Gregory G. Allen's Blog, page 23

When Murder Can Be Hysterical

There is nothing like being asked by a friend to join you at the theater when you really have no idea what you’re seeing. I knew it was a show at the uptown Second Stage Theatre, but that was about it.
What a treat I received with Murder for Two!
This musical mixes an Agatha Christie type murder mystery with a Carol Burnett sketch comedy routine. Two actors tell the story of an investigator who arrives at the scene of a crime to decide ‘who-done-it’ when meeting all the suspects at a party. And all the suspects are played by one actor. As an author, I loved that the premise was set around the killing of…an author.
I have always enjoyed Jeff Blumenkrantz from How to Succeed… to A Class Act (to many other shows). But I never realized how incredibly talented he is until after this show. He plays every suspect, switching back and forth (many times in the middle of a song) - male and female without ever changing a costume.  I was completely exhausted for him by the end of the 90 minute show. (And I thought doing Das Barbecue was a hard show! Wow!) I left with such a newfound appreciation for him.
The writing teamI don’t know Brett Ryback as he has done much regional theater work, but I think New York has a new star on their hands. Charming, talented, perfect comic timing, amazing voice – and a wonderful ‘yin’ to Blumenkrantz’s ‘yang’.
This musical comedy is cleverly written by Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair. Both wrote the book and Kinosian supplies the score which covers a wide range of old-time genres which Blair has a knack for writing perfect rhymes that makes this former BMI Musical Theatre writer smile.

The two actors are also composers in their own right, so the sense of the evening has a feel of actually watching the creative team who put the entire thing together. (Almost like when Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen allowed actors across the world to start playing ‘them’ in [title of show].) While I loved the actors by night’s end, I actually felt I was getting to know Kinosian and Blair as well; something that doesn’t happen every time you see a musical. (Many people forget the writing team.)

The set design by Beowulf Borittis kept simple in this musical, yet every single piece on the stage is used at some point. (I love the nod to the board game CLUE.) I would not want to give anything away, but let me send out kudos to the sound designer Jill B C Du Boff who (for me) was another character in the show. Scott Schwartz has directed this 90 minutes as a face-paced romp that never let’s up or allows an audience to even think of an intermission.

And did I mention the main piece on the stage is a grand piano. A piano that both men play…yes, they are the ‘pit’ in this musical. It is stunning to watch the choreography as they switch back and forth to accompany themselves or each other, often in the middle of a song. And when they sit and play together and smile at the audience, we are pulled right in as they say to us “isn’t this the best time you’ve had in a long time?”
Yes. I think it is.
Thank you, Second Stage for another great night of theater! The show only runs until August 25th. Get to the upper West side now! 

When Personal Views Play Out on A Global Stage

The situation in Russia over LGBT rights has been playing out in my mind so much lately. From the proposed boycotts, the Olympics, the views of Putin, to the citizens taking the law into their own hands and harassing and beating people assumed to be gay – it sometimes seems unbelievable this is happening in 2013.
Depending on where you live, you are able to take so many things for granted. Walking safely down the street as a couple is one of them. I will never forget the first time I was walking down the street in Rehoboth Beach at night holding the hand of my partner, and hurled a gay slur that not only stung, but caused real fear.  As I watch more and more states in the US putting equality over hate, I am overcome with joy. But when a country like Russia allows for citizens to seek out gays to humiliate, beat, kill or turn over to the authorities, my heart is broken.
When I visited St. Petersburg, Russia in 2008, luckily my partner and I traveled with a female couple and even then we felt the need to 'pretend' to be heterosexual couples. I now realize I could never safely go back to that country. When you travel abroad, we are always taught we abide by the laws of that country. The same when visitors come to America. And yet I’m reading where the LGBT community is being told to visit Russia next year during the Olympics to make it ‘the gayest Olympics ever’. That doesn't seem wise to me. To blatantly break a law of a country in which you do not reside doesn't seem logical.
Instead, I believe the world needs to view this as human rights – not gay rights. As Americans deal with ‘walking while black’, I also feel no person should be attacked for simply walking down the street and to have the appearance of being gay (and in Russia’s case, promoting pedophilia which makes my skin crawl to equate the two). No matter where one may stand on the issue of gay marriage in your own country, what gives people the right to treat other humans in this way? History has shown it time and again and until the world holds a country accountable, a boycott of vodka or a small group of protesters are not going to match the power of an entire country.
I've heard it said if gay Olympians do not travel there next year, they will be seen as cowards. I disagree.  Fighting authorities/the law in a country in which you do not live is very different from being a citizen of that country and taking a stand. Naturally I feel terrible for those Olympians that have spent their lives training for their big moment and now that moment will be spent in a country that not only views them as less than equal, but can arrest them for simply being gay.
So what are they to do? What are we to do as we look towards winter of 2014 and how are countries that allow same-sex marriage supposed to protect their Olympians? 
I wish I had an answer. I wish there was an easy decision to be made. But I feel this will not be easy for anyone involved. NBC and advertisers that support the Olympics will be viewed as anti-human rights. Countries that have legalized same-sex marriage will seem hypocritical if attending the Olympics. Personal views on both sides will play out in a way that will only cause strife for many involved – and give television panels hours worth of talking points.
But in the end, human rights are human rights. I realize I still live in a state that doesn’t see me as equal, but at least I don’t think I’m going to be beat up on the street because of who I am. And if I am beat in a hate crime, I want to believe the laws and leaders in my country will be on my side.

