AFA Poll Of The Day

Bill Donahue On NY Town Clerks

"Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer enthusiastically signed a law extending religious rights in the workplace, one that went beyond the 'reasonable accommodation' provision of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Indeed, under New York State law, the onus is on the employer to show that it would cause "undue hardship" if an employee were to exercise his "sincerely held" religious beliefs. Now it is fatuous to say that it would cause an undue hardship in the workplace if clerks, and deputy clerks, who do not have an issue with giving marriage licenses to homosexuals handled these matters for those who do. It cannot be said too strongly: Bullying those who have religious objections is despicable. There is an obvious hole in New York's gay marriage law: religious exemptions need to be extended to lay people, not just the clergy." - Catholic League blowhard Bill Donahue.

New York Episcopal Bishop Orders Gay Clergy To Marry Their Partners

That's a headline you probably didn't expect.

Long Island Episcopal Bishop Lawrence Provenzano has put his foot down against gay clergy who residing in homosexual relationships, and has given a nine month deadline for them to either get married or stop living together, according to the News Observer. “I need to be mindful that the church has always asked people to live in committed monogamous, faithful relationships. I won’t allow heterosexual clergy to live in a rectory or church housing without the benefit of marriage. When one puts it in that context, then you see how it all begins to make sense,” said Provenzano. Reverend Christopher Hofer, pastor of the Episcopal Church of St. Jude agrees with Provenzano, “I think his statement was not only fair, but beyond generous. It gives people time, acknowledging that there’s a financial component involved and recognizing that some may not choose to live together.

Bigoted NY Town Clerk Tells Her Story

Note how NOM once again rips off a local news clip, retitles it and posts it to their own channel. They did the same thing with my original video of their Bronx hate rally.

Quote Of The Day - Brian Brown

"We've already met the first victims of this new gay marriage regime. Town clerks, charged with a duty to issue and record marriage licenses, are faced with a stark choice: give up stable employment in the midst of a troubled job market, or give up their religious convictions about marriage. Two clerks have already resigned; others have been warned that failure to comply with the new law could land them in jail. Who will the next victims be? A wedding photographer or owner of a reception hall? Parents of public school children who object to curriculum changes this fall? How long before the new law impacts you and your family? The answer from Albany is clear: We couldn't care less." - NOM president Brian Brown, in a blog post announcing the four locations of their anti-gay hate rallies.

NOM Launches Hate Mail Campaign Against Pro-Gay New York State Senators

NOM has begun mailing flyers to voters in the home districts of seven New York state senators who voted in favor of marriage equality. Included in the mailings are the four GOP Senators who voted "yes."

AFA Poll Of The Day

Results.

Rainbow Falls

In order to highlight what they predict will be booming gay marriage tourism, city officials in Niagara Falls say they are working to have the falls illuminated in the colors of the rainbow on the first days of legalized same-sex unions.

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said “This event, which will highlight Niagara Falls on an international level as a premier wedding and honeymoon destination, will serve as a tremendous economic shot in the arm for not only the area’s hotels and attractions, but for the florists, bakeries and restaurants throughout the city.” Dyster said. “Those who come here will see the efforts made by this administration in reinventing our downtown tourist district and be welcomed into a city that will once again reclaim its title as the honeymoon capital of the world.”

NEW YORK: Hate Group Offers Free Legal Defense To Anti-Marriage Town Clerks

The anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund is offering free legal defense to any New York town clerk who refuses to license same-sex couples. NOM began promoting the offer today on their blog.

NEW YORK: Hate Group Predicts Numerous Employment Lawsuits

"I believe that at that point, there will be many more people who will realize, whether it's a limo driver, a caterer, a D.J., photographer, town clerks or justices, they will come face-to-face with the fact that they've got to choose between their faith or supporting their families. So I think we'll be looking at a lot of religious freedom cases in New York State." - Jason McGuire, director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms.

Quote Of The Day - Rudy Giuliani

'I think the Republican Party would be well advised to get the heck out of people's bedrooms and let these things get decided by states. We'd be a much more successful political party if we stuck to our economic, conservative roots. I think it's wrong [gay marriage], but there are other things that I think are wrong that get decided by democratic vote. I see more harm, however, by dwelling so much on this subject of gays and lesbians and whether it's right or wrong in politics." - Rudy Giuliani, speaking today to CNN.

