Monday, June 20, 2011

Queer Rising Rally Hundreds Turn Out Speak and March From Union Square to Stonewall!

Check out Fox 5 Coverage!!!
See Jake Goodman from Queer Rising in the video footage on the top left hand corner and click on photo to see Louis Flores from Connecting Rainbows quoting Dr. Martin Luther King!


Queer Rising rocks and yesterday from Union Sq. to Stonewall.  I want to praise Louis Flores for his Martin Luther King banner....He wanted to have the banner for our City Hall counter protest and worked until 3am on the banner and could not get down so he brought it yesterday.  So happy Fox 5 picked up his banner and this blog because it is powerful.  

From Louis Flores:


Members of Connecting Rainbows demands that Sen. Dean Skelos call for a vote for – and pass – Marriage Equality Today
Wrap-Up of Yesterday’s Rally at Union Square Park and March to Stonewall
June 20, 2011  New York, NY – Yesterday, several hundred LGBT activists, allies, and religious leader supporters held a rally in Union Square Park, where leaders spoke in support of marriage equality. Activists then marched to Sheridan Square in Greenwich Village and assembled outside the historic Stonewall Inn.
At the rally, community leaders expressed their support of marriage equality and called for passage of the landmark marriage equality bill, the fate of which rests in the hands of Sen. Dean Skelos, the New York State Senate Majority Leader.
“Law has changed over time, thanks be to God – or I wouldn’t be able to vote, and I’d be still drinking from a colored water fountain,” saidRev. Jacqueline Lewis, Ph.D., an African American and the Senior Minister of Middle Collegiate Church. “Good people of moral conscious change unjust laws.”
The rally and march was organised by the LGBT equality group, Queer Rising, and had been endorsed by many groups, includingConnecting Rainbows.Link to YouTube video of Rally and March : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nesg4Napq58About LGBT Civil Rights :Marriage is a vehicle that society uses to distribute rights, benefits, and equality.  One way for LGBT Americans to access equal rights would be to be allowed to legally marry.  Another way, which would work concurrently, would be to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity by amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964.About Connecting Rainbows’ other efforts in support of Marriage Equality in New York State : 
  • In April 2011, members of Connecting Rainbows confronted New York State Sen. Shirley Huntley over her civil rights record. See video link :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrPzVYwK4aE   When she was young, Sen. Huntley has said that she participated in the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery.  Yet, in 2009, Sen. Huntely voted "No" on the marriage equality bill, which would have granted same-sex couples the same 1,324 legal protections that opposite-sex couples already have.  Less than two months after the confrontation by members of Connecting Rainbows, Sen. Huntley made a public pledge to switch her “No” vote on marriage equality to a “Yes” vote.
  • In June 2011, members of Connecting Rainbows began an effort to build a coalition of progressive religious leader allies in the spirit of social and economic justice. A demonstration for social and economic justice by that new coalition was held in City Hall Park on June 14, 2011.  See video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU0-a7eiaG4 

About Connecting Rainbows : Connecting Rainbows is a group is a democratic collective of LGBTQ activists and allies, with no hierarchy.  The group’s mission is to create a mass movement, demanding full civil rights for LGBT Americans, and its members organise civil rights walks and other actions.  Connecting Rainbows uses the power of a social media platform, where people create online profiles, meet others, plan events, join groups, blog, and participate in online forums.  Visit : http://connectingrainbows.ning.com/ 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Urgent NY Marriage Equality: PUSH THE VOTE & ALBANY VIGIL Tonight 6 p.m.

FB Event Page for this:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152703848134161  --  PLEASE SHARE.


Hello everyone,

While there is strong confidence about our position, the Senate is playing games on scheduling a vote.

The request has come from inside to build the pressure for the VOTE TO HAPPEN.