This blog offers no answers. Only hope that countries will not put their heads in the sand and pretend nothing is happening.

Pippin Carves Out His Niche in the World

As a proud member of the theater community, I must admit I’ve never seen the musical “Pippin” on stage. Sure, I know the music (we sang it in third grade choir and I sang “With You” at a wedding in the early 90s), I saw the TV version with ‘The Greatest American Hero’ in the 80s – but I’ve never really thought “oh, I need to see that when it’s playing somewhere locally”. It is truly a concept musical where players take on the roles to give a tale to an audience. Songs don’t always have as much to do with the plot as they do with giving a theme/message/lesson. When it appeared in the early 70s, it made a statement about war and where our country was at that moment.
The revival that opened three months ago on Broadway and won numerous Tony awards is full of the magic and miracles mentioned in the opening song. What a production! What a cast! Director Diane Paulus has a vision of the journey she wanted to take her audience on and boy…does she take us! While she still incorporates the legendary Bob Fosse moves (via her choreographer Chet Walker), she has ‘tamed down” the sex and made it a family-friendly circus with the aid of Gypsy Snider. The environment they have created with spectacle and breath-holding stunts done by performers can match the falling chandelier a block over with no problem what so ever.
So much has been said about a woman playing the Leading Player – both from purist and others. (I actually spoke to a female director friend of mine who did the same thing several years ago when she directed it.)  There really is no reason why this role must be male or female. Patina Miller is an incredible ring master in this circus: singing, dancing, doing stunts and then showing some great acting chops towards the final scenes of the play. Matthew James Thomas is an adorable Pippin (that has gone blonde since starting the show and looks much more like a boy band member now). He has an incredible voice and makes us want to root for him on his quest to discover his purpose in life. I do wish the music director would not have been so lenient on back phrasing when he sings. We know these songs, so the fact he gets so behind the measure makes it sound like he is off. (Personal pet peeve, I’m sure – but it’s very noticeable.) It was wonderful to see Terrence Mann and real life wife Charlotte D’Amboise working together as Charles and Fastrada. I’ve always been a fan of both and they do not disappoint. (And they have plenty of examples of their own kind of magic acts throughout the show.)
Andrea Martin is fabulous in anything she does. The fact this 66 year old woman (my own mother turned 67 the day before I saw this, so that blew me away) can do ALL that she does in this show is incredible. And the audience knows it. Applause that goes on forever when her song ends with several jumping to their feet shows the appreciation for her work, as does the awards she has won for the show. But I have to say my favorite ‘secondary’ actor had to be Rachel Bay Jones as Catherine. What comic timing. What a beautiful voice. And what depth of acting to show a range of emotions needed by this character. I was blown away by her and wish she had been acknowledged more when it was awards time.
This is the most well known work of Roger O. Hirson who wrote the book. A story that draws from real life characters and spends its time teaching audiences while it teaches Pippin. Stephen Schwartz knows his way around great songs. He has proved it over and over. This score (naturally) speaks to the time it was written and has a real 70s sound, but he still gets the premise that by a second song in a show – we should know what the main character WANTS. With “Corner of the Sky” – we know exactly what Pippin is after: the universal theme of seeking out something different, something better. Striving to be extraordinary in an ordinary world. I see nothing wrong with that message. There is a nostalgic feeling for this piece with those that hold it near and dear to their heart (because they have done a college production or because they can sing every song). You get that sense from the moment the show starts and people are clapping and screaming for every single 'moment' when it starts. Thank you, Ms. Paulus for believing it was time audiences heard that message once again and for giving us your take on this forty year old story. 

