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Gays Across New York State Protest Marriage Ruling

(New York City) Angry gays and lesbians demonstrated across New York State Thursday night to protest against a ruling by the Court of Appeals that criticized same-sex couples and said they had no constitutional right to marriage.

About a thousand people demonstrated in Sheridan Square in New York City's West Village. Hundreds of others protested in Albany, Rochester and four other centers around the state.

Thursday morning the court in a 4 - 2 ruling issued Thursday morning said that defining marriage is an issue for the Legislature. But, the majority opinion did not stop there, saying that the Legislature could rationally decide that, for the welfare of children, it is more important to promote stability, and to avoid instability, in opposite-sex than in same-sex relationships.

"Heterosexual intercourse has a natural tendency to lead to the birth of children; homosexual intercourse does not," the ruling said.

At the New York rally state Sen. Tom Duane denounced the high court and derided NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg and Attorney General Elliot Spitzer for opposing same-sex marriage before the court.

Both Bloomberg and Spitzer, who is likely to be the next governor, have publicly stated their support for gay marriage. Bloomberg fought a lower court ruling that favored gay marriage because he believed it would have resulted in a hodge podge of rulings across the state.

Spitzer as attorney general was obligated to argue on behalf of the existing law which prevents gay marriage. Thursday night he said that he would draft and propose legislation to legalize gay marriage in New York State if elected governor in November.

Duane is the author of a bill already filed in the Legislature that would extend marriage rights to same-sex couples but has been bottled up in committee.

He repeated a call he made earlier in the day to fellow Democrats to get behind the bill.

Other speakers included openly lesbian City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and NY Congressmen Anthony Weiner and Jerrold Nadler.

In Albany gays and lesbians, many with their children, demonstrated at the Capitol.

Ross Levi of the Empire State Pride Agenda said lawmakers need to act on a gay marriage bill. "They need to hear the will of New Yorkers; it's time for them to lead,” said Levi.

In Rochester more than 200 people demonstrated against the ruling.

"Get mad, we're not second-class citizens," said Bess Watts. "We're being treated as second-class citizens."

Following the court ruling LGBT advocates said they would concentrate their attention on the Legislature.

©365Gay.com 2006

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