Friday Dance Party: Hold This Moment Fast

Prop 8 has been struck down, at least for now, and that is cause for considerable celebration this week. Judge Vaughn Walker, according to the legal minds who studied his 135 page decision, made concise arguments supporting his ruling, points which are likely to stand up to appeal. They better, as the framers of Prop H8 are prepping to take the question all the way to the Supreme Court (they have one stop along the way, so it will be several years before the Supremes have to decide whether to hear the matter). In the meantime, they continue to trot out that old warhorse idea that, because the measure passed a state-wide referendum, it should remain law, regardless of whose rights it tramples.

These are the same folks, I'll remind you, who had absolutely no problem with the Supreme Court deciding that George W. Bush would be our president, though he lost the popular vote. Back then, there was no talk of "activist judges" or "majority rules." It's very true that, as I wailed a while ago, every single time the issue of gay civil rights has been put before the general public, the public votes them down. Every single time. This is nothing new; anytime the Majority votes on the rights of a Minority, the bigotry of that majority will be revealed. Thank goodness there are members of the judiciary who actually read and understand the U.S. Constitution, and recognize that it is unconstitutional for the majority to remove the personal civil rights of a minority, or of anyone.

Some Prop H8ers are even stooping so low as to accuse Judge Walker of bias, as he is himself gay. They ignore this guy's long record of anti-gay activity, including a high-profile case he argued all the way to the Supreme Court. The Olympics organization was peeved that the Gay Olympics was using their name (though they had no problem with Doggie Olympics or Nebraska Rat Olympics), and Walker lead the charge to force a name change (ever hear of the Gay Games? You can thank Judge Walker for that zippy title).


Anyhoo, we'll celebrate the destruction of Prop 8 while it lasts. This week's Dance Party celebrates gay marriage, though the couple at its center do not have the legal right to marry. La Cage Aux Folles has seen three Broadway productions since its premiere in the early 80s, winning the Tony all three times. The current revival appears to have more staying power than the last one, with TV star Kelsey Grammer and scene-stealer Douglas Hodge playing the middle-aged couple whose relationship is tested in the show.


Hodge won the Tony this year, and here is the clip from the revival which was shown at the awards. It's a treat to see this rather subdued little number, when there are many more flamboyant moments from La Cage which are usually showcased. (I could do without the drag queens prancing down the aisle at the end of the song, but whatever.) In celebration of gay marriage, in all its forms, enjoy: