AJ is hesitant to marry Britney because she doesn’t want to always come second place to her ambitious partner’s business. “It’s not about love. It’s about whether we’re truly ready to prioritize the same future,” she says. That’s not to say that Britney hasn’t long tried to make it clear that a life with AJ is exactly what she wants. The two first met when Britney walked right up to AJ at a club, tapped her on the shoulder, and proclaimed, “Hey! I think you’re cute.” “I genuinely didn’t realize she [was interested] until she followed it up with, ‘I like girls. I want your number,’ ” explains AJ. How fitting that the two were first drawn together on a dance floor. “Music has always been a part of me, and connecting with people through sound, rhythm, and vibe still brings me joy.” 

Britney surprised herself when she boldly approached AJ at the club the night they met. But she simply couldn’t resist, and their “electric chemistry” was solidified the moment they began to dance together. “It was magic. We were so in tune and in sync,” she shares. Unfortunately, the couple is significantly less in step with a vision of the future together. “I issued AJ an ultimatum because after years of loving and building [a life] with her, I am ready for the next chapter,” says Britney. “I want clarity on where we are going and if she sees forever the same way I do.”

Haley first got to know Pilar when they were both orientation leaders after their freshman year in college, and they’ve been “inseparable” ever since. Haley was attracted to Pilar’s kindness, drive, enthusiasm for life, sense of humor, and yes, her appearance. “Her outrageous good looks were the cherry on top,” Haley shares. Growing up in California, Haley’s queer identity was shaped by the viral NoH8 campaign. After a decade of being happily partnered with Pilar, she’s ready to exercise her right to wed the love of her life. “We have always been firmly planted next to one another, and I want an even deeper commitment,” she explains. If they make it through this experiment and down the aisle, Haley will be raising a glass of her drink of choice — a “filthy” martini — and toasting to a bright future with Pilar.

"We’ve never slept apart since that summer,” Pilar says about the early days of her relationship with Haley. But for Pilar, that more than fills her cup because she ultimately views marriage as a pointless “societal construct.” Pilar’s feelings are further complicated by the “internal turmoil” she has about her parents, who openly disapprove of her queer identity and relationship with Haley. Though Pilar’s family isn’t accepting of her sexuality, she’s sought guidance from other members of the LGBTQ+ community, including artists like DJ J. Worra, who inspired her to embrace her own queerness and pursue her dream of building a career as a gay woman in the male-dominated music industry.

Kyle was immediately drawn to Bridget’s energy, even through the phone screen. The two both swiped right on a dating app and now, years later, Kyle’s sure about spending the rest of their lives together “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized getting married is an important step for me,” Kyle shares. “I want to know [Bridget] is committed to building a life and future together.” Marriage is a nonnegotiable for Kyle, which isn’t really a surprise coming from someone who has very particular expectations for an ideal date night. For the record, it’s a sunset picnic on a warm beach with all of their favorite snacks, no bugs, and no wind. Now it’s time for Bridget to decide if their future includes an engagement. Hopefully, their relationship doesn’t go the way of Angel Haze and Ireland Baldwin’s, which just so happens to be a formative pop culture partnership in Kyle’s personal queer awakening.

For Bridget, marriage feels unnecessary. “I don’t really understand the point.” However, Bridget does see a forever with Kyle, who has always felt like the past, present, and future. “Right off the bat, I felt like we had the same sense of humor, and it just felt like I’d already known her for awhile,” Bridget says of their first date. Just as Bridget’s cosmic ties with Kyle have gone back ages, so too has the connection with her own queerness. At just 2 years old, Bridget begged her mom to allow her to watch “The Puppy Episode” of Ellen, in which Ellen DeGeneres’ character comes out as gay. The iconic episode, which Bridget thought was actually going to be about a puppy, had a profound effect. “Looking back, that’s probably what made me gay.”

Mel has always had a crush on Marie, but they didn’t begin dating until after Marie came out. “I was definitely intrigued and wanted to step out of the friendzone,” Mel shares. In the years since, the two have launched into both a relationship and a business partnership with their popular food truck, which keeps them very busy and leaves little time for romance. It’s to be expected that the lines between their personal and professional lives tend to be a bit blurry, especially since the way to Mel’s heart is through her stomach. “Take me on a flight to anywhere, and let’s try all the bougie food spots,” she says of her dream date. But before they drive off into the sunset together, Mel needs some convincing to settle down. “Marie is ready for forever, but I feel there’s a few things we need to get in order first.”

Want to know more about the food truck at the center of Mel and Marie’s relationship? Follow Royal-T Tapas on social media and check out the official website for the newly upgraded Orlando-based food trailer.

Marie met Mel through a mutual friend when they were teenagers. Though Marie wasn’t out at the time, she was drawn to Mel’s confidence and “certainty in herself.” Now that the couple is partnered in life and in business, Marie thinks that it’s time to elevate their relationship. Building a family is also an important consideration, and Marie believes the first step in that journey is marriage. “I want to know where I’m going in life,” she says. In issuing this ultimatum, she’s simply looking for “direction,” and nothing would make this homebody happier than if it pointed toward many more nights with Mel on the couch. Marie’s perfect evenings are spent drinking a glass of wine in a cozy robe and watching a movie, stand-up comedy, or the show that’s impacted her the most, The L Word.

Dayna says she was “immediately obsessed” upon first meeting Magan at a bar. She was captured by Magan’s beauty, uniqueness, and fun energy. Even with strong feelings for her now-partner, Dayna has struggled with her avoidant attachment style and how it manifests in her relationship. Ironically, though, Dayna is not the one dragging her feet when it comes to committing to each other for a lifetime. “I’m ready to be more serious and plan a future with Magan,” she says. For Dayna, a formative pop culture moment was Miley Cyrus publicly coming out as queer, so let’s see if this experiment turns out to be a relationship wrecking ball.

Unlike her partner, Magan says she walks through life with an anxious attachment style. Despite the insecurity she might inherently feel in romantic relationships, making a lifetime commitment isn’t the solve she’s looking for. Magan believes she’s receiving the ultimatum from Dayna due to her own issues with “boundaries.” Plus, Magan’s traditional family is reluctant to accept her queerness, so she struggles envisioning a future in which all of her loved ones can co-exist. Getting married could be a way to show her family that Dayna is here to stay, but at this point Magan simply doesn’t feel ready to take that step.

After matching on a dating app, Ashley and Marita dove deep, surprising each other with “the ability to keep a great conversation going” long after the first swipe. “I found Marita very beautiful and interesting from the start and wanted to keep getting to know her.” And so she did, and Ashley quickly became certain that she wanted to carry on those conversations for the rest of her life. Marita, on the other hand, isn’t so sure, which pushed Ashley to issue the ultimatum. “I am getting tired of her inconsistency in our relationship, along with the fact that she never chooses me and seeks feelings elsewhere with other people,” she says. “I want her to pick me and know I am enough.” Having been shaped by watching Shannon Beveridge and Cammie Scott back in their YouTube days, Ashley is now ready to put her own relationship out there for the world to see — though she is hoping for a happier ending.

As a die-hard fan of The OC, Marita is looking for the Alex Kelly to her Marissa Cooper. In other words, Marita is a true romantic and keeping the passion alive in a relationship is the key to her heart. For Marita, that looks like planning a date that includes a “surprise scavenger hunt during sunset on the beach that leads to a special invitation for a candlelit dinner.” And while she and Ashley have natural chemistry and deep conversations, Marita still feels like Ashley could make romance more of a priority in their relationship. So until she sees real changes, Marita has no plans on walking down the aisle. “I am not ready to settle for anything less than what I know I deserve.”