Who Doesn't Like a Top Ten List?

by: Jeff Gardner

Tue Nov 24, 2009 at 01:15:00 PM EST

If you take part in a lobby day in Trenton where hundreds of people show up to demand equality, you could end up with eight million stories in the Capitol City. But, if you're writing a diary about it, you might have to narrow it down to your personal Top Ten moments from an incredible day. And, here are mine from yesterday:

10- Arriving in Trenton in the early morning to find a huge crowd already gathered - dare I say, fired up? - and ready to make history.

9- Marching down State St. in a parade of hundreds of supporters past the 3 guys and a banner opposing marriage.

8- Wandering the majestic halls of the statehouse in search of legislators (may I say, again - our capitol building is a treasure - guided tours available through the main front entrance)

7- Watching the GSE staffers in action, out-hustling and out-organizing the opposition, and all the while, smiling and having fun.

6- Being there when Senator Gill asked a supporter in the hallway if she could have a Marriage Equality button, and seeing her put it on as she headed for the Judiciary Committee Hearing Room.

5- Turning down the "one man, one woman" button offered to me by a member of the opposition (was my business suit too conservative?)

4- Helping track down an elusive, and visibly nervous, Senator Sarlo to deliver postcards from his constituents in support of marriage equality (third time's the charm!)

3- Seeing the young vets from Veterans for Education finish their testimony before the Judiciary Committee on their bill, and immediately switch gears, and t-shirts, to join the crowd in support of marriage equality.

2- Having Senator Weinberg on our side - behind closed doors, on the steps of the statehouse, around every corner - and having other supportive Senators (and some Assemblymembers - thanks Reed and Valerie) actively working for us in this fight. We will always remember your efforts.

and the number one takeaway from the day ... well, that'll take another click.

Jeff Gardner :: Who Doesn't Like a Top Ten List?

1- No question - the best part of Monday's lobby day was the huge diversity of supporters who came together in support of marriage equality. Words cannot describe what it means to the LGBT community to have so many clergy, elderly, parents, children, friends and people of diverse ethnicity and background - the vast majority of them non-LGBT - supporting us on this issue.

Thank you all for making it a day I will always remember. Now, we keep working to get this thing done.