Local Gay Group to Albany: Thank You
Advocacy and support groups pleased, relieved that the state Senate has approved gay marriage.
By a 33-29 margin, the state Senate on Friday night approved the Marriage Equality Act, making New York the largest in the nation to allow gay marriage.
The Senate gave its stamp of approval to same sex marriages two years after it rejected it by a wide margin.
Organizations that cater to Long Island's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, like Pride for Youth, called the Act's approval a seismic moment for people who have long been ridiculed and victims of prejudice.
"What a historic day for all New Yorkers that believed in and supported the idea that all New Yorkers regardless of sexual orientation should be entitled to the same rights and privileges," said Pete Carney, the organization's director. "The passage of this Act gives all LGBT New Yorkers the ability to form legally supported partnerships and families, which is a wonderful message to give to LGBT youth that are struggling with finding acceptance in their own families, schools and communities."
Linda Leonard, the executive director of the Long Island Crisis Center, which operates Pride for Youth, said bias has led to increased suicides, substance abuse and homelessness in the local gay, lesbian and transgendered youth communities.
"The legalization of gay marriage in New York is huge step for New York to take to say to gay and lesbian youth that they are not second-class citizens," she said. "A heartfelt 'thank you' from Long Island Crisis Center to the senators, assemblymen and governor of New York, who stood up and did the right thing."
In This article
-
Long Island Crisis Center
2740 Martin Ave, Bellmore, NY -
Pride for Youth
2050 Bellmore Ave, Bellmore, NY
Mr. Flynn
12:20 am on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Well, it's just under two hours now since my and my wife's good friends were granted the same right to happiness as we have. Two hours in -- hold on...let me just look out my window for a moment.
Okay, done.
So far, I see no civilization destroying floods nor any lightning bolts coming out of the sky to obliterate. I hear no booming voice coming from the heavens condemning tonight's vote. No plagues, no rivers of blood, and certainly no one spontaneously turning gay (who wasn't gay already).
Strange. Could it be that...maybe...the world just keeps on turning?
The only thing I DO see is time running out for Senator Kemp Hannon and others like him who continue to embrace hatred and ignorance poorly covered in the veil of religion (and fear of upsetting their equally ignorant, hateful constituents). I assure you Senator, I will make sure people remember.
Bravo to those who voted yes -- even the ones who may not personally agree with it, but conceded that this was not -- nor ever should have been -- about religion, but about fairness.
By all means, add as much rhetoric to the law to protect religious institutions from being required to marry gays -- because I assure you none of them WANT to be married by them. Who would want to?
Again, bravo to all the Senators who stood up for fairness and equality. And congrats to my friends. Now start picking your china patterns!
Jeanette Hafke
1:12 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Bravo Mr. Flynn! Dead on! Besides, TRUE Christians are supposed to love thy neighbor and judge not lest ye be judged. This is a step forward for equality!
Ann W. Latner
1:11 am on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Great comment Mr Flynn. I couldn't agree more.
Robert Powers
12:47 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Hello all I just need to say thank you for all of you who supported same sex marriage. As I postedbefore on Patch.com this will help same sex couples receive benefits that are automatically given to straight married couples. For thoses of you who do not understand why this is needed I hope that we can educate you and make this a learning experience for all...
Rebecca Kammerer
2:21 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Wonderful News - Simply Wonderful!
Long Islander
3:11 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
The legal institution of marriage was made to provide tax benfits to a family. This eased the pressure for the wife to stay home and raise the children, while the husband went to work and was the sole income provider. Mr. Flynn, you should not mock the Lord and his omnipotence! You should also becareful for what you wish for!
Mr. Flynn
6:00 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Long Islander,
Explain how I mocked YOUR God? My God -- she doesn't care if people are gay, straight, black, white, orange with blue polkadots or has ten toes on each hand: My God cares only for one thing: that everyone treat each other with respect.
Basically Long Islander -- spare me your holier than thou rhetoric. You and everyone else against this bill are so dead set against change its not even funny. The Bible approves of slaves, demands all mean wear beards, prohibits shellfish and says that the moon is its own producer of light. It's also filled with wording that has, time and time again been shown to have been mis-translated and mis-interpreted.
In other words...
1. The Bible is inaccurate because it was written by fallible human beings who have used it for centuries for their own personal gains, to control others, instill fear, etc.