Authors: My Amazing Amazon Free Promo

Last September, I tried my first free promotion on Amazon with my debut novel from 2011.
The book had been out for a year and I thought I'd see what all the talk was about running limited free access to a book. Several people will ask why authors do this and I think the answer depends on the person.

To gain new readers. Authors write because they want people to read. The hope is to find those people on kindle looking for free books and get them hooked on your writing style.To gain more sales. I know this may sound strange since it is free, but for authors will multiple books - the hope is a reader will look up their other books and buy another.To climb the Amazon chart and get noticed. There was a time this may have made sense, but it seems the Amazon landscape changes monthly and I'm not certain climbing a free ranking really does anything for an author any more.

Still, I thought I'd try it again with my 2nd novel that came out on 4/15/12. But this time, it was 4 & 16 that were important numbers. For another three days, I placed  Patchwork of Me  as a free download. I called it "Christmas in July" as I was giving away a gift (of a book that actually has Christmas in it), but in the end I was the one to gain a huge gift.
 So I wanted to share my findings with those authors reading my blog and who may be thinking of doing the same.I planned better this time out. I notified (a month early) some of the sites that promote free books. On top of this, I noticed by day two (with a google search) that my book was listed on another seven sites.The climb up the charts happened much more quickly this time than it did last fall. I used the same days (Thurs/Fri/Sat) and on the first day I went from 926 in all Kindle Free books to 145 by the end of the night. I went from #39 in Women's Fiction to #8. While I can't share the actual number of downloads, I surpassed the number of downloads from the 3 day promo in the fall in the first day this time.
I woke Friday morning to this.

I was #4 in Women's Fiction and was #116 in all Kindle Free Books. Just 16 from that 'elusive Top 100 Books'. Naturally the competitor in me wanting to get to that number, but I've learned the closer you get - the harder it is to make those rankings move. The top ones are hanging on tightly to their spots and I actually expected to wake and be higher than Friday night and not be at #4. The amount of downloads over night was a 14% jump from the previous night.
And then, like last fall, the climb changed and I assumed I had seen my best ranking as I watched it head the other way. Downloads slowed way down from the average it had been each hour. I managed to stay in the top 200 Kindle Free Books for a while and then it climbed back up to 345 through Friday night into Saturday morning. And yes, I slowed down my 'social media' sharing of the promotion. Did it! Made it into the top 100 Books
The final day, it is hard to describe what happened. By midmorning I had jumped 25% in downloads yet it didn't alter the rankings (which continued to climb but never over 350). Then throughout the afternoon, the downloads were coming fast and furious. It was back to the speed of day one and then surpassed the speed of that first day. I had three times as many downloads in day three as I had received in days one & two combined. By 3:30, I had done it - I had busted into the top 100 Free Kindle Books at #86.
The entire third day afternoon/evening was a complete whirlwind of activity. By midnight (NY time) of that last day of the promotion, I actually climbed even more to #25 Free in Kindle Store. And the rate of downloads per 1/2 hr was out of this world for this indie author. I was completely blown away! (If only Amazon allowed authors to share that info.) Knowing Amazon counts Pacific time, I did wake and grabbed this screen shot at 2:40 am (my time). 
There on the screen was my best ranking. #16 of all Free Kindle books and back in #4 in Women's Fiction.
My Best Ranking During The Promo



In the end; do I think it's worth it?
Absolutely! I do. I was able to reach readers that I would never be able to get otherwise. Sure, I made no money, but there are soooo many more people reading my words; my story. Just maybe they'll like it so much they'll try  Cool Side of the Pillow ,  Well With My Soul , or  Proud Pants . The entire three day promotion garnered an 86% increase in downloads from that of my last promotion in 2012 (and I thought I had done well THEN). By Sunday, it is all a blur, completely gone and I'm back up in the high numbers in the paid store.  I lost 10 twitter followers in the process - one of which started following me during the promo, but the ten probably got sick of my tweeting about the Free Book - but the loss was well worth it for this author wanting people to read what he has written. If 1/3 (or even less) of those downloads turn into reviews and/or new readers, I'll be thrilled!

