Protest of Prop 8 and banning of same sex marraige

On Nov. 15th, in hundreds of cities across the US, protesters gathered to show frustration over the ballot initiatives that passed in Arizona, California and Florida banning same sex marriage and to send a message to state and the federal governments that marriage is a civil right that should be afforded to all citizens. In Rochester, despite it being a cold, rainy day about a 150 gay and straight people gathered outside the Monroe County building to send the message to Albany and Washington DC. During the protest it was kind of ironic that a wedding party pulled up in a bus to go into the county building and had to pass through the protesters. <!--break--> In the United States marriage has a long and controversial history because of ignorance and bigotry. From the time of the Bay Colony women until the mid 1800’s had no civil rights and could be bartered or sold into marriage by their fathers. It was illegal for whites to marry blacks through most of the history of the United States . In 1968, Virginia became the last state to legalize biracial marriage. Yes Virginia whose slogan was “Virginia is for lovers”. If you think about it, if President elect Barack Obama’s parents had been in Virginia instead of Hawaii, they could not have been married. It makes you wonder why he would oppose equal marriage for gays. Due to a NYS court decision, a legal same sex marriage performed outside NYS is considered a legal marriage by the state. Court judges said that since New York recognizes heterosexual marriages performed in other jurisdictions, same-sex marriages should receive the same treatment Promptly after this court decision, Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks, filed a lawsuit appealing the courts decision arguing that since gay marriages cannot be legally performed in New York State, the state should not recognize these marriages at all, even if they are performed out of state. She also argued that the cost to the county would be significant. This writer questions her ability to think civil rights are too monetarily costly for some of her constituents. The county lost the appeal. This issue will continue to be one of great controversy, but as history has shown, one that progressed through time. Equal marriage is just the next logical step in this slow progression towards justice and equality.

<p>On Nov. 15th, in hundreds of cities across the US, protesters gathered to show frustration over the ballot initiatives that passed in Arizona, California and Florida banning same sex marriage and to send a message to state and the federal governments that marriage is a civil right that should be afforded to all citizens. In Rochester, despite it being a cold, rainy day about a 150 gay and straight people gathered outside the Monroe County building to send the message to Albany and Washington DC. During the protest it was kind of ironic that a wedding party pulled up in a bus to go into the county building and had to pass through the protesters.</p> <!--break--><p>In the United States marriage has a long and controversial history because of ignorance and bigotry. From the time of the Bay Colony women until the mid 1800’s had no civil rights and could be bartered or sold into marriage by their fathers. It was illegal for whites to marry blacks through most of the history of the United States . In 1968, Virginia became the last state to legalize biracial marriage. Yes Virginia whose slogan was “Virginia is for lovers”. If you think about it, if President elect Barack Obama’s parents had been in Virginia instead of Hawaii, they could not have been married. It makes you wonder why he would oppose equal marriage for gays.</p> <p>Due to a NYS court decision, a legal same sex marriage performed outside NYS is considered a legal marriage by the state. Court judges said that since New York recognizes heterosexual marriages performed in other jurisdictions, same-sex marriages should receive the same treatment Promptly after this court decision, Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks, filed a lawsuit appealing the courts decision arguing that since gay marriages cannot be legally performed in New York State, the state should not recognize these marriages at all, even if they are performed out of state. She also argued that the cost to the county would be significant. This writer questions her ability to think civil rights are too monetarily costly for some of her constituents. The county lost the appeal.</p> <p>This issue will continue to be one of great controversy, but as history has shown, one that progressed through time. Equal marriage is just the next logical step in this slow progression towards justice and equality.</p>

Protest of Prop 8 and banning of same sex marraige http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/6840

Protest of Prop 8 and banning of same sex marraige http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/6840