Good News Friday: After 31 Years, Danny And John Are Getting Married

Manhattan Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell has worked for years as one of New York’s most vocal advocates for marriage equality and, finally, just last week, he got his own marriage license so he, and his partner of thirty-one years, John Banta, are finally free to get married.
For years, O’Donnell was at the center of marriage fight. He was the first openly gay man in the New York State Assembly, and introduced five bills to legalize gay marriage over the years.
Never say die. That's the lesson we learned from Danny O'Donnell.
And because he worked so hard,m and so long, for the rights of gay citizens of New York to marry, he and Banta will be throwing quite the elaborate wedding.
The guest list reads like a who’s who of New York politics and invitations have gone out to more than 400 guests.
Danny O'Donnell: “I invited almost all of the members of the Assembly and almost all the members of the Senate who voted yes to come to my wedding, which, when you add their spouses, that’s a lot of people. So they were invited, and most of them are coming.”
His won't be the first high-profile gay wedding--Mayor Michael Bloomberg married two of his top aides at Gracie Mansion--and it will not be the last--City Council Speaker Christine Quinn plans to marry this spring.
And his won;'t be the only high-profile same-sex marriage in his own family: his sister, Rosie O’Donnell, is also engaged.
But no one worked as hard and as long for the right to marry.
Congratulations gentlemen. And Best wishes.