2. You can't pick or choose your bible laws -- either you embrace them all or you accept that not all of them are fair. Think about that the next time you're dining on lobster and the guys around the table are all clean shaved.
As for what I wished for -- well I wished that my gay best friend could someday get married in his home state. Hey, looks like I got my wish! YAY it's early Christmas!
Now have a great day!
Flynn
Jeanette Hafke
1:10 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Yeah... So wifey could stay home. Right... as If I could afford to live here if I didn't work ... We're both skilled professionals and it's difficult at best.
Donald McCarthy
5:51 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
I was shocked to see that this passed the NYS Senate. I never thought it would. I'm very happy it did, though. Don't really think there's much of an argument against it to be honest.
Jack O'Niel
9:19 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
This isn't a God thing, this is a legal thing. One more thing, don't you think the Big Guy can take care of things on His own? Stop playing little helper and live your life and not others.
Andrea Garner Farkas Krupen
2:11 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
I am so glad that the marriage equality bill passed. My husband and I recently celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary and moved to Garden City nearly 27 years ago. Our three children grew up in Garden City, were educated in the GC schools K through 12th grade, played on the village's soccer team, attended temple in Garden City, and celebrated most of their life cycle events in Garden City. Up until Friday, only two of my children would have been able to marry in Garden City.
SSteacher
8:31 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Its about time. Equality for all! The parade today in the city should be one of the biggest parites NYC has ever seen.
JOET*GUITAR
11:09 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
maybe one of you know--are there any other countries in this world that have done the same?
please let us know.
JOET*GUITAR
11:10 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Mr. Flynn
5:06 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Check out Wikipedia, Joet -- There's a pretty straightforward map of countries and their LGBT rights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory
JOET*GUITAR
6:25 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011
MR Flynn--i could be wrong, but on your link ,it seems only ----11 ------of ---all------- the countries in the world--- allow same sex marrige--
i wonder why?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
JOET*GUITAR
6:31 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011
OH YEA AND BY THE WAY--I AM ONE OF THOES THAT IS TOTALLY AGAINST IT-regardless of who-what where-when-how-why-etc-etc
another great thing the govt has done to educate the minds of the young children of the country.
when will the school board create a class on this??? im sure their working on that on overtime.
Mr. Flynn
6:54 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Joet,
Just reading your (obviously negative) statement on how this will educate the minds of the children is indicative of exactly the kind of mindset trying to be changed here. There is nothing wrong with homosexuality or lesbianism. Contrary to what every ultra, right-wing, uber-Christian wants to believe, being gay is no more a choice than being straight. You're born with it.
Now you may say that there is no scientific proof of this. I'll argue in return that there's been enough studies to strongly suggest that it in fact that is the case. But ultimately I can say you have no RELIGIOUS proof other than some misquoted statements in a thousands year old book as YOUR defense.
Maybe a school board is EXACTLY what we NEED to help our students understand that their friend with two moms is not a bad person. Or the teacher that's getting married to his boyfriend in a month is not a monster. Maybe more effort to help our students realize that gay or straight, black or white, disabled or whatever -- we're all just people. Maybe there would be less bullying all around...less kids hurting themselves or others.
I know my words are wasted on you -- as much as yours do nothing to sway me. My hope is that someone else may see what I, and others here who support this, have posted here and think a little bit more about why it was so important and why its a good thing.
Peace out.
Mr. Flynn
6:56 pm on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Oh and for the record, when you think about how many countries we have where women are treated like property, where people are still treated horrifically due to their religions or colors -- I'd say that 11 countries supporting same sex marriage is actually pretty damn decent. I look at it from the glass is half full -- I think that's great! Frankly I thought there would be less.
No go outside and enjoy the rest of the weekend...I know I'm gonna!
Flavio
8:00 am on Monday, June 27, 2011
Are you people kidding? this is ok with you? I just don't get it. Forget about God. Biology tells you this is wrong. If it were right 2 men or 2 women would be able to conceive. We are not built that way. Gays were offered civil unions with all the rights of marriage but that was not good enough. This is only about shoving it in the face of the religious of which I'm not one. What is next? Would it be ok if I marry twentytwo women? Marriage equality. Some people believe that is ok. Many Muslims believe in that. Why can't they do what they want? Should I be allowed to marry my Dog? I love my Dog. Where does it end?
