor". His daily life and relationships were always "whispered" about, although he was very well liked. He had two long term relationships each lasting 25 years, but those men were never acknowledged as anything more than his "farm hands", thus never afforded any inclusion in family events. He passed away a few years ago, never having acknowledged that he was a gay man, and unable to talk with me about that, even though I did give him several opportunities. He enjoyed watching and knowing about my life with my husband and my sister's relationship with her partner, but he could never talk about his relationships in that way. Sad to me. But, a very different generation and a very different society that he had to live in. You article made me sad for your grandfather as well.