The passing of the gay marriage bill by the New York legislature is an act of political courage and conviction that should be applauded.
The work of Governor Andrew Cuomo in ensuring passage was phenomenal. He has been a deeply impressive governor in the short time he has been in office.
As Irish American City Council Speaker Christine Quinn who is gay noted, “It’s hard to describe the feeling of having the law of your state changed to say that you, what you know in your heart is true, that you are a full member of the state, and that your family is as good as any other family.
“And tomorrow, my family will gather for my niece’s college graduation party, and that’ll be a totally different day because we’ll get to talk about when our wedding will be and what it’ll look like, and what dress Jordan, our grand-niece, will wear as the flower girl. And that’s a moment I really thought would never come.”
That is what it is like when barriers are broken. The sun rises the next day and the world goes on just like before, and we should all feel a little bit better about ourselves.
It was thus when Lincoln freed the slaves, when Jackie Robinson played baseball, when an Irish Catholic became president, and when a black man became the U.S. president.
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READ MORE
Marriage Equality is a victory for us all
Church lost on gay marriage because they're wrong
The hypocrist of New York's state senators on gay marriage
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In all those cases, bigots protested the loudest and complained that the natural order had been overturned. They even cited the Bible, incredibly, as the reason to keep slavery.
The reality eventually hit home, however, that what Lincoln called the “better angels” of human nature took over and triumphed.
The notion of the Good Old Days, much beloved in many circles, never existed. Slavery, racism, No Irish Need Apply were part of those days too. Anti-gay discrimination was also rampant.
The founding fathers talked about a more perfect union, one that would bring a better America to the forefront, with all its faults the country we live in has brought that perfect union closer over the past 50 years.
And it will be the same now, except we will live in a more equal society where in New York consenting adults are free to marry and, hopefully, enjoy the same rights no matter their sexuality.
Let us hope it is not too long before the rest of the country follows suit, and discrimination on the matter of sexuality is forever buried.
New York has shown once again its strength is its diversity.
Hopefully the rest of the states will follow.
8 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Chiefjustice | Jul 01, 2011, 06:34 AM EDT
Nice HEADLINE But it also applys to the rest of the EMPIRE STATE... We should be able to Cut the bridges and let the City drift out to sea...
peterson | Jun 30, 2011, 09:07 PM EDT
Does that mean they won't have those disgusting parades anymore ??
SCVMal | Jun 30, 2011, 03:15 PM EDT
cillowen. I object to the cats marrying. Because your cat certainly isn't marrying our of love. It probably has none at home, obviously!
SCVMal | Jun 30, 2011, 03:12 PM EDT
Oh, Katie, Trealach. Just get rid of Freedom of the press... to serve your own narrow minds that don't have the where-with-all to read the topic before you read the article and then brazenly insult those who don't think as intolerable as you do. Get a life! Get Happy! Get real!
cillowen | Jun 30, 2011, 12:15 PM EDT
my male cat and neighbour's male seek a ny marry - any objections
barneyjo | Jun 30, 2011, 12:14 PM EDT
@katieherk and Trealach (and others) - An obvious question maybe, but if you are so offended by the content of this (and other) article(s) why do you read them if your sensitivities are thus easily offended? Or could it possibly be the case that you are disposed to seek excuses "just to be" offended in order that you can expound your own particular view(s) of the world? You do realise of course that the view you articulate; ie "Im right, you're wrong, get over it" is somewhat limited in its outlook and not likely to register on anyone's radar other than those with the same world view. Pity that!!
katieherk | Jun 30, 2011, 11:56 AM EDT
When is Irish Central going to quit glorifying gay marriage, which is disgusting, or gay this or sex that. We're all getting sick of reading this trash!! i know, I don't have to read it, but at one time I enjoyed all the different stories. Now it's nothing but junk and the writers are no better!!
Trealach | Jun 30, 2011, 11:51 AM EDT
Another mentally challenged bent journalist putting out more bent CRAP!!