Often forgotten in the debate over marriage rights are the rights of the children of same-sex couples–and the protections that come from having their parents married under the law. Susan Salomone of Syracuse speaks out about what marriage means to her family and children.
“It’s really a protection for our family,” Susan Salomone said about the prospect of gay marriage in New York. “Jean and I have wills and other protections. But it’s so important for us to be able to protect the kids. … We’ve been together so long. We’ve established our relationship amongst our friends, our family, our church. It would be nice to have it legalized, so we’re completely protected.”
Gays and lesbians are a vital part of our communities. They are doctors, teachers, firefighters, emergency personnel and neighbors. In this way, marriage equality is also about supporting good citizens and strengthening our communities. When a committed gay couple seeks to declare their love for one another and get married, the whole community benefits from the added stability and strength of that family. On top of that, we don’t give up anything by sharing responsibilities and protections with those whom we love.
That’s why I support marriage equality. It is the best and fairest way to grant gay and lesbian neighbors and family members the protections and responsibilities that they need to provide for their family and give back to their community.
As Republicans, we understand the importance of strong communities. Last week, the New York Assembly passed the marriage bill with the support of five Republican Assembly members. Now, the bill goes before the state Senate, where Republican senators will make the difference on whether the bill becomes law or dies. Once again, New York has the opportunity to make a statement about Republican values and fairness by passing the marriage bill.
Barb and Don Crawford of Cicero, NY, have two daughters, one who is married and one who isn’t. The impacts of this inequality reach beyond the couple’s daughters and impact their granddaughter who must live with the reality that her parents are not equal under the law.
New York Deputy Secretary for Education Duffy Palmer addresses some of the lies being told about marriage equality and what it will mean for kids in public schools. Watch and learn, then join the discussion about what marriage means to you!
In an editorial, the Tonawanda News takes the rhetoric out of the debate over marriage equality and breaks it down to the basics–the rights of couples and their children.
Too quickly this debate is moved from the arena of public policy into one fought on religious grounds. Paterson and state lawmakers are not religious leaders, and those who support the measure do not seek to weaken those religious institutions that stand in opposition.
This is a legal question — a debate over public policy, and whether our laws treat all New Yorkers fairly. They don’t.
If justice is truly blind, then surely gay people deserve the same legal protections as straight people. Rights like hospital visitation, joint tax filings and child adoption are granted to some in our state, but not all. That is the very definition of injustice.
If your religious beliefs are offended, we would question why. Your church will never be legally obligated to perform, or even recognize, homosexual marriages if it doesn’t want to.
Four states now allow gay marriage and none have been besieged by plagues or fallen into the sea. Indeed, it’s been the opposite. States that have allowed gay marriage see a drop in divorce rates. More children have loving homes.
