-WJLA-TV Script-

Anchor: THE INCIDENT INVOLVING IDAHO SENATOR LARRY CRAIG IN AN AIRPORT RESTROOM HAS IGNITED PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT SEXUAL IDENTITY.

SENATOR CRAIG HAS VEHEMENTLY DENIED HE IS GAY, BUT SOME LOCALS WHO HAVE WATCHED THE DRAMA UNFOLD SAY THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE PROVES ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

ANDREA MCCARREN IS HERE WITH MORE.


Andrea on Set:

AN INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP FOR STRAIGHT SPOUSES ESTIMATES AS MANY AS TWO MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE OR HAVE BEEN MARRIED TO A GAY PARTNER. AND LIKE MANY STRAIGHT SPOUSES, THEY WERE MARRIED FOR DECADES BEFORE THEY LEARNED THE TRUTH.


Story:

Carolyn Sega Lowengart, "It hurts so bad when you find out... We met in college..."

AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, CAROLYN SEGA LOWENGART'S WORLD FELL APART. SHE DISCOVERED HER HUSBAND WAS GAY.

Carolyn Sega Lowengart, "I said when did you know? And he said, when I was about 14. I said, why did you marry me? And he said, because I didn't want to be."

LOWENGART CAUGHT HIM LOOKING AT SEXUAL IMAGES ON A COMPUTER AND FOUND AN EMAIL ARRANGING A DATE WITH ANOTHER MAN.

Carolyn Sega Lowengart, "My first reaction, believe it or not, was relief, because I really did think it was me. Take a look at me. I am not svelte by any stretch of the imagination."

Randy Spires, "Your manhood has been attacked."

IT CAN HAPPEN TO MARRIED *MEN* TOO. RANDY SPIRES SAYS HIS 21ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WAS ANYTHING BUT A CELEBRATION.

Randy Spires, "Turned on my email account and received a blind carbon copy email that she had sent to her lover. No marriage is perfect and there had been problems, and she knew why. But I didn't."

WITH TWO CHILDREN, SPIRES ASKED HIS WIFE IF THERE WAS ANY WAY TO SALVAGE THEIR MARRIAGE.

Randy Spires, "She says no, you're a man and there's no room in my life for a man."

DESPITE THEIR LINGERING PAIN, SPIRES AND LOWENGART ARE SPEAKING OUT TO HELP EASE THE PAIN OTHER STRAIGHT SPOUSES.

Carolyn Sega Lowengart, "I want to say to them you are not alone. This has happened to millions of other people. And we're here to help if we possibly can."


Andrea on Set:

IN FACT, THE STRAIGHT SPOUSE NETWORK HOSTS MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS IN OUR AREA- ONE IN MARYLAND AND TWO IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.