Fun in DC and Gay Pride In Manhattan!

Last Friday night at the "Kiss & Ride" of Vienna Metro Station, we said our sad goodbyes to Mary & Allen DeLaney, where we've called "home" for three weeks. We rode the Amtrak train from DC to Penn Station in New York for the GLBT Pride Weekend with our Sodexho friends.

The night before heading to the city, we enjoyed a delightful Thursday evening dinner in DC with PFLAG National Executive Director, Jody Huckaby and his partner, Stephen. Unfortunately, due to the HOT & HUMID weather, we weren't able to meet their pooch, Buddy. (see his photo under "Rylee" icon under drop down box called "Rylee's picture album on our website!)

After dinner, while walking in the "gayberhood" of DC, a young man walked past us, and then turned around and walked back to us. He looked right at Dotti and said, "Excuse me... what's your name?" Dotti, a bit perplexed, said "Dotti." The friendly guy then said, "Dotti Berry???" She replied, "Yes." It turned out that it was Ryan, who is Joe Solmonese's Administrative Assistant at The Human Rights Campaign. We had been emailing and doing phone tag regarding getting together with Joe, trying to determine if our schedules could match up! Ryan had left a phone message for us regarding Joe's schedule. Ryan said he was walking along and noticed Dotti's Two Women & A Poodle T-shirt, and he thought to himself, "I recognize that logo!" That is precisely why we wear our logoed items each day. If we don't have Rylee with us or aren't driving our purple suburban pulling the Scotty trailer, we need something to strike up a conversation! :)

We just experienced a delightful weekend with our Sodexho friends in New York. As I write this, we are sitting in the Newark NJ airport waiting for our flight home. Having only slept about 2.5 hours last night, I am frequently finding my head dropped and my face smashing the keys of the laptop.

We heard weekend reports of sunshine and hot (92) temperatures in the Pacific NW, but here in NY, we had rain, and more rain. No problem though, we bought an umbrella for $5 from the nice guy on the corner, and were on our way. At noon, we went to a women's restaurant/club called Rubyfruits, in the heart of Greenwich Village, for a brunch/reception with our favorite photographer, Judy Francesconi. See Judy's work at www.judyfrancesconi.com

There was also a "Pet Pride Dog Show," at Rubyfruits, where Liza Minelli was the judge. I was more interested in seeing all the dogs, but it was fun to see Ms. Minelli up close. Dotti was more interested in hearing her sing that wondering which dog she would pick as the winner!

While walking along in Greenwich Village, a delightful man named Bill noticed Dotti's shirt, and felt safe to assume she was/we were lesbian, and said, "It should be a fun parade tomorrow." That started our conversation, and we learned that Bill grew up in New York, and he knows all things NYC! There wasn't a question we asked that he didn't know the answer. Bill is a 64-year old gay man, who retired early after a very successful career on Wall Street. There we stood, in the rain on that Greenwich Village street corner, taking shelter with our $5 black umbrellas, becoming friends with a sweet man named Bill.

Bill said he wanted to take us to dinner and give us a personal tour of the city. Unfortunately, we hadn't the time, but the gesture was appreciated. Before leaving New York, Bill called us just to say, "It was very nice to meet you, and I'd like to keep in touch." It's these little encounters, on street corners, in rest stops, in gas stations or coffee shops, that feel like the real "gems" of this journey. We are blessed and life is good! We promised to take him up on his offer next time we are in New York!

As you know, we've mentioned Sodexho and Spirit Cruises in previous blogs and news updates. Spirit Cruises is owned by Sodexho, and on Saturday night, we were treated to an amazing 3-hour cruise of the Hudson River and the New York Harbor, on up to the base of the Statue of Liberty. Thank you, David Sinclair, (General Manager of Spirit Cruises) and Lorna Donatone (President of Spirit Cruises) for a wonderful time! While aboard, we were treated to a great live band, dancing, a delicious meal, and good wine, all while enjoying the view of the New York and New Jersey city lights by night. We requested a favorite song, "At Last," and the band played it .... you guessed it ... LAST! All of the gay & lesbian Sodexho couples, encourage by Denise, got up and danced in unison. What a sight that was!

A special part of this boat cruise was when the boat pulled up in the moonlit shadow of the Statue of Liberty and "God Bless America" played over the speakers of the watercraft. Several of us agreed that although it was very spectacular, such a sight combined with the anthems of America, will have much greater meaning and impact when ALL of us can enjoy the freedoms, privileges and protections that are presently denied us simply because we are gay.

The New York Gay Pride Parade is the oldest in the country, and the largest. It was fun to experience it with our Sodexho friends who invited us and hosted us for the weekend. Unlike the Washington DC March, we were just spectators in this parade.

After the parade, while walking around the city, we happened upon Times Square Church. The doors were open and people were moving about, so we went inside. We were particularly interested in their signs out front stating, "Everyone is welcome," and "Ony THE TRUTH shall set you free." Curious, we went to the information table and asked a nice young lady named Haley, (an intern at the church) whether or not we would be welcome, as a married lesbian couple. Haley explained to us that of course we are welcome and she would hope that we would feel a warm welcome, but that they do not believe that homosexuality is right, and they believe that the Bible is very clear in stating that it is wrong.

We had a very friendly and very engaging conversation with Haley, and during the course of the conversation, were able to share a bit of our stories with her, only to find out that her aunt, a person of faith--a Christian, is lesbian. Haley said, "I know she has really struggled with finding a church that accepts her."

Once again, mission accomplished. We didn't change Haley's mind about us, or her aunt (whom she obviously loves), but we engaged Haley's heart and mind, and had an authentic connection, and we all parted ways feeling empowered. A seed planted.

After a HUGE dinner at Carmine's Family Style Italian with the Sodexho/Spirit friends, the two of us rode the subway to The World Trade Center Ground Zero. Dotti, having dined at the top of the Towers in 1995, felt a sense of disbelief at the sight... the empty space. During my last visit to NYC in 1999, I enjoyed peering at the incredible structures standing high and above everything else around, but did not dare go up... elevators and I have a love-hate relationship, and I wasn't interested in climbing a million steps!

Keep on Standing UP and Speaking OUT for LIBERTY and JUSTICE FOR ALL!

--Roby