VIDEO: Four Gay Activists Arrested in Marriage Equality Protest After Chaining Themselves to New York Marriage Bureau
Four activists from the group Queer Rising were arrested this morning after chaining themselves to the New York Marriage Bureau following the application and subsequent rejection of marriage licenses to more than 20 same-sex couples.
Alan Bounville, Jake Goodman, Justin Elzie and Gabriel Yuri Bollag chained and pad-locked themselves to the entrance railing, subsequently blocking entry to the marriage bureau, according to the group.
Watch video, AFTER THE JUMP...
Following the rejection of the same-sex couples, a lesbian and gay man applied to be married and were approved as a couple for a marriage license. Between 50 and 100 marriage equality supporters held a rally and press conference in the park opposite the bureau.
Said group spokesman Spring Super: “New York City is home to the Stonewall Riots and in that tradition we are here to say that equality doesn’t arrive through the ballot box. The bankrupt strategy of putting all efforts into electing so-called ‘friendly’ officials has failed. We must shift to building a grassroots, national movement that demands full equality by any means necessary. Today, through our symbolic marriage applications, rally and civil disobedience, that message was quite clear.”
Watch video of the protest, AFTER THE JUMP...
The photos here were posted to the group's Facebook page by William Berger.
Posted Feb. 12,2010 at 1:35 PM EST by Andy Towle in Activism, Gay Marriage, New York, News | Permalink
This group seems well-meaning, but it's very misguided. The first thing it needs to do is ditch the word "queer" from its name. My experience has been that "queers" are radicals who preach against integration of LGBT folk into the mainstream. The second thing the group needs to do is abandon the questionable tactic of having members marry each other heterosexually. The message sent by these ceremonies is confusing at best. Worse, it plays right into Right Wing rhetoric "ex-Gay" rhetoric that recommends opposite-gender marriage for Lesbians and Gay men.
Posted by: Stuffed Animal | Feb 12, 2010 1:44:45 PM
Uh, that marrying an opposite-sex person in OBVIOUS protest could somehow be translated into proof of ex-gay success is stupid.
NO ONE would draw that conclusion.
Also, Stuffed Animal, people in the LGBT community know the (flexible) connotations of "queer," but it's probably pretty rare that people outside our circle -- you know, non-supporters -- have any clue that it could mean something else.
Don't object for the point of being a naysayer.
Posted by: Shelby | Feb 12, 2010 1:51:48 PM
we need more of this, everywhere. no more asking permission, no more ASKING, period.
Posted by: ZnSD | Feb 12, 2010 1:55:10 PM
The marriage license issued to the gay and lesbian potential couple was the only thing going for this otherwise tired type of overdone protest.
Posted by: Zlick | Feb 12, 2010 2:01:42 PM
Stuffed Animal wrote: "This group seems well-meaning, but it's very misguided. The first thing it needs to do is ditch the word "queer" from its name. My experience has been that "queers" are radicals who preach against integration of LGBT folk into the mainstream."
The usage of 'Queer' by this group is appropriate and suitable, as it would be for any LGBT group. 'Queer' along with queer cultures, queer theory, queer studies are thoroughly established in both academia and mainstream American culture.
Contrary to your comment about 'queers' being radicals, etc., this is not correct -- many who use the term queer are anything but radical, even conservative in their views.
You would more effective to attack radicalism directly, than to conflate what you don't like about some queers willingness to integrate into society with some suspicion about the name, as if queer were a code for 'gay extremist'.
While this is true some of the time, and perhaps more so in past years, it is no longer the case.
Posted by: Mark Woods | Feb 12, 2010 2:02:36 PM
@ ZLICK - Bingo!
Posted by: Tralfaz | Feb 12, 2010 2:04:08 PM
I'm a member of Queer Rising. This was an awesome event this morning and I cannot wait till our brave members, who got arrested, are released. Please watch part 2 of the video (showing the arrest) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNqkF_BF13w
Posted by: Vito | Feb 12, 2010 2:12:34 PM
I think it's Fantastic! I can understand the frustration and actions. This waiting for the goverment to feel comfortable with marriage equality is over.
Where are the massive protests like back after Prop 8 passed? Where is the energy?
I was one of the lucky ones who got married in CA and have friends who didn't get there in time.
Posted by: DairyQueen | Feb 12, 2010 2:20:11 PM
Oh yes, 'zlick' & 'tralfaz', it's just so 'tired'. Aren't you both just so clever and wonderful? Gee I wish I could be: just. like. you.
This type of protest is exactly what we need in every capital city of states that deny our rights. Guess you bitches will be too busy admiring yourselves to help with that. So run along and have a nice hot cup of shut the fuck up, you stupid fags.
Posted by: wtf | Feb 12, 2010 2:23:33 PM
Thank you, WTF.
