05/02/2007
Massive Gay Rights Rally at New York Capitol in Albany
More than 1,000 gay rights supporters converged on New York's state capitol Albany on Tuesday to rally in front of the statehouse and visit 200 legislators in what is being called the largest gay rights event in the city since 1971.
The rally was buoyed by Governor Eliot Spitzer's efforts last week introducing a bill that would make gay marriage legal in the state.
While the mood was upbeat, organizers acknowledged the uphill battle required to get the legislation passed, and several conservatives were speaking out against it, according to the Journal News:
"A spokesman for Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, said that a majority of Assembly Republicans are against same-sex marriage. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, Rensselaer County, has said that the issue is not a priority and has expressed opposition to gay marriage. 'I think they (activists) ought to discuss that with the governor, since that is a priority of the governor, and not a priority in the Senate,' Bruno told reporters at a news conference yesterday. He said he would not support changing the law to allow same-sex marriage, and he's not alone. 'It's the wrong direction for the state to change the definition of something that predates human history,' said Dennis Poust, spokesman for the New York State Catholic Conference. 'For the governor, in his first year, to overturn one of the fundamental building blocks of society is out of line and a poor decision on his part.'"
Gay rights groups, like New York's Empire State Pride Agenda, however, say that it's only a matter of time. Said Ross Levi: "We also know that New Yorkers are on our side. Our issues are continuing to poll in the majorities even on marriage and so the community is really here to make the legislators do what they know New York wants to have happen anyway."
Posted 11:06 AM EST by Andy in Eliot Spitzer, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, New York, News | Permalink
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What a MORON! Joseph Bruno should lose his seat in the next election just for being aligned with this idiot Poust, and Poust, while fully within his rights to spout bullshit, should be exposed for his idiocy and not even being able to discuss marriage intelligently with facts. Marriage predating human history? Hrmmm. Well now, if it predates human history, THEN WHO THE HELL KNEW ABOUT IT? Stupid Stupid STUPID!
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | May 2, 2007 11:21:16 AM
*bangs head against desk* Marriage does not predate human history. It is easily traceable to the need for "property" agreements in early Jewish history.
Posted by: Dailylife | May 2, 2007 11:23:27 AM
mheh, we get more protesters in Boston on a regular basis =p
jk: good luck! The majority opinion in New York is to support gay rights, closed-minded legislators in New York should beware.
Posted by: Ryan | May 2, 2007 11:36:11 AM
Wish I would have known about this rally - I would have gone!
Posted by: A | May 2, 2007 11:49:06 AM
The definition of marriage predates human history? How is that possible? One thing is for certain, Mr. Poust, human history predates the Catholic church.
Posted by: Bill | May 2, 2007 11:53:03 AM
The best way to know about stuff like this in the future is to go prideagenda.org and sign up for the alerts. We lobbied our senators and assembly members and had a great time.
Posted by: James | May 2, 2007 12:11:55 PM
This is positively amazing!! Who said the gay movement was dead?!
I resent that the largest voice in this article was given to the naysayers like Joseph Bruno though. -- This isn't about them, it's about those who have the courage of their ideas, like Governor Eliot Spitzer, and who are moving by *faith* in spite of it all. History will reserve a special place for these kind of men.
Posted by: Da | May 2, 2007 2:55:40 PM
James, thanks for the head ups on http://prideagenda.org . I just checked it out, it's a great site!
Posted by: Da | May 2, 2007 3:00:43 PM
Let's keep the positive momentum going! Tomorrow is marks an important day for New York, as the hate crime bill will be voted on.
Apparently there has been a sudden flood of email and phone calls from the radical right against this movement; we need to call our representatives and voice our SUPPORT for this important vote.
Find your representative here:
http://capwiz.com/hrc/dbq/officials/
More info here:
http://www.hrc.org
Posted by: A | May 2, 2007 4:41:07 PM