It was obviously pre-planned, but the ongoing D.C. Council hearing on the same-sex marriage bill just had a little awwww moment. D.C. resident and local architect Andy Rollman started it out with his testimony, during which he explained that he’s been a happily single gay man all of his life, up until recently.
“Three months ago, I met Andrew Hertzberg,” Rollman, who is in his 50s, said. “It was love at first sight.” And now that he’s found the one, he said, “I don’t want a partner, I want a spouse.”
Cue Hertzberg, also in his 50s, who offered his testimony right after his boyfriend.
“Andy, you’ve changed my life. You bring out the best in me. I love you so much. On this day when we talk about the hopes of marriage, I’d like to ask you, will you marry me?” Hertzberg asked. Andy said yes, to applause at the John A. Wilson Building.
It might have all been a little too cute had a) these guys not clearly been over the moon for each other, and b) Hertzberg not followed up his proposal by pointing out that in this case, he wasn’t anxious about whether Rollman would say ‘yes.’ Instead, his anxiety was whether the Council would vote to allow his proposal to really mean anything.
Andy and Andrew: First, congratulations! Second, there’s pretty much no question that this bill will pass the Council, so think about taking your act on the road to the halls of Congress.
You can catch the rest of today’s hearing live on Channel 13.