The Philippines Needs an Andrew Cuomo

Gov. Cuomo with a thumbs-up for marriage

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of the state of New York, is an awesome guy.  He's straight, he's Catholic, and he's one of the biggest advocates for same-sex marriage in America today.

Gov. Cuomo was instrumental in the passage of New York's Marriage Equality Act last June, and he's being hailed as a hero by progressive groups across the country because he's not letting up in the fight for same-sex couples all across America.

Stepping up to the podium at the Empire State Pride Agenda's gala dinner on October 27, the governor received a standing ovation that lasted for more than one minute.  In his televised and highly publicized speech, Cuomo demanded with intensity in his voice that the discriminatory "Defense of Marriage Act" be repealed by U.S. Congress.  He also made a public call to his fellow governors across the country, to embrace equal rights and push for the legalization of same-sex marriage in their own statehouses.

"We need marriage equality in every state in this nation," said Cuomo boldly and unashamedly.  "Otherwise, no state really has equality, and we will not rest until it is a reality!"

The Philippines needs an Andrew Cuomo.  It desperately needs an influential, progressive, Catholic politician who is willing to stand up and boldly demand that all Filipinos be treated with dignity and equality, on all 7,107 islands.  For the sake of the future of equality in the Philippines, I hope there's a Filipino Andrew Cuomo out there somewhere, and I hope he or she steps up to the podium soon.

Per The New York Times, Oct. 28, 2011