At
the time of posting (8:30 pm ET), the Marriage Equality Act has not yet
come to a vote in the New York Senate. It has been passed by the
House, is supported by the governor and is rumored to have enough
votes to pass in the Senate, but first the Republican Conference must
decide to let it come to the floor. The legislative session was
scheduled to conclude Monday, but is ongoing due to this and other
bills.
The
struggle for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people has been a long one. Millions of fighters, of all backgrounds,
whether part of the LGBT community or not, have given up their time,
energy and even freedom to ensure that generations after them could
feel free to be themselves.But
there have been many setbacks. Violence, brutality and suicides
continue. This past year alone we have seen some highly publicized
and very sad cases of young people who have taken
their own lives
because of bullying due to their sexual orientation, including in New
York City. Though many don’t realize it, “Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell” is still in full affect within the U.S. military. As many as
40 percent of homeless youth are LGBT. Same-sex marriage is legal in
only five states and the District of Columbia.
The
importance of New York State
New
York, the third most populated state in the United States, with one
of the most celebrated Pride events and its strong LGBT legacy, now
finds its residents and in fact the world in complete suspense,
waiting to see whether the Senate will pass or kill a same-sex
marriage bill.
New
York seems to have been the spark that first brought revolutionary
flames to the LGBT movement. The Stonewall Riots were a series of
spontaneous, defensive demonstrations against a police raid that took
place on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in Greenwich Village.
Considered the first instance in U.S. history when people in the LGBT
community took a massive fight back approach against a
government-sponsored system that persecuted them, Stonewall has been
the foundation for great progress made in the LGBT community all over
the world. Now, New York has again become the most recent
battleground for same-sex marriage.
The
past two weeks have been the most frustrating for LGBT people because
of what the bill represents: a step closer to equality. Of course,
there is major bigotry and opposition from religious groups,
right-wing politicians and the media, but they are meeting their
match with the people–gay, straight, young, old, Black, Latino,
white–who have been traveling to Albany to demand the bill be
passed. This bill has brought about a great opportunity for
discussion, especially with young people who are the heart of the
future of the LGBT movement.
NYC
youth speak out
This
writer, a student at CUNY York College in Queens, N.Y., spoke with
several young people in New York City on behalf of Liberation
News to find out how they were feeling about
the pending Marriage Equality Act.
Several
of them expressed outrage that their rights were up for a vote by a
small number of politicians. Trelissa Ruffin, a SUNY Farmingdale
graduate, stated: “I feel like there shouldn’t be a bill up for
discussion. It should have always been freedom and equality for all.”
That
attitude is shared by a young poet named Julissa Rodriguez, who said
that the bill is “complete nonsense.” She continued: “They
treat us like animals. There shouldn’t be a bill to determine
millions in the LGBT community can marry.”
Others
focused on the challenges that the LGBT movement continues to face,
and their comments reflected the impact that the denial of basic
civil rights like same-sex marriage have on LGBT youth. A 2010 CUNY
alum, Q. Greene told us: “The simple fact is that there are people
who believe that marriage can only be between a man and woman.”
When
asked about the meaning of the bill for young people, S. Smith, a
senior at CUNY York College, said: “If it does pass, I can one day
take that option of marriage. Right now, it feels like the Civil
Rights Movement of the 1960s.” Smith brought up the
significance of the bill to activists if it does pass. Smith stated:
“It would be a major victory for the fighters within LGBT
community.”
One
thing is for sure, whether it passes or not, the LGBT struggle will
continue until complete equality is won. Long live Stonewall!