NEW YORK: Judges Rush To Volunteer For First Day Of Same-Sex Marriage

Dozens of New York judges have volunteered to officiate at same-sex marriages across the state on Sunday, July 24th, the first day they become legal.

As one of several dozen judges across the state who have volunteered to play an official role in the new law’s first day, Justice Raffaele is part of one of the most unusual judicial mobilizations in years. From Buffalo to the Bronx and pretty much everywhere else in New York, judges are signing up for rare Sunday duty. If same-sex couples want to marry that Sunday, only judges would have the authority to dispense with the 24-hour waiting period required by law. And those judges could then officiate on the spot. Another of the volunteer judges, Sherry Klein Heitler of State Supreme Court in Manhattan, said she was expecting something of a party at the city clerk’s office. “I think there will be a lot of people,” Justice Heitler said. “I think there will be a lot of emotion. I think there will be a lot of happy tears.”

Happy tears, indeed. I'm going to be torn over covering the NOM/Diaz hate rally or whether to be at City Hall.

NEW YORK: Another Town Clerk Quits

Another New York town clerk has (partially) resigned rather than officiate at any same-sex marriage.

The Guilderland Town Clerk, who also serves as the town's official marriage officer, has submitted a letter of resignation saying her religious beliefs prevent her from marrying gay couples. Rosemary Centi advised the town supervisor of her decision earlier this week. Citing her Catholic Faith, Centi will no longer be marrying same-sex couples when the Marriage Equality Law takes effect July 24. Centi will remain on as the town's clerk and continue to issue marriage licenses to all eligible couples. Her resignation only affects her appointed position as marriage officiant.

What's with this half-assed quitting, Rosemary?

Census Data On NY's Same-Sex Couples

(Source)

First NY Wedding Set For Niagara Falls

A lesbian couple plans to be married at Niagara Falls moments after same-sex marriage become legal in New York.

"Prince William and Kate didn’t have as many people at their wedding as we will,” Lambert, one of the region’s most prominent gay rights activists, said Tuesday. “It’s going to be amazing. We’ve joked that we’re inviting 1,800 of our closest friends.” And yes, Lambert and Rudd promise to be the first couple legally married under the state’s historic marriage equality law, which takes effect that day. And what a party they have planned. The celebration will start with a reception on Goat Island at 7 p.m. July 23 and end with a civil marriage ceremony on Luna Island shortly after midnight. Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster will officiate. “Everyone is invited,” Lambert said. “We’re doing this because of what it will do for Western New York, and media is coming from all over the world to see it.” For Rudd, the wedding marks the end of a more-than-eight-year wait. “I’m thrilled,” she said. “We’re finally getting the same rights as everyone else. Nobody can take that away from us anymore.”

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

Brian Brown: The New York Legislature Stole The People's Right To Vote

"The people of New York want to vote on this issue. They don’t believe the process was either transparent or fair, and it basically stole the right of the people of New York to vote." - NOM president Brian Brown, riding his crybaby waambulance.

Quote Of The Day - Laura Fortusky

"The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures. Since I love and follow Him, I cannot put my signature on something that is against God. Deuteronomy 10:12 says, 'What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.’ I would be compromising my moral conscience if I participated in the licensing procedure. Therefore, I will be resigning as of July 21. I wanted you to know my position as I understand the marriage law goes into effect on July 24." - Laura Fortusky, town clerk of Barker, New York, announcing her resignation.

Birds Of A Feather

"Sen. Diaz, you are in my prayers. Three years ago I was the target of the homosexuals because of statements I made regarding the dangers of the homosexual agenda. So I know what you are going through. Continue to stand strong on God’s Word. What the homosexuals mean for evil toward you, God will use for His glory, your good, and the benefit of others. God bless you and your family." - Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, quoted in the latest press release from New York state Sen. Ruben Diaz.

Quote Of The Day - Kathleen Rice

"Recently, a local clerk in upstate New York made headlines when she said she would not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Marriage Equality Act provides that an application for a marriage license cannot be denied on the grounds that the applicant parties are of the same sex and the law affords no discretion to public officials charged with granting marriage licenses. Therefore, any such refusal may be subject to criminal prosecution.

"The religious exemptions in the Marriage Equality Act are inapplicable to town and city clerks serving in their license-granting roles, and a public official’s intentional refusal to issue marriage licenses to qualified same-sex couples may constitute Official Misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor defined in section 195.00 of the New York State Penal Law." - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, in a letter sent to town and city clerks in her jurisdiction.