I am a day late and dollar short writing about this historic decision, but I was certainly celebrating and watching Twitter begin to spit out the good news (well before mainstream media, of course). This is gigantic news for the gay rights movement – and coinciding nicely with Gay Pride celebrations in New York and San Francisco this weekend. We have much about which to be proud. And guess what, NOM? The sky is still blue, the electric grid did not fail, tornadoes and earthquakes did not hit the South and society did not collapse.
Leading up to and following the decision, the crowds waited first with worry than with joy as the decision was announced and signed into law by Governor Cuomo just before midnight ET last night. I heard from my friend Chris, who (with boyfriend Gio above) awaited the decision outside of Stonewall Inn where the historic gay rights uprising took place 40 years ago.
The New York Times offers a gripping back-stage report of what went done in the days and hours before the vote:
But, behind the scenes, it was really about a Republican Party reckoning with a profoundly changing power dynamic, where Wall Street donors and gay-rights advocates demonstrated more might and muscle than a Roman Catholic hierarchy and an ineffective opposition.
And it was about a Democratic governor, himself a Catholic, who used the force of his personality and relentlessly strategic mind to persuade conflicted lawmakers to take a historic leap.
“I can help you,” Mr. Cuomo assured them in dozens of telephone calls and meetings, at times pledging to deploy his record-high popularity across the state to protect them in their districts. “I am more of an asset than the vote will be a liability.”
So, with this amazing milestone behind us, I am still giddy with excitement about what this means for all of us. So, relax this weekend, enjoy Pride and let’s celebrate our love for our partners, husbands and community.
With love,
DanNation