CALL AND PUSH THE VOTE:

CALL:  SENATOR SKELOS' Office (majority leader):  (518) 455-3171.
Please be strong, but polite:   "I'm calling to urge the Senate to bring Marriage Equality to a vote today.  Please stop the delays, and let the vote take place."
Add what you wish, but please do not get threatening, or use abusive language.
If you're in his district, feel free to vigil, or call there:  
55 Front Street, Rockville CentreNY 11570;   (516) 766-8383.

ALBANY VIGIL TONIGHT:

If the vote doesn't happen today, there will be a VIGIL starting at 6 p.m. outside the State House, supported by MENY.
Bring candles, signs, passion.

SENATE CHAMBER STANDING WATCH:
Everyone is invited to GO TO ALBANY NOW and stand inside by the Senate Chamber.
Wear ME tea-shirts, bring small signs (not too big).   Handlers will be on site.

ACCOMMODATIONS & TRANSPORTATION:
We're on our own.  The state house is open all night, so sleeping bags, etc. is an option.
Keep an ear out for last minute updates and news.  It could happen this afternoon, Friday at the latest (i.e., no plans to stay the weekend).

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.   WE'RE ALMOST THERE.   LET'S PUSH IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY NOW!

Tif

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

You Can Feel the Soul, The Passion, Amazing Photo by Ronnie Mc

Media Coverage: So Far ABC is my favorite TV Coverage...

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150352195463636&comments
Above link to NBC coverage of our protest!



 early media links to stories about our peaceful counter demonstration  :

Channel 7 WABC story link :  http://www.twitvid.com/82VPY

Talking Points Memo :  http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/new-yorkers-rally-against----and-for----gay-marriage-at-city-hall.php
Thanks to everybody.

 -- Louis




included in the post Rich Murray of Queer Rising gets interviewed by Talking Points and he is courageous -- he stood alone on the Broadway Side with anti-gay haters handing out flyers!

LGBT Marriage Equality Not American Idol

Dr. Jacqueline Lewis Calls For Marriage Equality Reminding Us Blacks and White Could Not Marry 45 Years ago in the USA! LGBT and Straight Activist Stand together Peacefully Counter Protest Religious Extremists City Hall


Dr. Jacqueline Lewis speaks out bravely and courageous pointing out she and her white husband could not be married in most States 65 years ago because it was illegal and calls for marriage equality!



Dr. Lewis, Ph.D.  Middle Collegiate Church, 50 East 7th Street in the East Village

Rich Murray gets interviewed by Talking Points Memo as he courageously stands by more anti-LGBT protestors on the Broadway side of City Hall!




This gentleman has been with his life partner 25 years and wants the basic Civil Rights to be married.


Rev. Mike Vandersall and Rev. Anna Taylor Sweringen  state that LGBT Equal Rights is a Civil Rights issue!



Jake Goodman Queer Rising
Suzannah B. Troy
Straight Ally
Dr. Martin Luther King
Equality for All 





Dionne McClain-Freeney Speaking with Rev. Mieke Vandersall


MCC Metropolitan Community Churches
and our Wonderful Friend who marched
with us at the LGBT Easter Parade

Ronnie Mc,  Melissa Kleckne wonderful supporter, TIF and another wonderful supporter.

I have more photos and YouTubes to upload.

A special thanks to Louis Flores who organized this counter-protest last minute so we would have a voice and presence in the face of religious intolerance with protestors on the steps of City Hall as we stood inside City Hall Park.

Thanks to NYPD Det. Duffy, LGBT Liaison and the young NYPD officers that stood by us and respect our rights.  One bummer was the media tried to come over directly through to us but the NYPD City Hall NYPD prevented them so we were pleased that the media took the extra time to come the long way around to interview and take footage.

More uploads coming soon....very, very tired!
Louis Flores Organizer and in the background NYPD Det.  Duffy
City Hall Park
Louis is filming as well.
We have so much footage but we are soo tired!!
Give us a thumbs up!
Thank you.
Special Thank You to Our Legal Advisor Jill Humphries, National Lawyers Guild