Let it Rain Equality

In New England, in my liberal state of Massachusetts, it is raining heavily. The drops are knocking hard against the windows and the cars heading north and south are sounding those little wave like crashes from the water of puddles being displaced and uprooted from their dormancy by the rubber tires earnestly gripping then shoving the road behind causing the water to hit undercarriages and splash back down to the road.

In New York City, I am told it is also raining. There is a planned protest at City hall; 260 Broadway against the passing of California’s prop 8. The protest is simultaneously happening in over 300 cities including cities in 10 countries besides the US with an estimated turnout of over 1 million protesters. There are 4 locations in Massachusetts. The protest in Northampton is City Hall located at 210 Main Street. The event is organized by Join the Impact, a group founded the day after the election who write, “We've reacted to Prop 8 with anger, with resolve, and with courage. NOW, it's time to show America and the world how we love. “

On election day, the democrats in the New York state senate won a narrow margin of control. Eyewitness news 7 an ABC affiliate out of New York reports on November 8 that there are 4 democrats who may shift to the republican side.

The Rev. Duane Motley, founder of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which opposes gay marriage, said they knew that with Republicans in control of the Senate that legislation to legalize it "was not going to come up." With Democrats in control, he said party members will be pushing for it, but he questioned whether they have the votes.

"I think there's at least four or five Democrats who wouldn't support it," said Motley, who said his group represents more than 2,000 evangelical churches and 500 other Christian organizations statewide. He believes the Republican senators will remain opposed.”

How something like marriage can become engulfed in political maneuvering is sickening. Government should not be able to deny rights to individuals. The Reverands NYCF in their "Petition to save Marriage in New York State," writes, "The institution of marriage provides the basic family unit within which children are born and nurtured. It is the essential building block of our society, not an archaic, outmoded tradition to ever be redefined or cast aside."

How is it being redefined using the definition the NYCF themselves and other like groups have
written in the petition. The institution of marriage is all the things they say it is in their petition statement. Family is an interpreted substance. The family unit is evolving. How many kids are being raised by grandparents aunts, uncles, foster care, brothers sisters , etc.

In a letter to current Senate Majority leader, Senator Dean G. Skelos, Rev. Motley writes:

“New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms has always appreciated the fact that you do not surrender your core values for purposes of political expediency. I urge you and the Republican Majority Conference to continue to stand firm for the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman only.”

It’s always about tradition. It was tradition once to import African slaves and use them for labor. It was tradition for women to be owned by their husbands. It was tradition for Egyptians to continue to enslave the Jews and it is tradition for the majority in this country to oppress minorities.

Perhaps, the solidarity that the protest today will give to the LGBTQ and Ally community will propel the New York government to open their eyes to the reality that this is not only a civil rights issue, but an issue that weighs on our humanity. This rain is not a hinder on the protesters, but on those who refuse to give the same rights to all human beings. It is their ominous warning of our mobilization, of our coming together, of the true sense of morality: the equality, kindness and compassion that every human being on this planet has if they so choose. Choose well.