onemonkeyshow

Last night we attended “Defying Inequality: the Broadway Concert” – a celebrity benefit for marriage equality.  First, let me point out that this show was so packed full of performances and presenters/speakers that it was 4 HOURS LONG!!  It opened with a live performance of Marc Shaiman’s “Proposition 8 The Musical” and never lost steam from there.  I gave a personal standing ovation to Keith Olbermann as he walked out to read some of his (now) famous editorial about gay marriage.  I was touched by the appearances of Jane Fonda, Cyndi Lauper and Rue McClanahan.  I was moved by Harvey Fierstein’s letter to the President which ended with “[Mr. President] we need a hero, and you were elected.”

Shoshana Bean with the Gay Men’s Chorus, a pregnant Kelli O’Hara, the cast of Sesame Street, Kerry Butler, and Stephen Schwartz all gave moving and memorable performances.  The cast from “Hair” rocked me out with “Let The Sun Shine”, and Mark Indelicato was just too darn cute.  I laughed my butt off to Bebe Neuworth singing Musical MadLibs to “All That Jazz.”  It was a fantasy performance in support of the civil rights battle of my lifetime.  A beautiful evening (despite the cast of “The Little Mermaid” and an odd performance by Lynda Carter), and one I was so glad we were able to attend – even if we were in the second to last row!  Definite shout to Purple Haze and their show-stopping dance number (Beyonce, watch out).

There are 1,138 rights that gays and lesbians are currently denied because we cannot marry.  Keith and I have a Civil Union – but even that isn’t enough.  If some of us don’t have equal rights, do any of us?