ROCHESTER COMMUNITY IS HOLDING ITS COLLECTIVE BREATH OVER SSM BILL; VIGIL PROMOTES HOPE, FAITH AND LOVE

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IN DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER
Todd Plank (left) and Jo Meleca-Voigt organized a vigil in Rochester's Washington
Square Park this evening where participants gathered in solidarity to urge the
New York State Senate to hold a vote on the Marriage Equality Bill.  The event was
sponsored by New Yorkers United for Marriage Coalition.  photo:  Ove Overmyer

Rochester, N.Y.--  Senate Republicans said today that they would hold a vote on whether to legalize same-sex marriage, after weeks of debate and protests at the Capitol by groups on both sides of the issue.  The Marriage Equality Bill has captured the attention of all New Yorkers, and indeed our nation.

CSEA, along with almost every major labor union in New York state, including the Rochester & Finger Lakes Chapter of Pride At Work, have built an unprecedented coalition of marriage equality supporters and have been working very hard with their coalition partners to make this bill a reality.

Today, Senate Republicans emerged from an eight-hour, closed-door meeting around 5:30 p.m., confirming their plans to allow a same-sex marriage bill to come to the floor for a vote.

But it is not a done deal.  The Senate is still publicly one vote shy of the 32 needed for its passage after the Assembly passed the measure last week.  But marriage supporters are cautiously optimistic, referring to Cuomo's efforts of not bringing a bill to the floor of the Senate if it doesn't have enough votes to pass.

"After many hours of deliberation and discussion over the past several weeks among the members, it has been decided that same-sex marriage legislation will be brought to the full Senate for an up and down vote,” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, said in a formal press statement.

The decision was made after a chapter amendment to the bill that passed by the Assembly was introduced earlier today.

The amendment was drafted at the request of Senate Republicans, and includes expanded legal protections for religious organizations and non-profit groups that refuse to recognize same-sex marriages.

The bill now will also ensure that state and local governments couldn’t penalize organizations that don’t want to recognize gay couples, essentially ensuring that state aid or state licenses couldn’t be revoked as a result.

A coalition of civil rights groups said the amendment was acceptable.

"The amended marriage equality legislation protects religious liberties without creating any special exceptions that would penalize same-sex couples or treat them unequally,” read a statement from New Yorkers United for Marriage. “The legislation strikes an appropriate balance that allows all loving, committed couples to marry while preserving religious freedom.”

Rochester vigil focused on love, prayer and peace

Anne Tischer and Bess Watts tell their story at a candlelight
vigil in downtown Rochester on the eve of the NYS Senate vote
for marriage equality.  photo:  Ove Overmyer

More than 200 people from the progressive, labor and faith communities gathered early this evening in Rochester's historic Washington Square Park to commiserate and share their excitement over the possibility of marriage rights being extended to same-sex couples. 

Many elected officials also attended to show support, including City Council members Matt Haag, Elaine Spaull, Dana Miller and Jackie Ortiz.

The founder of Equality Rochester and Pride At Work member Anne Tischer spoke eloquently and directly to the vigil attendees. 

She said, "In 2004, Bess Watts and I were the first same-sex couple to request and be denied a marriage license in the City of Rochester.  Carolee Conklin, then City Clerk had a folder of information ready and encouraged us to find a way to fight the denial. The next day a dozen supportive clergy participated in our public wedding ceremony right here in this park."

She added, "With such demonstrated support, Bess and I knew then that marriage and ultimately full LGBT equality was inevitable. All that is needed is the persistence to keep demanding the rights we are guaranteed as American citizens. This is a good day."

CSEA Monroe County Local 828 President and Pride At Work President Bess Watts thanked the entire labor community for it's undying support, including Locust Club President Mike Mazzeo and IAFF City of Rochester Firefighters Union President Jim McTiernan.