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)
