Same-sex couples have been saying “I do” throughout the country since gay marriage became legal [1].
Many couples begin their path toward marriage with the never-ending symbolic circle of a ring.
With no gay marriage template, LGBT couples frequently consider which traditions, if any, they should follow when wearing their circular tokens of love.
Do gay men wear wedding rings? Read on to find out more.
Should Gay Couples Wear Their Wedding Rings Differently?
The wedding ring is a piece of jewelry that you wear to symbolize your love and commitment to your spouse.
It doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman, gay or straight, marrying someone of the same sex or not, religious or non-religious, wearing a wedding ring can be a personal preference when showing the world how committed you are to the person you married.
When it comes to weddings, I’m a big believer that there’s no reason to be limited by any form of convention or tradition, particularly when it comes to rings.
Gay men don’t always have the same cultural associations with rings as straight men.
There are some traditions that they might not be familiar with, and they might not have seen many examples of other gay couples wearing rings.
Some gay men might even feel uncomfortable wearing a ring because they don’t want other people to think they are heterosexual (this isn’t something to worry about—if someone assumes you’re straight because you wear a ring, that says more about them than it does you).
However, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear gay men ring if you want to!
The choice is entirely up to each couple. Some may choose to forgo wearing rings altogether, while others might opt for wearing matching rings—and others may even want individual rings.
Ultimately, only you and your partner will know what feels suitable for your relationship and how you want others to see.
Because of its resonance with, but variance from, typical heterosexual iconography, some gays picked the ring finger (next to the pinky) on the right hand for the engagement and wedding band.
On the other hand, others adhered to the customary practice of using the ring finger of the left hand.
Whether you go for the left ring finger or right-handed ring, as long as you are happy with the decision, then that’s all that matters!
Here are some LGBT wedding rings for inspiration!
How To Choose Gay Wedding Rings
In fact, gay couples often have more freedom in choosing their rings than straight couples.
When you’re a part of a couple with two men, there is no traditional system dictating what your ring should look like.
There’s no right or wrong way to pick wedding bands, but there are some things to consider when making this decision.
For example, how much money can you afford to spend? How do you want your rings to reflect your personalities?
What’s most important—comfort, durability, fashion, or other factors? There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to wedding rings. [2]
- Firstly, you want your rings to be something for daily wear. You don’t want to have something that’s only worn when you’re out or at parties. Get rings that are high-quality and feel good.
- Secondly, you want your rings to be something that you feel represents you and your partner. Whether that means buying a matching set of rings together or getting your partner a separate ring, get what feels suitable for the two of you.
- Lastly, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about your choice for wedding rings. Whether they’re plastic, metal, rubies, diamonds, or stainless steel—the choice is yours!
Related post: Who Wears Engagement Ring in Gay Relationship
Check out this video on how to choose same-sex wedding rings.
Celebrities Gay Couples With Wedding Rings
Some of the most famous lesbian, gay, and bisexual people globally have had same-sex marriages.
Check out these celebrities who are LGBTI with wedding rings!
Micahel Turchi
Black is quite a popular color for men when it comes to weddings and engagement rings.
Rylan Clark
His diamond ring features three rows of channel-set diamonds.
George Takei & Brad Altman
John Barrowman and Scott Gill
Lance Bass and Michael Turchin
@purpledragon9 Lance Bass and Michael Turchin #noh8 #fypシ #gaypride #loveislove #🌈 #nsync this makes me so happy 🥰 @lancebass Such a handsome couple ❤
♬ Something Like You – *NSYNC
FAQs
Why Do People Wear Wedding Rings On Their Right Hands?
Some people from the Gay community choose to wear their wedding rings on their right hands for a variance from heterosexual couples.
Who wears wedding ring on right hand?
While the decision of which hand you’d like to wear your wedding ring lies solely on you, there are still some countries who follow the right-hand ring rule. These countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Jordan, Latvia, Norway, Peru Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine, and Venezuela.
Do gay men wear their wedding ring on the left hand?
There is a common practice where the wedding ring is worn on the right hand. In such countries, people tend to wear their ring on the left hand to indicate they are widowed, divorced, or gay.
Nowadays, however, this isn’t a strict practice since there are couples who choose to wear their wedding rings on the left hand, which is close to the heart.
Which Finger For My Gay Wedding Ring?
There’s no specific wedding ring finger for gays. It’s purely based on one’s preference.
Do We Have to Get Matching Wedding Rings?
No, you do not have to get matching wedding rings. You should get the rings that each individual likes.
Do Men wear Engagement Ring?
Yes, it has become popular for men to wear wedding rings.
Do gay men wear engagement ring and wedding band?
Both straight and gay mean can opt to wear an engagement ring. It is no longer limited for women to wear.
Whatever gender you have, you can opt to stack an engagement ring with your wedding band on one finger.
What kind of rings do gay couples wear?
Same sex couples wear the same rings as any other couples do. They are free to choose the type of ring they would like to wear to symbolize their commitment with each other.
What does a black ring mean LGBTQ?
Since 2005, asexual people started wearing a black ring on their middle finger of their right hand to let people know of their asexuality. The ring is known as an ace ring.
Key Takeaway
The answer is that gay men wear wedding rings—both a sign of their commitment to their partner and a symbol of equality.
The best way to decide if it’s right for you or not is to talk to your partner and see where they stand on the issue.
Reference
- 1. CNN Library. Same-Sex Marriage Fast Facts [Internet]. CNN. 2013. Available from: https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/us/same-sex-marriage-fast-facts/index.html
- 2 Title S. 9 Ways to Pick the Perfect Wedding Ring [Internet]. theknot.com. The Knot; 2008 [cited 2022 Feb 10]. Available from: https://www.theknot.com/content/rules-for-choosing-your-wedding-bands
I’m a freelance journalist/writer/content marketer with BA Hons in Journalism.