Posted by: Shelby | Feb 12, 2010 2:27:27 PM
Good for them. These young people are the new heroes.
Posted by: homerh | Feb 12, 2010 2:32:10 PM
This is awesome. Civil disobedience is really the only thing that is going to speed up this process. I don't find the tactic used misguided at all. It gets the point across succinctly and noticably.
I can't believe anyone is calling this a "tired type of overdone protest." As opposed to the protests that are not commonly done and more original? You are welcome to protest in that manner as well as long as you're doing something.
Posted by: Tonic | Feb 12, 2010 2:38:33 PM
stuffed animal, zlick, trafalz!
what a bunch of "good germans" you are! because fuck it! behaving nicely and politely has accomplished soooo much for the QUEER community in the past, right?
Posted by: alguien | Feb 12, 2010 2:39:05 PM
Good protest (hey, it worked in the 60s, it's still good now!)
One thing I don't get. Ok, the bureau denied a bunch of licenses o LGB couples, then gave a license to a couple who were clearly defrauding the state as an act of civil protest. Kudos to that couple, but "wtf?" on the bureau...
Posted by: DR | Feb 12, 2010 2:40:39 PM
Uh, WTF you can kiss my ass. Looking back at Zlick's post I should have edited my own responce. I agree with Zlick about the protest in Buffalo where the lesbian was deyned and then got a marriage licence with a total stranger. I think THAT is much more effective. HOWEVER, as turned myself away from my own beautiful reflection I should have also pointed out that I AGREE that protest like the one here is also needed.
Is that clear enough for you mother fucker?
Posted by: Tralfaz | Feb 12, 2010 2:41:34 PM
Let me clarify: I'm Personally Tired of it. It's done every year, in dozens of cities, and the press has long since stopped paying attention. Yes, the media is tired of it, too. The arrests while chained so as to block entrance to the building was a bold IMPROVEMENT that I hope gets some deserved attention.
The other twist in this year's versions, i.e., a lesbian and gay stranger couple applying for and being granted a marriage licence, is also a neat twist that I hope gets some deserved attention.
This protest in NYC by Queer Rising upped the stakes. I hope enough so that the tired media pays a little attention. I'm not the only one tired of gay marriage licence denials. And I fear it will take many, many, MANY more arrests for this to garner the attention needed. But kudos to Queers Rising for making a valiant start.
Posted by: Zlick | Feb 12, 2010 2:42:23 PM
DR - Isn't that the truth about bureau. This right wing asshole (the one that posed as pimp with a whore) who got all up in ACORN's mess went to MASS and tried to marry another guy and clearly said they were not even gay but wanted the benefits.
They were turned down everytime they tried.
Posted by: Tralfaz | Feb 12, 2010 2:45:21 PM
The lesbian and gay man receiving the NY marriage license are still not married.
A marriage license needs to be acted on in a short space of time and signed by the participants and also one who is authorized to perform marriages in the state where the license is issued. The symbolism is good but the man and woman are still single.
Posted by: jamesnimmo | Feb 12, 2010 2:46:07 PM
keep up the good fight
Posted by: KFLO | Feb 12, 2010 2:49:14 PM
Golly gee tralfaz, I guess we were all supposed to read your mind.
Since your head seems to be more in the proximity of your own ass, why don't you go ahead and do the smooching, and I'll get back to defiling my dead cremated mother. Yes, I am laughing at your fail.
Posted by: wtf | Feb 12, 2010 2:49:35 PM
ZLICK, can we go back to admiring ourselves and being "Good Germans" now, hon?
God forbid anyone not have a 100% lock step opinion. If you don't spell shit, these bitches will torch your house.
Posted by: Tralfaz | Feb 12, 2010 2:51:58 PM
Still being a cunt, huh WTF?
Posted by: Tralfaz | Feb 12, 2010 2:54:01 PM
The two woman that filed the lawsuit in California that resulted in our brief period of freedom did just this (not chain themselves ... but I kinda think that's HOT) ... they kept trying every year to get a licenes at the same place in Beverly Hills.
They were the first couple to marry in California. They said the same clerk that had to deny them every year was in tears of joy when she FINALLY was able to issue them a licences.
The day we got ours I was crying my ass off.
Posted by: REYnoldo | Feb 12, 2010 2:59:34 PM
PS. Can Tralfaz and WTF take it outside with the other cats on the fence?
Posted by: REYnoldo | Feb 12, 2010 3:09:44 PM
Sorry for the bad link before. the FULL video can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VV0LXVfF4c
Also, at the end, you see our members being arrested.
Please visit our website at www.queerrising.org to learn more about our group. We want a national movement; we don't want a movement focused on just NYS. If you'd like to get involved in your city, contact us!
Posted by: Vito | Feb 12, 2010 3:22:22 PM