By Matthew Blank
18 May 2009

Members of the theatre community rallied May 17 to support Governor David Paterson's proposed bill to grant same-sex couples the equal right to marry in New York State.

Broadway Impact and its Tony-nominated co-founder Gavin Creel (Hair, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins) organized the event, which included performances and/or speeches by the cast of Broadway's Hair, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, David Hyde Pierce, Douglas Carter Beane, Cheyenne Jackson, Speaker Christine Quinn and Governor Paterson.

Paterson first presented the marriage equality bill on April 16. Should the Senate vote to pass the bill, New York State would be the sixth state to grant same-sex couples the equal right to marry, following Massachusetts, Iowa, Maine, Connecticut and Vermont.

Here is a look at the late afternoon rally held on the corner of 45th Street and 6th Avenue:

View the Entire Photo Gallery Cynthia Nixon Photo by Scott Hale

For further information on the organization, visit BroadwayImpact.

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