Edie Windsor, Whose Same-Sex Marriage Fight Led to Landmark Ruling, Is Dead at 88

Sorry to hear about the passing of Edie Windsor, who I had the pleasure of meeting accosting in 2013. The New York Times has a beautiful obituary, which explains how her simple wish for equal treatment under the law after her partner of more than 45 years died helped pave the way to marriage equality for us all. RIP. Read HERE.

Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, issued the following statement:

“Today, we lost one of this country’s great civil rights pioneers, Edie Windsor. The wheels of progress turn forward because of people like Edie who are willing to stand up in the face of injustice.

“One simply cannot write the history of the gay rights movement without reserving immense credit and gratitude for Edie Windsor. We were proud to stand with Edie when she took her fight on behalf of same-sex couples everywhere to the Supreme Court.

“We mourn her today, as do all whom she touched in her incredible life. Edie always urged others not to ‘postpone joy.’ So even as we mourn this terrible loss, we also celebrate Edie, who set an example for all of us to follow.”

Here Come the Brides

While I'm naturally thrilled that 87-year-old gay-rights icon Edie Windsor has found happiness -- she married Judith Kasen, 51, whom she first agreed to get to know less than one year ago -- there's still that uptight mother in me that says: Can't people just see each other anymore? Read all about the whirlwind romance HERE. (Was that crack about people only wanting pictures about me?!) 

You've Come a Long Way, USA!

We might just make it after all

This map is something I never thought I would live to see -- with Florida now in the fold, 36 states and the District of Columbia now have marriage equality with 70 percent of Americans residing in them -- yet my home state remains embarrassingly backward. Let's get this over with, people! 

Cheers to 10 Years!

Via Freedom to Marry:

Please join us in celebrating ten years of the freedom to marry, which began in Massachusetts on May 17, 2004 after a landmark court decision. We’ll commemorate Freedom to Marry’s success with a theatrical showcase and cocktail reception.

MONDAY, APRIL 28
7:00-11:00PM AT SIGNATURE THEATRE
480 WEST 42ND STREET

Information and tickets HERE.

With Master of Ceremonies CYNTHIA NIXON
SHOWCASE WILL FEATURE:
Debut film adaptation of original poem “Until We Could,” written in celebration of Freedom to Marry's 10th Anniversary, by RICHARD BLANCO 2012 Presidential Inaugural Poet
Film by Sundance directors DAVID LOWERY & YEN TAN (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Pit Stop)
with performances by BEN FOSTER & ROBIN WRIGHT (Lone Survivor, House of Cards)
Original composition by Tony Award nominee ANDREW LIPPA (I Am Harvey Milk, Big Fish, The Addams Family) performed by Tony Award winner LAURA BENANTI (Gypsy, The Sound of Music Live!)
Choreographed dance by MacArthur Fellow KYLE ABRAHAM performed by his modern dance company Abraham.In.Motion
Special remarks from political strategist and commentator MARGARET HOOVER
Special Thanks to Our Producer PETER SPEARS

Poll Finds Even Majority of People in States Without Marriage Equality Favor It

If THIS stat doesn't shut people up, nothing will.

And Hawaii Makes 16 (Plus D.C.)

Hawaii -- whose same-sex marriage license request inspired the Defense of Marriage Act -- has offically come full circle!

Via the ACLU:

Hawaii’s legislature today approved a bill providing for marriage for same-sex couples in the state, and Governor Neil Abercrombie is expected to sign it within a few days. Below is a statement from Selene Keye, American Civil Liberties Union national marriage campaign manager:  

"With the Aloha State's passage of this bill, we have much to celebrate, as 16 states now embrace the freedom to marry. We have made incredible progress in bringing marriage equality to more states, and our fight continues, with crucial ballot initiatives ahead and important legal cases advancing through the courts. The ACLU is proud to have been a part of the LGBT rights movement since 1936 and we will continue to work alongside our partners – in courtrooms and at ballot boxes – until the freedom to marry is extended to all 50 states." Below is a statement from Lois Perrin, ACLU of Hawaii legal director and founding member of Hawaii United for Marriage:  

“This is a joyous occasion because Hawaii is a state that prides itself for its aloha, diversity, kindness and openness. On December 2, 2013, when the new Hawaii law takes effect, our gay brothers, sisters, neighbors and friends will finally be able to marry the person they love.”

Edie Windsor Honored at PFLAG Gala in NYC

I all but had to hold her down to get her to pose for this!

Had the privilege and extreme pleasure of meeting Edie Windsor at the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) awards dinner last night in Tribeca, where she was given the "Stay Close" Individual Leadership Award for her historic role as lead plaintiff in the case that brought down the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. Windsor is well into her 80s, but is as fesity a broad as you'll ever meet -- love the New Yawk accent! -- and had the house in tears with her sweet acceptance speech in which she recalled her late spouse, Thea Spyer. 