JOET*GUITAR
9:43 am on Monday, June 27, 2011
TO FLAVIO---I LIKE WHAT YOU WROTE
Mr. Flynn
9:44 am on Monday, June 27, 2011
Does your dog have pretty eyes, Flavio?
Seriously though -- Yes, Biology dictates that in order to procreate a species, you need a male and a female to be involved. So take two males of the species or two females, who are built with the same 'plumbing' so to speak, and of course you're not going to get a baby.
However, among other studies, there are a number to strongly suggest that homosexuality is a biological population controller. In other words, when the masses become too much to sustain the food supply, biology kicks in, a few in a hundred or thousand find themselves attracted to the same sex, and the population steadies.
Add to that the existing, proven studies that have been done on same sex partnerships on animals (dolphins, birds, bison, monkeys, elephants, lizards to name just a few) -- and the argument is extremely clear.
Now I can hear you already Flavio: those are animals, we're people. But don't forget your science lessons from school when your teacher told you that humans, being mammals are essentially an another animal on this planet. We're just the lucky ones that decided to play with fire.
And if you want to argue that the science is not 100% concrete on these studies, I will willingly agree -- just as I pointed out to Joet above that there's no 100% concrete evidence sustaining any of the Bible's passages.
PS. If anyone's shoved ANYTHING into anyone's face over the centuries, it's religi
Long Islander
6:30 pm on Monday, June 27, 2011
You are grasping at straws to make this sinful act sound logical! It is irrational of you to try to justify this! You need a male and a female to procreate, which is how GOD planned it and also how nature functions! You can pretend GOD does not exist, but he truly does! Same sex marriage doesn't even concur with the laws of nature!
Mr. Flynn
7:29 pm on Monday, June 27, 2011
Like I said to Joet above, Long Islander -- you're not going to change my mind anymore than I am you. I never said God doesn't exist. I simply don't see God as a big guy in a white robe sitting on top of fluffy clouds. I tend to refer to God as a 'She' because life is primarily created within the female body. Yes, the man's sperm is required, but without the egg and the gestation in the woman's womb -- life doesn't have a chance. That's why many pre-christian religions were female based. Of course the men of the world (and yes, I say that as one of them) didn't like the idea of not being in power, that's why God grew a Penis and lost the breasts.
But I digress. The bottom line is I don't envision God -- be it male, female, or whatever it wants to be -- spending all of its time worrying about what we're doing here on this planet. not with an entire Universe at its hands to deal with.
So again...you can spout off all you want about sin, and the way God intended things to be. To me, you are desperately grasping onto ancient and archaic passages in an old book in order to Justify your ignorance and hate.
To me, sin is denying someone the ability to love. Sin is judging others. Sin is hurting others that are different than you. THAT's Sin, Long Islander. Not gay marriage.
Mr. Flynn
9:45 am on Monday, June 27, 2011
."religion" got cut off there at the end. But you got my point.
Anthony
10:42 am on Monday, June 27, 2011
It is 2011 folks. Evolve and grow with the times. Open your eyes and look at the future. If 2 men or 2 women are happy together and love one another, I am willing to put money on it that they could give a better life to children who need a home (adoption) then the man and woman who "did it" the right and created that child.
Concerned Citizen
8:57 pm on Monday, June 27, 2011
There was an article today about Greece plannig to run the Gaza strip blockade, in Israel, with "humanitarioan" aid, which as we know consists of a few bushels of wheat and thousands of tons of armaments. Do any of you "loving" people care about the Hamas mandate to kill all Jews and drive them into the sea? Or is this an easier issue for you to climb on your soapbpox? Al Qadea <sic> gave an 8 year old girl a package to deliver to a ploiceman and then detonated it, killing the girl. Pick your spots, people, life is short.
BARBARA K.
9:00 am on Saturday, July 2, 2011
To Concerned Citizen: If people take time to comment on the gay marriage act, whether pro or con, it doesn't mean they are not also concerned about other issues, such as the Middle East, our 2 wars, unemployment, etc. Gay marriage is an important human rights issue also.
Mr. Flynn
9:33 am on Saturday, July 2, 2011
Hear, Hear Barbara! Isn't it wonderful that we're complex organisms and capable of contemplating more than one issue at a time?