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11/09/2009
Bigots Applaud as NY Senator George Maziarz Tells Lesbian He Won't Vote for Her Marriage Rights
Senator George Maziarz tells Anne Tischer and Bess Watts of Gates, New York, a couple of 15 years who married in Canada four years ago, that he won't be voting for her right to get married in New York. This inspires a round of applause from those present.
Disgusting.
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
(via joe) And use this tool to call your Senator now.
Posted 11:09 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, New York, News | Permalink
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What an ass. He could have at least addressed whether he supports civil unions, or attempted to explain how he justifies his position when she has clearly pointed out the RIGHTS that are at stake in civil marriage.
Anne spoke eloquently and bravely, and rather than dwell on the politician's disgusting response to her pouring her heart out, I want to wish her well and thank her for standing up both for herself and for our community. If we see true equality soon, it will be thanks to people like her.
Posted by: E. | Nov 9, 2009 11:26:45 AM
This is an easy fix. VOTE THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: SB | Nov 9, 2009 11:56:52 AM
What an ass.
Posted by: dm | Nov 9, 2009 12:07:17 PM
Hmm, let's see here...
1. She knew his answer before she even asked the question
2. He didn't back down from being ambushed, no surprise there either
3. Nothing is gained at all from this confrontation - everything we knew is only reinforced - it was pointless
So yet again, I have to ask an obvious question: how are these tactics of getting our point across contributing to any meaningful movement forward? What sort of dividends are paying off when we waste our time doing things like this? The energy spent here could have been better used by having this woman and her partner speak directly to groups of voters, or to groups of students, or to neighbors, or to even have those same neighbors show their support for them, or ANYTHING besides having her badmouth the very people whose minds we want to change (her whole rant about how she is a taxpayer too, and the taxes are too high, and she pours her money down the Albany drain aren't going to win ANY converts to her/our side).
More misdirected straw-man noise.
Posted by: Mitch Shea | Nov 9, 2009 12:47:34 PM
@ Mitch: I disagree. She is speaking to a bunch of voters (the others in the room). She is articulately telling her personal story and putting it in the context of American values and the US Constitution. (And the whole tax grief bit makes her a more likely ally of the other voters in the room.)
What's your plan?
Posted by: David R. | Nov 9, 2009 1:07:17 PM
Uh, huh, and Mitch Shea, what the fuck are YOU doing? Who do you think you are that you can criticize someone who at least takes a stand? You think commenting on a blog justifies action? Are you so afraid of authority figures that you feel you can't call them out on their bullshit prejudice?
Posted by: tooboot | Nov 9, 2009 1:08:54 PM
Wow Mitch, way to be a douche to the nice lady with the courage to stand up to a roomful of bigots.
Posted by: Eric | Nov 9, 2009 1:32:35 PM
welcome to america. what are we going to do about it?
Posted by: r | Nov 9, 2009 1:37:46 PM
She should have asked him what he is doing to ensure she has the same rights, even if the word marriage isn't there like in Washington state. They would have led him to address whether he was anti-gay or not.
Posted by: SnSD | Nov 9, 2009 1:38:20 PM
Mitch:
Confronting your senator about an issue important to you in a public setting is not an ambush, it's a conversation.
If you remain invisible to these kinds of people it is much easier for them to dehumanize you and find all sorts of excuses for why it's okay to treat you differently.. you're not real to them.
Maybe these two women didn't change their senator's mind, or those in the audience who applauded, but perhaps, after having seen these two women, after hearing how the discrimination affects them, seeing that yes, these are real, normal human beings (which can be an alien concept to so many who hate LGBTs) it might open some minds or hearts and make them re-evaluate where they stand on this issue. If we just gave up and skulked into the shadows because the odds seemed against us, we'd never gain any ground.
Posted by: James | Nov 9, 2009 1:40:18 PM
The senator had no cogent response to his constituents adroit and much needed question. Shameful!
I applaud her courage and forthright approach! We need more of this!
Posted by: Daniel | Nov 9, 2009 1:41:09 PM
David: I made a few suggestions, but I can also say that she'd be making more of an impact teaching as an openly gay teacher, or running for office, or talking to her kids and grandkids about what it's like to be a lesbian, or just about ANYTHING other than making a pointless confrontation to a bigot, roomful of bigots, or those who applaud bigotry. Sorry, not a fan of theatrics or confrontation for confrontation's sake. Her heart is in it, but this was a pointless exercise in
James: Good points, I will admit that her statements and purpose are noble and positive, but her tactics are not. I don't see this as a conversation, I see it as a theatrical brand of YouTube/viral "politics" (the tasing guy, the macaca guy, anyone who tries to act like Michael Moore) that has zero effect, zero staying power, zero point, zero use for us as a group trying to get to the other side of this kind of hatred. As we see, it almost EMBOLDENS the bigots in the room. If they are serious about making impassioned statements about THEMSELVES, why does she waste a bunch of time making points about "I am a taxpayer" and "I pay my taxes too" and the whole thing about those taxes being high enough (which somehow is supposed to give her credibility)?? She doesn't tell the bigots who she is, she doesn't tell them what she is about, or her partner, or her family, or anything at all. She doesn't even ask a pertinent question, really, just a general one designed to bait the guy into saying something controversial or acting out of hand (which he does not do). It's one thing to use your community stature to spread ideas about who we are and change minds and make voters out of idiots; it's another thing to say "let's roll the camera while I try and confront the Senator about gay rights so everyone can see what a JERK he is!!!" Wow, that's productive.
