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Field Report by Kimberly Wilder
There were several coordinated rallies all over New York State in order to protest the horrible, NY Court of Appeals decision. I attended the short parade and the long rally in Bay Shore.
I have not read the court decision, though at the rally, a speaker said that the decision goes so far as to say that children should be raised by a man and a woman to be normal.
People there were angry. Even the leaders cursed. They cursed profoundly. And, it expressed the crowds sentiment.
The great hope was the thought that 53% of NYers agree with same-sex marriage, and only 4 judges opposed it. You can beat 4 people, right? (Maybe, unless they are not white men in robes. Then, we hope you can win, but…)
Empire Pride was one of the co-sponsors. I am appalled that Empire Pride endorsed Eliot Spitzer for Governor. There are many things Eliot Spitzer could have done as Attorney General to fix this issue. I think he could–even now–let the marriages go on, but writing the correct legal opinion, or using the power of his position. I find it sad and bogus for a LGBT group to give him cover by endorsing him based on a promise, when his actions have been so bad.
I explained this situation to some people there. Some people looked at me with the 503C, rah-rah smile and sent me away. A few people seemed to consider the situation. One man said, “I know, just like Clinton.”
I think the Green Party leadership needs to do some position papers to explain the finer points of why Eliot Spitzer has failed the LGBT community.
The non-profit out in force was LIGALY: Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth. They had many people and some glowing, young organizers. And P-FLAG was there, a group of families of LGBT people. So, it was interesting that there were many (cute) children and a warm, fuzzy feeling.
The web-site for LIGALY is www.ligaly.org.
At one point, a Jewish cantor led the group in the song, “This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine.” I told her, she should do a variation on a verse I learned in Sunday School. “Don’t let 4 judges “pfew” it out…I’m gonna let it shine.” (You know, you have to blow on your finger, like the judges are trying to blow out your inner light!)
The Green Party has given ACTION and not just words to this cause. Mayor Jason West and Deputy Mayor Rebecca Rotzler in New Paltz are Green Party elected officials who made a brave stand and married same-sex couples.
And, the current Green Party governor candidate, Malachy McCourt, believes in allowing same-sex marriage, too.
Malachy McCourt was appalled by the decision. Here are his thoughts:
In times of conflict, the state tells us we can hate various enemies and use vicious perjorative terms to describe them, ie: Japs, Nips, Krauts, Huns, Wops, Guineas. Now, the courts are telling us who we may love and contract with on our own private terms.
There is no record of a marriage contract between Adam And Eve or Mr. and Mrs. Lot of Sodom and Gommorra fame. So, we don’t know if having children is their prime motive in hanging out together, or did they just like each others’ company with a bit if sex thrown in for comfort on a cold night?
In any case its not the state’s business who we love and marry, so long as its two consenting adults, contracting to spend time with each other, as long as they want, without nine robed justices crowded into the bedroom, noting the action and passing judgement on why they love each other, and how they express it. Let the people love.
Wish that people could see the truth right before them. Eliot Spitzer is not a friend of same-sex marriage and the LGBT community. But, there were all those beautiful people and their families, wanting to do something to create justice, and being told by the representative from Empire State Pride Agenda to “work for Spitzer.”
Filed under: Action Alert!, activism, cynthia mckinney, election, Green Party Websites, international politics, New York State Politics, Same-Sex Marriage, social & economic justice Tagged: | book of the month, Uncategorized
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