I Love New York!

I remember this ad campaign from the early 1980s and it is so appropriate today.   Indeed, gay people from New Hampshire to North Carolina and all over this country let out loud cheers when we got word that the NY State Senate had passed the marriage equality bill.   And the ink wasn't even dry on the page before Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the measure into law, making New York the largest state with marriage equality in the nation.

What a way to kick off this weekend's commemoration in New York City of the seminal event of the Stonewall riots which started the gay rights movement in this country in 1969.

I got word of the bill's passage when I pulled out my cell phone at the end of last night's performance of the "Faust with Benefits" cabaret.  A text had come through from the Human Rights Campaign announcing "Victory!"   I handed my phone to Dennis who was on stage playing with the after-show band and he made the announcement to the crowd assembled in the back yard.

"YEAH!!!" The whoop from the assembled multitude could have been heard for blocks away.   There was toasting, hugging, kissing, and even sweeter acknowledgement that one of our Faust couples was celebrating their one year anniversary of their own wedding in Washington, DC. It was a great night!

My hope is not only that this victory will solidify the situation in my home state of New Hampshire (where the National Organization of Marriage has been trying to up-end marriage equality), but it will also light a fire under the butt of our President who says all the right things, but refuses to take bold action to push for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.  It's time, Mr. President.