Discussion of Summer Reads with YA Authors

Summer is the time when teens are out of school and to keep their minds working, many continue to read (some required reading, some for fun). I decided to reach out to two fellow ASD Publishing authors that both write YA novels to ask them some questions. Two wonderful women I've been able to 'virtual meet' all because of our shared love of writing (and yes...I'm also working on a YA novel...shhhhhh...don't tell anyone).

Meet Karen DelleCava and Selene Castrovilla!

Greg: Thank you both for taking the time during this warm summer week in the Northeast (great time to curl up with a book) to join me on my blog. Let's start with your favorite all time YA book.

Karen: I scanned my bookcases and so many titles jumped out and shouted, "Pick me!" I love YA novels that march fearlessly into difficult, taboo territories and give voice to a teen who may have thought they were all alone dealing with the same kind of issues. I can't choose one all time favorite but I'll say that Laurie Halse Anderson's and Chris Crutcher's brilliant novels never disappoint. 

Selene: The Catcher in the Rye. I read it when I was about nine, because Tiger Beat Magazine listed it as my idol Parker Stevenson's favorite book. It was impossible not to feel Holden Caulfield's loneliness and pain - his yearing for acceptance and love. I completely identified with it. Teens are struggling to find themselves and their place in the world, and The Catcher in the Rye helped me do that. I wasn't alone at being alone. This theme carries through in my novel, Saved by the Music . 

Greg: Awesome! Can you talk about the state of YA novels today?
Karen: Back in the day, I relied on a friend's breathless recommendation: "You have to read this book!" At school visits, I meet students who get pumped up about a book by hearing about it from friends, their school librarian and teachers. Word of mouth is still gold and today the Internet makes mining that much easier. Goodreads and YA bloggers connect readers with similar tastes and tons of breathless recommendations from those who've discovered a YA treasure.

Selene: I don’t remember anyone using the term “YA books” when I was growing up. Books were books. I like that teens have their own category, but everything is over-labeled, in my opinion. Why can’t an adult enjoy and identify a book about a teenager? They were once one, and I’ll wager it was the toughest time in their lives. YA books – and books in generally – are up against so many more distractions from when I was a teen. Social media, video games, twenty-billion cable stations, and of course texting...All of these distractions vie for teens’ attention. That’s why I wanted my books to be available for download. Today’s teens read most things electronically, whether we like it or not. We have to make sure our books are available for them on their terms.
Greg: I'm amazed by the diversity of themes and issues covered in YA. What are your thoughts?
Karen: YA authors must tap into the uncertainty, inexperience and raw emotions of the teen years with brutal honestly and at times a touch of humor. When they do, the work will resonate with teen and teen-at-heart readers. In A Closer Look , 14 year old Cassie has alopecia areata, a hair loss disease, which strikes during her first budding romance. The novel also explores the universal need to fit in. I do not have AA but I had an accident with boiling water as a kid and know what it feels like to be painfully self-conscious and uncomfortable in my own skin. Teen readers who write to me always ask if I have alopecia--guess I did something right.

Selene: To me, the biggest theme in YA is coming of age: alienation and trying to fit in, feeling somehow wrong but not knowing how to fix the problem, grief over loss of innocence, and trying to cope in a world where anything can happen. My novel Saved by the Music addresses the dilemma of not fitting in, and the measures one girl takes to try and be popular and the universal problem of loneliness. I think all good YA literature addresses teen angst. The trick is to be real, because teens can spot phoniness a mile away. When I write my novels I go back to being a teen and write from her perspective, and frankly, it’s not that far a journey into my psyche because I still have so many unresolved issues. The other theme I identified so strongly with as a teen was trying to function in an unpredictable world. How could I feel safe when at any moment, anything could happen? This is the theme in The Girl Next Door.
Greg: Do you find the time of year has any effect on the reading of YA? (Is summer stronger than the school year?)

