Stand up for Marriage Equality

Now, I'm asking you to support me in another endeavor--a fight to preserve marriage equality. I know from experience what it's like to love someone of the same sex and be denied the right to marry. Having lived with my partner for over 40 years, I had in every sense of the word a true marriage, but without legal sanctions. When Governor Cuomo signed the Marriage Equality Bill in June 2011, we were both overjoyed. When we walked into the office of the presiding officer in the Bronx County Courthouse last September, we were welcomed into the arms of an official who made our relationship legal. It has made a tremendous difference for both of us. We are not only proud of ourselves, we are open about our love.

However, I want others to have this same experience. When I was approached by Broadway Impact with a request to produced the Play "8" about producing a play based upon the account of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the Federal court case to overturn Prop. 8, in California which eliminated gay and lesbian couples' right to marry, I went to members of the Board of the Unitarian Church of All Souls and asked whether they thought I should produce a play. As Unitarians, we debated the issue for a half an hour until one of our members said, "Absolutely, you should do it and we'll help you. It's a moral imperative!"

Well, that's what we're doing--producing a play and besides wearing the badge of a hiker, I'm now wearing one called, "Producer." On October 11th, Thursday, at 7:00 p.m., at All Souls NYC, "8" will be produced by a cast of over 21 readers from our congregation. Won't you please either buy a ticket ($20.00) or contribute whatever you can to this production? All proceeds beyond our costs will go to Broadway Impact and the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER).

Once again, thank you for standing with me as we work together to make equal rights a reality in our lifetimes.