Same-Sex Marriage
Opponent Acquitted of Assaulting Gay Rights
Advocate

A Virginia man who publicly protested same-sex marriage has been cleared of charges that he assaulted a same-sex marriage supporter at a rally in Worcester, Mass., according to the Associated Press.

A district court jury acquitted Larry Cirignano of Arlington, Va., on Monday, after seven hours of deliberation. Cirignano, the former head of the organization Catholic Citizenship, was accused of pushing marriage equality advocate Sarah Loy to the ground last December during the protest against same-sex marriage.

Loy said she bruised her shoulder and elbow when she fell.

Two witnesses for the prosecution testified that they saw Cirignano shove Loy. Cirignano said he gently guided her away from a podium because he thought her presence would cause violence and that he did not see her fall. The jury concluded that Loy tripped and was not pushed. (The Advocate)