Gay Couple Waits 61 Years to Marry in New York: Can CuomoDeliver to Them and Us?

Posted by LGBT Weekly

Gov. Cuomo claims new day for gay marriage in New York\Source: nydailynews.com

Governor Cuomo claims that “a new day for gay marriage” is dawning in New York – and if he’s right, one couple in particular will be celebrating their nuptials after a 61-year waiting period.

Richard Adrian Dorr and John Mace are one of many gay couples living in New York. But unlike most, these two have been together since 1950. Dorr and Mace met as students at the Julliard School of Music in 1948, and have been a committed and devoted couple for the last 61 years. As voice teachers who have lived and worked in Manhattan for the better part of their long lives, 83-year-old Dorr and 91-year-old Mace want nothing more than to marry in the state they call home.

Evan Wolfson, President of Freedom to Marry, explained that “they are still obviously so deeply in love after 61 years and yet after all those years of commitment, being there for one another through the ups and downs of life, they are still being denied the one thing they want most – the freedom to marry in New York.

“It is time to change that,” concluded Wolfson, whose organization has created a video featuring the couple in an effort to galvanize their campaign.

Meanwhile, Governor Cuomo told reporters today that he is “optimistic that marriage equality will pass” and that it is a “long overdue” initiative in the state of New York.

“I’ve been talking about that issue also for a year. I know it’s failed before, but I think this is a different day,” Cuomo explained.

On behalf of Richard Adrian Dorr, John Mace and gay couples throughout the state of New York, we hope that Cuomo is right, that marriage equality will sail through the legislature and that couples like this one will finally have the ability to celebrate their union with the wedding they desire.