Posted by: Mitch Shea | Nov 9, 2009 1:59:52 PM
The interaction does serve to point out the main issue, that of gaining civil rights versus a belief that is couched in biblical thought. The separation of church and state is no more. And as a result there is needless suffering. The senator parrots the party line, Anne her life's circumstances. I do have faith the tide against gay marriage will change, I don't know why, I just do. In the meantime, it's important for Anne, and others like her, to go to these meets and greets so politicians know who they're representing. The applause is disheartening, but to be expected and ignored.
Posted by: kody | Nov 9, 2009 3:04:13 PM
Good for Anne!!! Why can't more gay people speak out? Contact these senators NOW! Joseph Addabbo, Jr. - addabbo@senate.state.ny.us, Brian X. Foley - bfoley@senate.state.ny.us, John J. Flanagan - flanagan@senate.state.ny.us, Charles Fuschillo - fuschill@senate.state.ny.us, Ruth Hassell-Thompson - hassellt@senate.state.ny.us, Carl Kruger - kruger@senate.state.ny.us, Kenneth LaValle - lavalle@senate.state.ny.us, Vincent Leibell - leibell@senate.state.ny.us, Hiram Monserrate - monserra@senate.state.ny.us, Owen H. Johnson - ojohnson@senate.state.ny.us, John Sampson - sampson@senate.state.ny.us, James Alesi - alesi@senate.state.ny.us
Posted by: Bill | Nov 9, 2009 4:23:39 PM
I'd urge everyone to contact this senator's office and tell them of your plans to contribute to his opponent's campaign in his upcoming re-election bid.
Phone number: 518-455-2024. Maybe you'll get the same sniveling, sarcastic woman on the end of the line as I did!
And if it helps, here's what I told them:
------------------------
I'm obviously not a constituent of the Senator's, but after watching the internet video of him responding to one of his constituents who happens to be a lesbian, I've decided to pledge as much money as I can to whomever his Democratic opponent is in his upcoming bid for re-election.
Not only is the Senator trampling on the civil rights of that particular constituent by actively voting to deny her equal protection under your state's constitution, he didn't even have the spine to look at her in the eye while answering her question and essentially telling her that she's a second-class citizen.
Politicians like the senator you work for and dutifully represent need to be held accountable for their actions, and I'll be doing my part by funding his political opponent to the maximum amount allowed by law as soon as his main opponent announces his or her candidacy.
Posted by: mister_eaves | Nov 9, 2009 4:52:36 PM
wow. what an asshat. I don't know how he can just tell one of his constituents her relationship doesn't deserve legal recognition. And she was very very together and approachable and straightforward. Good for her for at least making her case!
Posted by: Alex | Nov 9, 2009 4:57:30 PM
So, Mitch, Anne asking (long-windedly it's true) an entirely appropriate question of a representative in a public setting is a waste of time, but you taking the time to rail against her at length on Towleroad is somehow useful?
Bravo to her for standing up for herself and her wife--if every one of us were consistently brave enough to out ourselves and demand equality from our legislators then we might get somewhere.
Furthermore, how do you know she's not also spending her energy elsewhere? Clearly, she came prepared for this--I'm guessing this isn't the first time she's spoken up. Are the rest of us, including yourself, doing so many more important things to advance our cause? Seems like you might take some of your own advice and spend your energy on things more important than critiquing a fellow gay person's performance standards.
Posted by: Ernie | Nov 9, 2009 5:00:50 PM
While I don't like his position and think he should have at least gone further into explaining it, I'll at least give him credit for not encouraging the "clappers." The people in his district are conservative (it's like New York's little Alabama), so it is also a political calculation. He could be like some other GOPers and speak of fire and brimstone and encourage those audience members clapping, but at least he put his hand up to quiet them.
George Maziarz is not a Senator who will be voting for marriage equality. The woman was passionate and measured, and I applaud her for her courage even when she knew what his answer was going to be, but at least she is making her presence known. Good for her. We're making progress and we'll get there soon enough - with or without George Maziarz.
Posted by: Steve | Nov 9, 2009 7:40:57 PM
I think we need to get everyone registered to vote....just think of how many free thinking people you know who didn't vote; it's a basic right. I wish everyone would take five minutes of their time on election day to get rid of creeps like this
Posted by: John Normile | Nov 12, 2009 9:04:11 AM
Isn't it ironic that the sign behind him reads "BIG MONEY RAFFLE TO BENEFIT CHARITY ACTIVITIES"
Posted by: nicholas | Nov 12, 2009 2:59:54 PM