Why I Posed by Tom Rocco

I am an actor/singer in NYC and I have been with my partner, Matt, for 21 years.  In June of 2007 we drove to Niagara Falls, Canada, to get married.  The impetus for this was that our then-Governor, Elliot Spitzer, passed a law that if one was an employee of the state and had a same-sex marriage somewhere where it was recognized as legal, New York state would then allow one's partner to be included on one's health insurance and pension benefits.  My husband is a teacher and state employee.  So, one beautiful road-trip/wedding/honeymoon later we were the proud owners of a marriage certificate from Canada!

I have subsequently compiled stories of our courtship and relationship into a cabaret show, "My Big, Fat, Proposition 8 Wedding," which was performed at The Metropolitan Room in NYC.  The show was very well-received and has just been nominated for a 2010 MAC Award!!

I'm so proud to be a part of your beautiful campaign.  Keep up the amazing work.

Very sincerely yours,

Tom Rocco