The one day when I don’t check the news regularly comes the biggest positive news for gay men and lesbians in a long time. This afternoon, Connecticut’s Republican governor, M. Jodi Rell “signed into law a bill that will afford same-sex couples in Connecticut many of the rights and privileges of married couples.”

This is huge. This good Republican is the first Governor in U.S. History to sign such a bill — without being forced to by the courts. Log Cabin President Patrick Guerriero was quick to praise Governor Rell. On this one at least, LCR and this blog are on the same page.

I will have much to say about this, hopefully as soon as this evening. I cannot underestimate the significance of this move. Let me repeat. This is huge, bigger than many of us realize or many of our leaders acknowledge. I’m glad to see that LCR noted in the sub-head to its press release that this legislation is historic. Their use of that word suggests that LCR understands its significance.

And it’s that significance that I will address anon, but first I must dine with a reader of this blog currently visiting LA.

I expect this blog to do something to help further this good Governor’s reelection.

Way to go, Nutmeg State!!!

-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com

UPDATE; As of 7 PM PST (10 PM GayPatriot blog time), I have scoured conservative blogs (as many as I could in the short time I have) and only PoliPundit has taken note of this significant move. And neither HRC or NGLTF has issued a release on the good news from the Nutmeg State.

Tonight, at dinner with some friends, two gifted actors and a talented up and coming director, we noted how difficult it is to make a good comedy that is a powerful drama as well. While there are many great comedies like “RUTHLESS PEOPLE” which make us laugh, there are few flicks like the classic “THE PHILADELPHIA STORY” which stir our more tender — and deeper — emotions as they make us laugh. Indeed, the Greeks, those who “invented” the western concept of drama, staged entertainment, had their three great tragedians (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Eurpides) and their one great comedian (Aristophanes). None of these four greats ever seemed to “mix their genres.”

In addition to the Katharine Hepburn-Cary Grant-Jimmy Stewart classic (i.e., “THE PHILADELPHIA STORY“), we came up with a couple movies which were both dramas and comedies, notably “WHEN HARRY MET SALLY” and “AS GOOD AS IT GETS.” Now, I open it up to you, readers, to suggest other movies which succeed in blending these genres. I am particularly interested in gay movies which move us deeply while making us laugh. Maybe, “TRICK” . . . .

So, comment below or drop me an e-mail and let me know what you come up with. . .

UPDATE: Reader Terry writes in to note that I was incorrect to write that the four great Greek playwrights (whom he calls poets) did not “mix their genres.” Instaed, he points out, “the custom was to submit four plays during the festival, three tragedies and one comedy, all of these poets mixed genres, it’s just that the remnants of their opposite genres are few and limited, hence unread by those who only take the college survey course. Each poet had one day for their presentation, and at the end of the festival one was awarded the prize. Poets were expected to be able to master both tragedy and comedy in order to win the festival’s prize that year.”

UPDATE #2: A friend of mine wrote in to suggest Woody Allen‘s best movie, “ANNIE HALL” as a comedy with meaning. I agree.

UPDATE #3: A successful screenwriter e-mailed me, “I’d say most of the Billy Wilder comedies (esp. SOME LIKE IT HOT, THE APARTMENT) and the Preston Sturges comedies (esp. THE GREAT McGINTY and SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS) as well as the Chaplin silents like THE GREAT DICTATOR, MODERN TIMES and Buster Keaton‘s THE GENERAL just to name a few.” (My friend’s e-mail reminds me of my favorite Chaplin flick: “CITY LIGHTS.”)