Protestors crowded on the corner of Senator Tony Avella’s Bell Boulevard office early on Monday, June 20 – the last scheduled day of New York State’s legislative session. They rallied to urge the lawmaker to vote against or at the least postpone his vote to legalize same sex marriages in the state.
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Resident and professor K. Malone stated that by no means was she or any of the protestors present attempting to condemn same sex partners.
“We’re not here to condemn or attack but the term of marriage should not be used but social contract instead,” said Malone. “By no means are we opposed to legal rights but don’t call it marriage, it’s an infringement. They should hold up the vote, [gay marriage] should not be imposed”
Fellow protestor George, who withheld his last name, reaffirmed Malone’s sentiment.
“[The bill’s passage] is unnatural. It is redefining what has been established in society,” he said. “Society has been established by man and woman, using the term marriage is unnatural.”
Micheal Hilley, Cathy Donohoe, and Julia Chitos echoed that by no means should the term marriage be used and that there must be a conversation and they feel as though an open dialogue is lacking. Same sex couples should be entitled to all benefits but the term marriage is God given and intrinsically reserved for a man and a woman.
Openly gay Bayside resident Paul Kaplan who is currently having his art featured at the nearby Italian restaurant Il Vesuvio attempted to sway the protestors.
“I have been in a relationship with a man for 30 years and I would like to marry him and people like these are denying me that right.” Kaplan said. “I was born this way. I was born gay. I love another man and for thousands of years human beings have been homosexual. Every human being should have the right to marriage and these people are here to take away rights and humanity.”
Bernie Friend, formerly of Raleigh, North Carolina spoke to the protestors about their approach.
“The signs start off negative. No is a powerful word. They should say ‘say yes to social contract’ so you’re on even ground and not slapping everybody down,” she said. “Being gay is something you are born with. No one chooses to be gay.”