Young playwright Daniel Pearle took home the "Stay Close" Entertainment Leadership Award -- and here I thought he was a behaded WSJ reporter -- and producer Daryl Roth received the "Stay Close" Family Leadership Award, which was fittingly given to her by her gay son. (He was a hoot -- and his recent marriage is now fully legal thanks to Edie.) David Hyde Pierce made a great master of ceremonies, with personal stories about his partner of 25 years and then moving the "lunch with Edie" from the silent auction table to the main stage (he got $25,000 from someone!). Later, Harriet Harris had the crowd in hysterics by performing "Where Did I Go Wrong?" -- as the mother of a gay son -- from the upcoming show "It Shoulda Been You." A fabulous night for a great cause. Many thanks to lead sponsor JetBlue for its involvement in the cause as well as including me in the festivities.

V.A. to Give Spousal Benefits to Gays, Citing Court Ruling

Via NYT: In a letter, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said President Obama had directed the executive branch to stop obeying a statute that limits such benefits to spouses “of the opposite sex.” Read HERE.

No Putting a Finger in This Dyke

Pennsylvania Has First Gay Wedding as County Defies Same-Sex Marriage Ban

First Ohio crumples to the overturning of DOMA, Missouri's reconsidering things and now Pennsylvania gives way. Maybe this will be fait accompli in my lifetime after all.  Read HERE.

Federal Judge: Ohio Must Recognize Same-Sex Marriage Performed in Maryland

A great day for America -- Justice Antonin Scalia knew this was going to happen:

A federal judge in Ohio ordered state officials Monday to recognize the marriage of two men that was performed in Maryland on the death certificate of an Ohio resident in hospice care who the judge says “is certain to die soon.”

“The end result here and now is that the local Ohio Registrar of death certificates is hereby ORDERED not to accept for recording a death certificate for John Arthur that does not record Mr. Arthur’s status at death as ‘married’ and James Obergefell as his ‘surviving spouse,’” 

Judge Timothy Black wrote in granting the couple a temporary restraining order Monday. The order is in effect until 5 p.m. Aug. 5, unless the court extends the order at a later date. 

“By treating lawful same sex marriages differently than it treats lawful opposite sex marriages,” the judge concluded, Ohio’s 2004 constitutional amendment banning recognition of same-sex couples’ marriages and Ohio’s statute addressing the same issue “likely violate[] the United States Constitution.” 

The couple’s attorney, Al Gerhardstein, said in a statement, “This order is a major step on the march toward marriage equality in Ohio.”

If you haven't watched the video of these two men getting married, you should check it out. It'll make you feel good.

E-Book on Gay Marriage Rulings Now Available

The "definitive story of the struggle over same-sex marriage," by New York Times Supreme Court correspondent Adam Liptak is now available as a Kindle Single for $1.99 HERE.

Check This Out

From the Facebook page of my friend Ken in Los Angeles:

Just a little media coverage of the marriages happening at West Hollywood Library. #gaymarrriage #westhollywoodlibrary #weho #gay #media #Instagood #westhollywood

Deportations, Stopped

Gay Married Man in Florida Is Approved for Green Card

Thrilling to see in print. Congrats to all parties involved, especially my pal Lavi Soloway, who has fought tirelessly for this to become a reality.

NYT reports:

An American man in Florida and his husband, who is from Bulgaria, have become the first same-sex married couple to be approved for a permanent resident visa, an immigration milestone that comes after the Supreme Court struck down a federal law against same-sex marriage.

Keep reading HERE!

The Be-All and 'End'-All?

Let's not get carried away, boo.

Page 1 Consider (06/27)

Slippery Slope

 The second the Supreme Court struck down DOMA this is what my friend David did:

 YAY! I'm now married to my dog, Spot. Now where's the damn cat!

Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA, Ignores Prop 8

I guess I should just be jumping for joy, but talk about a pussy decision. The court still hasn't decided if we have a fundamental right to marry. And while striking down the so-called Defense of Marriage Act is huge -- and the beginning of something big -- today's two "rulings" said this: It's up to the states to decide if we have a right to marry. And if a state says yes, it's a violation under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution to disparage it. But when a state said no -- as in California, where they voted against same-sex marriage -- the Supreme Court decided not to weigh in or respect the state's right to vote against it. (Huh?) It makes no sense -- well, other than to have the most narrow ruling possible -- but woo-hoo! We "won"! Read HERE.

Missing Husband

David and Jason, in closer times

David and Jason Spend Their Sixth Anniversary Apart, Separated by 6,000 Miles and DOMA

The DOMA Project alerts me to another example of how the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" treats same-sex couples as inferior to their opposite-sex compatriots. Poor Jason has become so despondent that he's developed an addiction to Crest White Strips. Stop the deportations!