Karen: With all the enthusiastic teen librarians, Goodreads, countless YA bloggers and their followers out there, YA readers seem like they're on the hunt for titles to devour year round.
Selene: I think teens who enjoy books read more in the summer, because they have free time and choose to fill it that way. Teens who don’t like books will read more during the school year, because they have no choice. I still believe that a teen who doesn't like books just hasn't found the book that turns him or her on yet. I’m proud that my nineteen year old son Michael has been reading a book a day since his summer break began.
Greg: This has been a great conversation! Thank you. Before you go…tell me what you are working on now.
Karen: I'm nearing the end of a first draft for my next contemporary YA. Then onto revisions! Greg, I so enjoyed your adult books Patchwork of Me and Well with My Soul, I can't wait to see what's next from you in YA. Thanks for having us here today!
Selene: I am addressing the theme of abuse and its consequences in my next teen novel, tied in with the overall confusion of coming of age. This novel is dark and gritty, but it also contains a love story. Love is the ultimate redemption, is it not?
Greg: Thanks for those kind words, Karen and so true, Selene. Please visit these amazing authors on their websites!

Karen DelleCava 
Selene Castrovilla

Journey with An Old Friend

In the musical Violet, a young woman goes on a pilgrimage to find a TV evangelist to heal her from a scar she received in a horrible accident. I had the privilege of playing that preacher man in a production in 2001 at 4th Wall Theatre and tonight, I returned on that journey with Violet once again for a one night only concert at City Center in NYC presented by the Encores! Series.

Sutton Foster has been a Tony award-winning darling on Broadway for many years and when announced she would be playing the 25 year old lead in this show, I will admit my first thought was "25?" - boy was I mistaken. Even sitting on the 2nd row (where I had amazing seats), she read so young, so vulnerable and sang the heck out of Jeanine Tesori & Brian Crawley's fabulous show. I have never seen Joshua Henry before and I have been missing out. Somehow, I've missed every Broadway show this man has done, but as Flick in this show - he brings the house down! My former next door neighbor, the wonderful Christopher Sieber plays the role that is near and dear to my heart and gives a great performance as the man that Violet is so desperate to meet. The church number literally shock the stage at City Center when a choir from Harlem joined them on the stage. The entire ensemble of 11 performers and entire pit were all wonderful and I count myself lucky being able to experience this explosive night.

Encores is known for presenting Broadway shows in a concert setting, but kudos to Jeanine Tesori (the Off-Center Artistic Director) for including off-Broadway shows such as this to give it another life. It is truly incredible to watch how much actors can get into a production they are only doing once and carrying scripts. It says much about their abilities as well as what is happening with this series.

Greg as Preacher-man '01It is always something to return to a place from an earlier point in your life: however you may do that. Going back home after years, going to a high school reunion or in this case...a show that we were rehearsing during 9/11. Sitting there tonight, I remembered what it was like to decide to continue on and do this show back in Sept '01. You are not only moved by what is happening on stage, but you are moved by the memories you recall as well from when you were working on it. And to return there with cast members from our show 12 years ago, even more special.

It was a true joy to be able to go back there tonight and one I'll remember for a long time.

Great job to everyone involved in this show!

An Addict is More Than Their Addiction

The news of what took Cory Monteith's life at such an early age really hit me. No, I have not battled with my own demons of drug addiction - but I do know others that have. Before the coroner's report ever came out, people were already speaking of Monteith's past with addiction and that he admitted himself into rehab this spring. I would read on forums where some did not realize the tragedy involved because they felt addicts bring it on themselves.

The truth is, he was a young man that was someone's son, brother, friend, partner and was loved by many. To those that see another Hollywood type with fame and fortune - I say you miss the point. It takes many people years to get that monkey off their back and for others; they don't always achieve it. 

My half brother was also in his early 30s when he passed and fought his entire adult life against the voices that plagued him. I spent so many years upset with him about the life he chose to lead until I finally let go of my anger and wrote a book about his life.

I don't look down on an addict and point fingers in shame over their life. I ache for them in their pain. That they can't let go of what holds them down. That many can continue to go through their days and appear as if all is normal only makes it all that much harder in their quest to rid themselves of the addiction. Because it appears as if they can live a regular life and continue to do it - makes it more difficult to let go.

My heart goes out to the Monteith family and yes, his Hollywood family as well. But I hope that people do not simply write him off as one more crushed by fame. 

A person is much more than their addiction.
 

Music Does More than Soothe a Soul

It's a pretty well known fact that music can be used to change our moods. From a peppy song that gets you rocking in your car to a somber one when you're already feeling low. The shift in beat and lyrics can alter how we feel. Hollywood gets it. They use it all the time to manipulate us into feeling a certain way during a scene of a movie. I'm not complaining. It has always been such an important part of my life that when playing the game "what if you lost one of your senses" - mine has always been I couldn't handle losing my hearing for fear of missing music. But I'm most fascinated by the sensory mechanism of music. Our ears can receive the music and shoot our minds back to another place in time.

