Catholic Leader Assaults Gay Marriage Supporter at Rally
Larry Cirignano, executive director of the Catholic Citizenship group, was speaking at an anti-gay marriage rally in Worcester, Massachusetts, and reportedly left the podium to assault a woman who was there to counter-protest:
"Sarah Loy (left), 27, of Worcester was holding a sign in defense of same-sex marriage amid a sea of green 'Let the People Vote' signs when Larry Cirignano of Canton, who heads the Catholic Citizenship group, ran into the crowd, grabbed her by both shoulders and told her, 'You need to get out. You need to get out of here right now.' Mr. Cirignano then pushed her to the ground, her head slamming against the concrete sidewalk...Ms. Loy was holding a sign that read, 'No discrimination in the Constitution' and counter-demonstrators were chanting, 'You lost, go home, get over it,' when she was pushed to the ground. Afterward, Ms. Loy, in tears, arose and yelled to no one in particular, 'That’s what hate does. That’s what hate does.'"
Pathetic. These Massachusetts wingnuts are so backed into a corner because their bigotry is not succeeding in that state that they're resorting to violence.
Worcester Rally Takes Ugly Turn [worcester telegram]
Let the People Vote - or Else [ryan's take]
Posted Dec. 18,2006 at 11:30 AM EST by Andy Towle in Catholic Church, Crime, Gay Marriage, Massachusetts, News | Permalink
Thank you to this wonderful woman for standing up for my rights. I hope you realize how far this will push the gay movement forward. If we could only get the media to blow this up to the proportion it deserves. Larry, you're going down. Just come out of the closet before it is too late. Us proud gayboys LOVE women... we don't hit them. Living out your life unnaturally is damaging to you and society... just ask Ted Haggard.
Posted by: Dwayne Evens | Dec 18, 2006 3:30:02 PM
Whatever legality, whatever name, that let's two people get together on paper... fine by me. But Mr. Man... Larry... would have got his ass beat. She should have wacked the fuck out of him with her sign, or shoe, or whatever she could grab. No an indignant, wrong-minded bitch will not push me down and I turn the other cheek.
Posted by: CaliNexus@yahoo.com | Dec 18, 2006 3:50:12 PM
Matt & Calinexus--
The term "civil unions" only satisfies people who are opposed to the word "marriage" for same-sex couples.
The hard-core anti folks still consider it too much like marriage. They won't be happy if we have ANY rights.
Hard core people on our side (including me) won't be happy without the word too, since the word has the meaning.
I _would_ accept civil unions IF that's what EVERYONE gets from the government (and the Feds recognize them as marriages for benefits / rights / obligations purposes), and churches dole out marriages to apply on top of a Civil Union (and the gov't doesn't recognize church marriages without a CU too).
Posted by: tjc | Dec 18, 2006 4:23:10 PM
I'm sure he asked himself "What would Jesus do?" And the answer came to him "Shove that woman to the ground!"
Posted by: Daniel | Dec 18, 2006 5:03:29 PM
By the way everyone, she's pressing charges.
http://www.bluemassgroup.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5616#44909
Posted by: Ryan's Take | Dec 18, 2006 6:05:56 PM
Can you imagine the outrage, the headlines on Fox and CNN, the breaking-news scroll on Headline News, if a right-winger had been assaulted and knocked to the pavement during a pro-gay-marriage assembly? It would be on the AOL news browser for three straight days. Condemnations would already be blaring from every right-wing organization with a fax machine and a Hotmail account. Obviously we can't get upset about every single outrage; there is something to be said for "scandal fatigue." But when is enough going to be enough?
Posted by: J.C. | Dec 18, 2006 6:38:39 PM
My hat's off to Sarah Loy! Too bad GEORGIA residents aren't as fiesty in their retaliation to religious bigotry! These anti-gay marriage bans throughout the country are a reflection of religious ignorance. Where there no such thing as a Bible,Jesus, or other religions, then EQUALITY would find it's rightful place in humanity. However, because there are hateful bigots which outnumber homosexuals, I'm fighting my right to marry my partner and be openly gay in right-wing HELL through festive and witty blogging! www.ifjesuswereapopsicle.blogspot.com
Posted by: Stevie P. | Dec 18, 2006 7:19:34 PM
I hope she's okay.
Posted by: EM | Dec 19, 2006 2:22:27 AM
I'm just surprized that a Catholic took time out of the 'board room' and actually attended a anti gay event.
Oh and yea she should absolutely press charges
Posted by: steve | Dec 19, 2006 4:57:28 AM
Is there a reason he wasn't immediately arrested and charged with assault? I hope she sues his ass off, but God knows some hate-mongering group will just pay the settlement.
Posted by: shane | Dec 19, 2006 7:58:42 AM
I wonder what spin the KKKatholic church will put on this.
Posted by: Brett | Dec 19, 2006 9:05:38 AM
What kind of hatred do these people really harbor? Why does the idea of two men or two women get them so angry they want to attack? Don't let them fool you into thinking it has anything to do with God, it's all about hatred and homophobia and we as gay Americans should be ashamed that we are not out marching in the streets right now. That includes me because I'm not motivated but with all of us doing something I, and others, might get off our asses long enough to make ourselves heard.
STAND UP NOW before it's too late and we'll locked back in our closets.
Posted by: Bobby | Dec 19, 2006 12:30:04 PM
Gay marriage please. Most men I know can't commit to a house plant let alone a partner of the day.
Posted by: Patrick Eagan | Dec 20, 2006 7:00:07 AM
This terrible incident is both a violation of this Lady’s right to free speech but also a violation of Christian teaching.
I have asked before “is the pendulum swinging back to the hard right with Chr. Fundamentalism leading the way?
I do hope this Lady sues the thug & demands the Church condemn this assault.
In Canada the Supreme Court has judged that Same Sex Unions are both a right & to be seen as Marriage. Such same sex marriages are valid & these couples share all rights, privileges & obligation as heterosexual union under the Laws for Marriage. The Canadian Parliament has within just a few weeks ago voted overwhelmingly to except the Courts ruling & not to challenge the use of the word Marriage in the court Judgment so as to replace that word with Same Sex Unions.
Canada is a model for other States & the Union to look at tolerance & acceptance of same sex unions as Marriage.
By the way the Most Catholic of the 10 Provinces in Canada Is French Quebec & this Province & the vast majority of its population are fully in favor of Same Sex Marriages.
Posted by: ter | Dec 20, 2006 11:07:27 AM