I agree with you on most points, but I do not like NYC and I'm socially liberal and fully support equality for gays. However, I must say I've never met a Russian or Eastern Euro male who was accepting of this lifestyle. :) Cultural difference I think. The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided to hear a case on gay marriage, so the "law of the land" should be decided next year. Right now, gay marriage is legal only in a handful of states. And, next they will probably take up the case of pot legalization. You may have heard that Colorado and Washington state voted in the recent election to make personal pot use legal. This is in contradiction to federal law. The U.S. legal system, sometimes very complicated and strange.

Happy holidays!!