Transformation

Every one in awhile an event occurs, and I can’t help but conclude that we have witnessed a transforming event.
 
Late Friday night, as I flew from Kansas City to Newark via Detroit, the NY State Assembly passed and NY Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation permitting same sex marriage. 
 
Two days later, on Sunday, I found myself on the sidelines of New York City’s gay pride parade.  When the NYC police band arrived at the point where I then stood, around 12^th Street and Fifth Avenue, the musicians broke into “Here Comes the Bride.”

I suspect few of the nearly one million people who were estimated to line the street saw anything particularly astonishing in the police band’s choice of music. Some of us, however, knew that nearly 42 years earlier the LGBT community and police had violently clashed just blocks from where was. The June 28, 1969 Stonewell riots are frequently cited as the first U.S. case of the LGBT community fighting back against a system that often encouraged police abuse.

It’s hard to believe how far we’ve traveled as a nation. That the police band played wedding music was remarkable. That members of the LGBT community wildly cheered their former persecutors was more astounding still.

This nation of ours is far from perfect. But every once in awhile you can’t help but be encouraged by our willingness to grow and change.

Why devote this week’s blog to this topic?

Four or five years ago I spoke to a group of summer associates at a Boston law firm. After my presentation, a summer associate asked how he should introduce his gay partner at various firm social events. I suggested he use the description he had just shared with me. “Not at this firm,” the associate replied. “It would end my future here.”

I sure hope that young man has survived. Even more, I hope that law firm has learned to judge their associates by the quality of their work rather than their sexual preferences.
 

 

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