That's how you can be listening to a song and all of a sudden you are standing near your car at the high school football game. Or another can take you to that sophomore year of college. The day your child was born. The moment you first laid eyes on the love of your life. (I have several that take me back thirteen years ago when I was first met my other half.)

And the funny thing is, Celine Dion seems to play a huge part of the soundtrack of my adult life. "I Want You To Need Me" comes on (the uptempo version) and I'm on the dance floor at our local NJ bar. "Have You Ever Been In Love" and I think of my anniversary. Or I can go all the way back to the early 90s to her first two CDs I ever owned (Unison and her self titled album) and recall a period where I was dumped and played her sappy songs over and over.

Yes, one of those came on the radio on the way to work this morning and I found myself laughing at that particular memory. That my younger 20-something self felt so devastated by this particular person is completely ridiculous to me in hindsight.

 So do you have one of those music memories that seems laughable now? 

And who is the soundtrack to your life?

A Few Social Media Tips

Now and again, people know I like to share helpful hints that I've found useful when it comes to social media. Usually these are geared towards my author friends, but can actually work for others as well.

Social media is about being "social" - but too many new authors (myself included when I started out) think of it as a place to scream about their latest book. While this is a wonderful way to reach an audience, people want to know they are interacting with someone real and not just a peddler. I have a couple thousand followers on twitter and I know I can't interact with all of them, but I try my best to get to as many as possible.

Interact on topics other than your book.Watch your favorite TV show with twitter and see the hashtags around that show. A GREAT way to meet new people that enjoy similar things.Respond to People. Retweet some favorite tweets.Retweet some tweets about other author's books.I tend to use Facebook as my place to announce things happening with my writing or where I'm going to be for a book signing and then use twitter more as interacting and meeting new people.

The bottom line: if you are an author looking to get people interested in something you've written, getting to know the person first on common ground before trying to sell them something can go a long way.

Oh - and a huge pet peeve of mine: the moment I follow someone back on twitter that has followed me and I get an instant "Direct Message" or reply with a sales pitch to buy and retweet about their book...a huge turn-off.   

Celebrating Stonewall & The Fighters

44 years ago today, I was 2 months old and starting my life. Fighters in 1969

44 years ago, an amazing group of people  at the Stonewall bar in the NYC village decided 'enough was enough' and fought back in a raid against the LGBT community starting the gay rights movement - and doing so much for my life.

Sometimes it is hard to think about what it was like for those that came before us. I can recall growing up closeted in Texas in the 80s, but once I moved to NYC, I suddenly felt 'free'. It has taken a long time and a long fight, but more and more people are feeling that freedom without having to move to one of the larger cities in the country. I notice it when I travel. Gays no longer must go to the four or five major spots in the country where they all congregate for vacations - now you can find them EVERYWHERE.

We cannot forget the good fight of those present in 1969 in NYC. I was so lucky to be able to speak to one of them and interview him for Huffington Post this month. And I knew the significance of Stonewall when I was honored enough to have my book launch party there in 2011 for my debut novel. People continue to fight constantly. We saw it this week when the Supreme Court ruled on amazing cases because there are people willing to stand up and say "this is not right". 

Fighters in 2013I've been with my partner for 13 years and five years ago this summer had a civil union in our state (because NJ does not allow marriage). Yet there are still places that I have to check 'single' on a form when filling it out. Our union is not considered the same as everyone else's. In many eyes, it is as if we are just 'playing pretend' while the rest of the world can celebrate their marriages.


I knew I was nervous waiting for the results to come back on Wednesday morning from SCOTUS, but I had no idea the amount of pride that would fill my chest and cause the tears to fall when it came across my computer. (And I got to share it with my sister as we happened to be on the phone at that exact moment.) Suddenly, people in power were noticing that my life, my partnership, my 'being' mattered just as much as my straight counterparts. It's a feeling I find hard to put into words, but there are many people across the country that had that same reaction.

And now we go into gay pride weekend in New York as the community remembers those people from 1969 and all the hard work that has happened since. It is an exciting time for our country and for those that support equality for all. If you still think the LGBT community is asking for too much: remember it is not special rights; just equal.

And for the haters out there - just go ahead and get your congress men and women to vote marriage equality through. Look at it this way: you'll get your June back as we won't need to celebrate "Pride" in one month any longer.