180 degrees

Matthew Hall presents a first-hand look at world events from a different angle.

Finally, they do

28 June 2011, 12:56 PM | Source: Matthew Hall, SBS

After being together for 61 years, they can now finally make respectable men of each other.

Finally, they do

Finally, they do

5

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Richard Dorr and John Mace fell in love in the 1950s but it took until last weekend for New York state law to allow them to marry.

Late on Friday night, as the public gallery chanted “USA! USA!”, New York's same-sex marriage bill passed – just – by a 33-29 margin.

Four Republican senators joined all but one Democrat in backing the new law in a wily piece of politicking by new governor Andrew Cuomo, who made the legislation a priority of the first session of his first term.

One Republican who crossed the floor, Mark Grisanti, said he opposed gay marriage for religious reasons but could not deny equal rights to gay couples: “I cannot legally come up with an argument against same-sex marriage. Who am I to say that someone does not have the same rights that I have with my wife, who I love, or to have the 1,300-plus [State] rights that I share with her?"

Another, Roy McDonald from upstate New York, was more direct.

“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing,” McDonald said.

“You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it; I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing.”

New York City is already planning a marketing rollout to attract gay couples to the city to get married, a move Mayor Michael Bloomberg claims will boost the local economy.

Of course, not everyone is happy.

The Catholic Church said it was “deeply disappointed” while the lone Democrat to vote against the bill, Senator Ruben Diaz, said, “I will, never, ever, accept gay marriage.”

Many critics pointed to the bible and claimed marriage was the exclusive domain of a man and a woman. The same men and women who often lie, cheat, have children outside their marriage, and get divorced and remarry countless times.

But Richard Dorr, 84, and John Mace, 91, won’t care about the critics. After all, for most of their lives they have been told their love is wrong. All 61 years of it.

"It was just that we had to be together,” said Dorr.

And amen to that.

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Your Comments

At last

Darren Schwartz - from Australia, 2 years ago

Simon I want to thank you for your comments, yours is a truly Christian position with love and compassion as your foundation. As for Lucy’s comments… I’m a gay man brought up by “normal” straight people in a very dysfunctional environment. I’m in a monogamous, stable and very happy 7 year relationship and we are only waiting for Australia to catch up with other enlightened states and countries and legalise same sex marriage. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait 60 years !

you can't be serious lucy

melissa - from frankston, 2 years ago

my parents divorced when I was child (isn't the church against that?) and remarried so ultimately I ended up with 2 mums and 2 dads, I have one gay uncle and 2 of my mums closest friends are a gay couple. So to answer your question Lucy - 2 mums and 2 dads with gay friends and family = "normal" children. My sisters and I are heterosexual,happy, healthy, law abiding, university educated, employed members of society who spend their spare time doing volunteer work.

"normal" straight parents

beau - from Armadale, 2 years ago

hey ppl, all gay people are brought up by you so called "normal" straight parents. do you have any idea about that how many children are living in dysfunctional "normal" straight family and they are suffering? grow up!

ms

lucy - from melbourne, 2 years ago

ths is sad, think about children, how can they grow up normal, special when they have two mums or dads in the family, what they will be? gay? please don't involve the children, if you want to be siner,keep for youself.

In Support

Simon - from Sydney, 2 years ago

I am pleased to see reason prevail. I am a Christian and firmly believe that the biblical model for union is between a man and a woman. But I also acknowledge that most people do not share this belief and they deserve recognition under the law of the land. As a Christian I will continue to reach out to all people in love and generosity regardless of sexual orientation, race, religion or any other discriminatory factor. It saddens me that the 'church' can not share this biblical approach.