Let 'Em Eat Cake!

Some fun news from the celebration of the gay-marriage ruling on the West Coast from my pal Jim Key, of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center:

Last night a sea of exuberant people filled San Vicente Blvd. in West Hollywood, just south of Santa Monica Blvd, to claim a slice of history for themselves. Nearly a thousand people -- people from all over Southern California -- captured the world’s attention as media outlets from around the globe recorded their elation to the California Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.
"Today, the Supreme Court said, “'let them eat cake!' And, so, we shall." exclaimed Lorri L. Jean, chief executive officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, who, along with her partner of 16 years, cut a slice of the beautifully adorned wedding cake that was topped with a rainbow and a California flag.
In an emotional ceremony, the flag of the "golden state" was carried on stage to join the flags of the other six governments, both state and national, that already recognize the marriage of same-sex couples. Representatives from various LGBT and legal organizations, including Lambda Legal, NCLR and government officials and clergy all elicited cheers, and even some tears. Overflowing with renewed hope for the future, the evening came to a close with the Gay Men’s Chorus singing "It’s a Brand New Day."

I would have loved to have been there to join in the festivities. Michael and I had our own little celebration here in the (212), having dinner at a "real" restaurant for a change (the rather delicious Belgian bistro Markt on Sixth Avenue). What a glorious 24 hours it's been.

But by this afternoon when I picked up the local New York papers, I got a sobering reminder of the struggle that still exists thanks to our so-called "conservative" adversaries. While The New York Times and nearly every other major paper had the California court ruling story on Page 1 -- frequently as the lead or above the fold -- or at least covered in detail, Rupert Murdoch's N.Y. Post treated the landmark ruling as a one-inch brief on page 5. Yet a story about the arrest of a gay cop accused of molesting a young boy -- naturally -- warranted a HUGE (3-line) HEADLINE detailed article and accompanying photo. That's what I call news judgment: giving your readers what they want.