Happy Birthday America! - Ellen Dolgen
Search
Close this search box.

Happy Birthday America!

Inew york gay marriage

In loving memory of the victims in Orlando, I am re-publishing this blog.

On Friday night, June 24, 2011, my husband and I were in New York. We held our iPhones close to keep an eye on the same-sex marriage vote being taken by the New York State Senate.  As the Associated Press app alert appeared on the iPhone screen, announcing that the bill passed by a 33-29 margin, we jumped up out of our seats with joy!

Republicans and Democrats joined together to push past politics of old. My favorite quote was from Senator Mark J. Grisanti, a Republican from Buffalo, “I apologize for those who feel offended,” Mr. Grisanti said, adding, “I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is, the same rights that I have with my wife.”

That Sunday, following the vote, my husband and I joined Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg as we walked from 35th Street and 5th Avenue to Greenwich Village in the Gay Pride Parade.  My feet were dancing to the music, my eyes streaming with tears as we passed the tens of thousands of people lining the streets cheering and thanking Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg (one a Democrat and the other a Democrat turned Republican turned Independent). Mothers, fathers, grandparents, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers, people of different nationalities, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds all walked the street – all with happiness in their hearts. Many had tears in their eyes or were crying with joy. I couldn’t help but wonder what it must have been like – just one week earlier, not being able to marry the person that you love.   I could not fathom the dimension of heartache, devastation and negative stigma this injustice had caused – so unimaginable and outrageous.

Hats off to New York State for being the largest state to affirm these basic rights. I am hoping that more states follow and reconfirm one of the principles upon which our nation was built: that all men and women are created equal and therefore entitled to the same rights and freedoms.

A very dear friend and mentor of mine taught me to try to make every day my birthday because on your birthday you celebrate yourself. With this beautiful nugget of wisdom in mind, I want to celebrate freedom, liberty and justice for all – every day!

Happy Birthday, America!

Share:

1 thought on “Happy Birthday America!”

  1. What a great day that was! Truly the best of America! …..one nation under God, with liberty and justice for ALL.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get The Latest Updates

Subscribe To MENOPAUSE MONDAYS® Blog

No spam, notifications only about new products, updates.

Social Media

Categories

On Key

Related Posts

Is There a Menopause Education Gap??

By now, we all (hopefully!!) know about the gender wage gap. “Equal Pay for Equal Work!” An infamous rallying cry became a movement’s slogan and entered our lives as a common phrase. But the wage gap was introduced in the 1860s… *cough* sorry, just typing that feels dusty… and it’s still not filled!!!!!!!!!!! It’s about

Birth Control and Menopause

If your cycle has been harder to keep up with than a spin class, you have intolerable menstrual cramps, or you are trying to prevent unwanted pregnancies… chances are you’re no stranger to birth control! For many women, birth control plays a leading role in their bodies’ performance– whether for pain or pleasure. So, what

My Recipe for the Best Thanksgiving Ever!

For this special edition of Menopause Mondays, let’s focus on how YOU can celebrate the day.  You may spend hours obsessing over the turkey today, but hey, let’s keep the cooking tips in the kitchen – stuffing a turkey with apples and oranges is great but definitely not a remedy for other kinds of moisture

family in kitchen cooking Thanksgiving dinner

Turning Hot Flashes into Thanksgiving Turkey Triumphs!

Welcome to another Menopause Mondays® , where we’re turning up the heat, quite literally, as we explore the unique connection between hot flashes and cooking Thanksgiving turkey. Today, we’re serving up three tips to help you master the art of managing hot flashes while keeping your turkey perfectly juicy this holiday season. Tip 1: The

WordPress PopUp Plugin
Scroll to Top

If you want to educate your employees, colleagues, or friends about menopause, look no further!

Share via
Copy link