Filed under: ACLU, Brooklyn, Episcopal, friends, gay, Only in New York, parades, speak up!
With the Marriage Equality Act set to take effect on Sunday, 24 July, granting all New York couples the right to marry, I’m absolutely ecstatic to call myself a New Yorker! This weekend, 823 gay couples will say “I will” or “I do” thanks to the New York legislature seeing the light a month ago. That’s right, the stars are aligning for my Liza Minnelli loving friends, and I’m tickled pink about it. It’s truly a victory for individual couples, marriage equality, and human rights. Here’s a story about how a few couples will celebrate this monumental victory. Here’s a link to what the ACLU is doing to advance LGBT rights. And here’s why I’m proud to be a Brooklyn Episcopalian.
To all of you tying the knot on Sunday, mazel tov!
Filed under: alcohol, bagpipes, First Amendment, gay, Hibernians, Irish Queers, kilts, NOLA, parades, speak up!, St. Patrick's Day, Supreme Court, things I see, weather
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone! I hope all of you in NYC are outside enjoying this glorious day. I am not. Work calls, I answer.
On a day like this, I normally would find a reason to dodge work and skip across the park to see the miles of kilted men playing their bagpipes and such. SIDE NOTE: Although, I will say that NYC should head down to New Orleans and take a lesson on how to throw a real parade. No floats in your parades (except for the Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving), really?! REALLY?
Instead, today, I’ve decided to boycott the 250th year of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York. I’m tired of the anti-gay position of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the City’s enforcing it, and frankly, the position doesn’t square up with what I know of the Irish. Here’s a snip-it from Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore who has the right idea. Thanks, Eamon! I’ve seen Irishmen sillier than a soup sandwich marching in parades on the Emerald Island. Get up to speed, NYC!
Here is a link to an article with ideas on how to change the course of this parade rather than just pouting about the status quo. Believe me, I’ll be penning some letters in pink ink this eve.
And, just so you know, I understand the Free Assembly clause of the First Amendment. I went to law school. I’ve heard of the Supreme Court, and I’ve read National Socialist Party of America v. Skokie. I understand decisions of private groups and their speech is oft-times protected even if offensive. Blah, blah, blah. But, c’mon NYC, what is gayer than a friggin’ parade?
The Southern Expat Communique: New York observations of a displaced belle 