Cast of “The Normal Heart” Join NY Marriage Equality Campaign (VIDEO)

The cast of the hit Broadway show “The Normal Heart” have added their voices to the Human Rights Campaign’s New Yorkers for Marriage Equality initiative.

Starring Ellen Barkin, Patrick Breen, John Benjamin Hickey, Luke Macfarlane, Joe Mantello, Lee Pace, Jim Parsons and Wayne Wilcox among several other high-profiled names, the play tells the story of a group of friends who refused the silence of politicians, doctors and the press in the face of the 1980s AIDS epidemic. The show runs through until July 10.

Watch the video below:

A Quinnipiac poll released last week confirms record support for marriage equality in the state at 58% of respondents favoring marriage equality.

Previous polls have also suggested 58% support marriage equality in the state.

A recent survey by Gannett’s Albany Bureau suggests that the fate of gay marriage in New York rides on how eight as yet undecided senators vote if and when a measure comes to the floor in the Senate. Read more here.

Governor Ander M. Cuomo has made passing a marriage equality bill a priority, but the legislative session ends June 20 and so far not a single Republican supporter has been found in the Senate where a similar measure was defeated in 2009. Bipartisan support will be needed if the bill is to pass the GOP-controlled chamber this year.

In private Cuomo is said to be reaching out to Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike to try and ensure the legislation will pass.

For previous coverage of efforts to legalize marriage equality in New York, please click here.

Image taken from the HRC video under fair use terms, no infringement intended.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Norma V.

3:03AM PDT on Jun 10, 2011

Narrow minds and closed hearts want to keep humans from celebrating our diversity. Get past the homophobia, please.

send a green star

Sharon H.

3:44PM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

@Linda Tonner
How sad is that? That breaks my heart. These are people who only want what the rest of us have...the right to be EQUAL!! Why are these bigots so determined to destroy some people's lives and judge them? How does it affect their personal lives? It doesn't! The only reason it does is because they make it part of their lives by bringing it up over and over. THEY choose to keep it in their lives....not the other way around.

Marilyn L.

3:41PM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Thanks

Linda T.

10:46AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Of course I was totally off subject, but I often feel a rant coming on when people who think that they know better try to stop others from doing what they want! Of course same sex people should marry! So many of them have been together for years, are in love, warm and caring and often have children. If these people don't have the same rights as others, it's a possibility that there will be no visits allowed in intensive care, because they are not next of kin, as happened to a lesbian couple with 3 children a few years back. The ill woman died alone, while her lifelong love sat with the children in the waiting room. They never even got to say goodbye!

10:34AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Once again, religion rears it's ugly head! It's obvious that that is the problem. These superstitious zealots are afraid of not getting to 'the good stuff' up in the sky if they don't stick to their crazy ideas of what is, or isn't moral, or right, or even just OK.

I'm SO glad I believe that when I kick the bucket, that's it! I have no fears of any kind of judgement. I judge myself enough already HA! I will donate my body to the hospital that cured my cancer and they can mutilate me as they wish. I just hope that there will be a few bits and pieces, kidneys, corneas, skin for grafting, that won't be too old or warn out to be useful for donation. When one donates, the hospital is obliged to cremate the remains, so, since I think the funeral industry is a great big rip off, it will save my daughter spending money she doesn't have, since my ex drank all our savings long ago and I've never been able to catch up!

Glen P.

9:52AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

58% of New Yorkers support marriage equality for same gender couples, and it's safe to say another 20% are only a few short years away from agreeing as they become more educated and learn more about the reality of the issues and who gay people really are.

And yet the Republicans are THAT beholden to the tiny minority of far right wing religious zealots who'd rather burn in hell than see marriage equality for gay couples be enacted. And Republicans will oblige them, in clear violation of our great Constitution which forbids advancing any religious beliefs in our laws.

Valarie S.

9:26AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

great news!

Roxane C.

6:53AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Advancing a little farther each day.

KS G.

5:15AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Marianne C.

4:40AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

How can anyone who believes in human rights be against Gay marriage?