Cast members of SESAME STREET

On Monday, February 23, a gaggle of stars came out to perform at the Gershwin Theater in “Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert,” a benefit concert for the following organizations: Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality, and The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force. For more information, visit DefyingInequality.Com.

Personally, I was thrilled that cast members of SESAME STREET took part in the event. I remember watching the premiere episode of the television program—over and over again. If there ever was a show that embraced diversity, SESAME STREET is the one. It was a groundbreaking show in 1969 and it is still breaking ground today! Maybe they’ll help save a few kids from getting beaten up (or worse).

Cyndi Lauper offered a nice piece of wisdom:

The truth is: if one person doesn’t have any rights, nobody does.

One of the highlights of my evening, however, was listening to Sally Struthers tell Fox News about how she married her dog (“He’s my best friend.”). And she said (although I may be paraphrasing, I didn’t write it down), “If I can marry my dog, why can’t a man marry a man?” Gotta love her!

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53 images.

Wednesday evening, I was at the first New York City demonstration against  California’s Proposition 8 (for those of you who do not know, California voted in the November 4 election to ban LGBT marriages). The Mormons spent $22 million on a their heterosexist campaign!

These are images from Wednesday night’s demonstration and march. According to organizers, 13,000 people showed up for the march. Whoopi Goldberg, Mark Shaiman (HAIRSPRAY), Gerard Allesandrini (FORBIDDEN BROADWAY), comedian Judy Gold and others where there to show their support.

And… oh, yes… my favorite chant of the night: 

“What do we want?!”

“Dinner!”

“When do we want it?!”

“Now!”

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104 images.

P.S. The View used one of these photos today for their first “Hot Topic.” Click here to watch the clip.