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September 16, 2008

Thousands March for Marriage in NYC, San Francisco

Thousands of LGBT people marched Sunday morning to promote marriage equality in two states at the heart of the marriage battle. Marriage Equality USA sponsored this year’s fifth annual “Wedding March” in New York City and San Francisco, according to the Associated Press.

"This year has seen incredible progress for marriage equality coast to coast," Marriage Equality USA policy director Pamela Brown told AP. “Last year at this time, neither California or New York recognized the marriages of same-sex couples. Now, one year later, California is enjoying its fourth month of same-sex couples getting legally married in all 58 counties, and New York is recognizing marriages of same-sex couples."

The New York supreme court last week upheld a directive, issued by Gov. David Paterson in May, to recognize all same-sex marriages performed outside of the state. Currently a gay marriage bill is sitting in New York’s Republican-dominated senate, awaiting a vote.

Rainbow colored umbrellas were held by marchers to represent “different races ... genders,” and “orientations,” New York volunteer Brenda Straley told News 10 Now in Syracuse. Thousands of volunteers walked the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, the Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge, and New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge.

"We want equal rights," Straley said. “We want to be able to marry. It's not about religion, it's not about anything. It's just that we deserve it. We are not second-class citizens. We deserve it." (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

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  • Name: Carol
    Date posted: 2008-09-16 7:55 PM
    Hometown: MO

    Comment:

    Yes, they deserve equal rights as American citizens. They have given their lives to fight for their country in every war. They are our Doctors, Nurses, Lawyers, Senators, Congressman, Scientists, Judges, Engineers, Sportspeople, every job you can think of they are in. They add to our economy in their country of America. It is ignorant, unjust, and arrogant for groups that fight their own citizens of the United States to be treated in this manner in 2008.


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