By E. Nina Rothe

A celebration for a cause - it doesn't get much better than that. Star writer E. Nina Rothe shares this unique confluence of culture and giving with EGO readers.

To all the naysayers this serves as a moment to pause and take notice because the world moves forward and bigotry already seems neanderthal.

It is an undeniable fact that those of us who are lucky enough to call the USA home are living in a land that is civilized, culture-friendly and way ahead of most of the world in terms of democracy and human rights. Yet same-sex marriages are only currently granted legal licenses in five states, one federal district and one Native American tribe. Another three states, including New York, recognize the union but do not grant the same-sex couple a legal license. And on the unrelenting side of the argument, more than thirty-five states have adopted statuses banning gay marriage. Those statistics are both shocking and surprising, considering the freedom we so often take for granted living on this side of the world. Doesn't 'One Nation indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all' apply to everyone? Apparently not. We indeed stand divided when it comes to our definition of 'Marriage'.

On Thursday, March 25th, I was privy to a bit of history in the making when I witnessed two women, Priyanka and Lisa, get married in NYC, during a traditional Indian wedding ceremony complete with Mehndi, Dandiya and a bride adorned in red and gold. And the festivities were celebrated under the auspicious watch of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office and its Executive Director Bruce F. Knotts. Of his involvement in the affair, Knotts said "Mangalam, the Bollywood wedding, was perhaps the most enjoyable evening we've had since arriving in New York in 2007. The crowd was diverse and everyone got into the color, music and vibrant energy of South Asia. Funds raised go for a good cause to empower the Queen Mothers of the Manye Krobo people in Ghana, to educate and provide heath care to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. This part of Ghana has experienced the highest HIV infection rate in the country. We were happy to bring this worthwhile project to an entirely new audience. It was a spectacular evening made even better by promoting an important humanitarian cause to educate children orphaned by HIV/AIDS."

About the UU-UNO, Knotts continued "It is also important to note the historic work of the UU-UNO to end all criminal sanctions based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The fact that this Bollywood wedding was between two women emphasized in a very fun and non-confrontational way that same-gender loving people are morally equivalent to opposite-gender loving people. Massachusetts, the American state with the longest history of same-sex marriage, also has the lowest divorce rate, which shows that support for marriage equality strengthens the institution of marriage for everyone."

And when I asked him about his own personal journey to the UU-UNO he confided "I retired from the U.S. Department of State in 2007 due to discrimination based on my sexual orientation. My career was going nowhere after 25 years of award winning service to my country: awards such as awards for heroism, superior honor, meritorious honor and more. I wanted to make a difference and make this world safer and better for everyone. I work for a safe and dignified life for all. The Unitarian Universalist UN Office gives me the chance to really make a difference in the world. We have changed history at the UN by being the only faith-based voice advocating for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Human Rights at the UN. I am proud to be the UU-UNO Executive Director."

The momentous ceremony, between two people who have been fortunate to find love in each other and are obviously supported in their union by their friends and loved ones, was conducted by Bangladeshi comedian Aladdin Ullah, who handled the affair in his typically humorous flair. The music was courtesy of Bombay's beloved DJ Ash and featured a fantastic belly-dancing performance by the gracefully petite Turkish dancer Chilaires.

The driving force behind Mangalam and this movement that has only just begun to open people's hearts while enlightening their minds, is NYC-based jewelry designer Niraj Parekh. No stranger to discrimination and persecution on the basis of sexual orientation himself, Parekh was granted asylum in the US after being driven out of his native India because of his sexuality. For those of you who may not be familiar with it, it's all about a law by the name of Section 377, which has been in the books since the colonial days of the British and criminalizes homosexual love as 'unnatural sex'.

When I asked Parekh what his inspiration was for organizing Mangalam, he candidly answered "Most of us come to the US to better our economic conditions or escape oppression from repressed societies. Living with guilt for many years - after having been prosecuted in Orissa, India for living an "Unnatural Lifestyle" - was a nightmare for me. Right after being granted asylum here in the US, the first job I ever applied for was at UU-UNO. Meeting Bruce Knotts and learning more about his organization was like therapy. It gave me the strength to not only fight my own oppression but also help the oppressed. I'm blessed with the creative talent of making jewelry and that helps me to participate in my true passion to see this change through."

Parekh continued "Mangalam was meant as a party to celebrate life. While many countries still prosecute homosexual acts, here we celebrated a same-sex wedding. It just proves that love, laughter and fun form the true essence of life. It feels great that while we celebrated here, we could also provide for children in Africa with food and education. After all, they are the future."

In the words of Bruce Knotts "Love is love, no matter the gender. People caring and loving each other is good for society at large and should be encouraged by all of us." Indeed, there is no right or wrong way to love, it's a feeling as natural as fear which appears to be the driving force behind those who are unmovable and antiquated in their views of what the institution of marriage represents.

About the author: E. Nina Rothe ran her own column at Chic Today for over a year and a half where she interviewed Sooni Taraporevala, Zoya Akhtar and Liz Mermin among many others. She currently writes for AVS TV. She has just been published in Tehelka Magazine and Bespoke as well. You can find her personal writing on her blog The Ajnabee Websites: (http://theajnabee.com/)