At Boston meeting
Campaign for same-sex marriage rights draws broad
support
By Workers World Boston bureau
Over 90 people attended a solidarity forum
here April 16 called by the May 17 Solidarity Coalition for
Equal Marriage Rights and Against All Forms of Discrimi nation,
Bigotry and Racism.
The forum featured Boston City Councilors Chuck Turner and
Felix Arroyo. Imani Henry of the International Action Center
and Frank Neisser of Boston Stonewall Warriors co-chaired the
event.
Henry opened the rally by announcing that over 400
organizations and individuals from cities around the country
and abroad have already endorsed the coalition's call for
solidarity actions at city halls on May 17, the day equal
marriage rights take effect in Massachusetts.
Endorsers include Massachusetts State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson,
who played a leading role in opposing the legislature's
proposed constitutional amendment banning equal marriage
rights, citing her experiences growing up in segregated
Arkansas; openly gay State Sen. Jarrett Barrios; comedian
Margaret Cho; Boston City Councilors Turner and Arroyo; and
labor and community leaders.
City Councilor Turner decried those who invoke the "sanctity
of marriage" to oppose equal marriage rights. He asked why
these opponents make no effort to support day care, health
insurance or other programs that would enable poor and working
families to stay together. At-Large City Councilor Arroyo cited
a 2003 resolution by the Boston City Council in favor of equal
marriage rights that he sponsored, which passed with only two
opposing votes.
Gary Daffin, co-chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian
Political Task Force, spoke frankly of the difficulties he
encountered discussing the issue as an African American gay
man. He urged continued efforts to engage people throughout the
community on the issue. He noted that May 17 is also the 50th
anniversary of the Supreme Court's Brown vs. Board of Education
decision that declared school segregation unconstitutional.
Stacey Montgomery of Lesbian Avengers spoke of the need to
broaden the issue of equal marriage rights. While poking fun at
the dysfunctional character of heterosexual marriage, she
pointed out how important it is not to let anyone deny people
the right to marry or use the issue to push back all movements
for equal rights.
David Ebony and Allen Barkley of Gay and Lesbian Labor
Activists and Pride at Work spoke of the ongoing struggle for
lesbian, gay, bi and trans workers' rights and benefits.
Stephanie Simard spoke for the Massachusetts Transgender
Political Coalition. Simard underlined the need for the equal
marriage rights movement to stand with the transgender
community. One key issue is the right to universal health care,
regardless of marital status--health care that is safe and
sensitive to the needs of the trans community. Another is the
enforcement of Boston's ordinance against discrimination on the
basis of gender expression.
Yves Alcindor of FANMI-Lavalas spoke of the need for
solidarity with the struggle in Haiti against the U.S. coup
regime and atrocities being carried out against the people
there. Alcindor called for the restoration of elected President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide and expressed his solidarity with the
struggle for equal marriage rights.
Transgender author Leslie Feinberg related how in 1974
lesbians took the lead in fighting back against racist attacks
in Boston during the school busing crisis. She received an
ovation for declaring that as a revolutionary, the day after
equal marriage rights are won she will still be out there
fighting for health care, housing and against racism until
every battle's won.
Gerry Scoppettuolo of Gay Men Fight AIDS of Portsmouth,
N.H., and coordinator of HIV counseling of Cambridge Health
Alliance, referred to his experiences as a student teacher in
South Boston during desegregation. He called on everyone to
unite against all forms of racism and bigotry.
Steven Gillis, president of Boston School Bus Drivers and
Monitors, Steel Workers Local 8751, expressed labor's
solidarity with the equal marriage rights struggle. Gillis said
this is part of the struggle for union rights and benefits
against a two-tiered wage and benefits system.
Dorothea Peacock of the Women's Fightback Network expressed
her solidarity as someone who grew up in the South under Jim
Crow.
Plans are under way for May 17 rallies in several cities,
including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, Ore., as
well as Boston. For an updated list of cities, visit
www.equalmarriagesolidarity.org.
The May 17 Boston demonstration will start with a rally at
City Hall, then people will march to the State Capitol. The
demonstration will oppose attacks on school desegregation being
pushed by City Council leaders who also attack equal marriage
rights.
Reprinted from the April 29, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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