Are there really any anti-gay organizations that you want to associate with, even for the purpose you described?
Not really, no.
What a co-in-kie-dink! It’s enough of a shock to make you want to have a couple-three Jenny beers!
I’ll state it on line. Civilization hasen’t collapsed up here. I’m a straight agnostic male that sees nothing wrong with two people that love each other who should have the same rights and benifits as straight married people.
Not really, no. 
I volunteer in an organization that does homosexuality demystification workshops in high schools, and am in training to volunteer for an organization for queer and trans youth (that I used when I was a queer youth).
As has been in the media recently, queer and trans youth are very vulnerable to bullying and attacks, even in areas where legal advances have been made. Organizations for vulnerable queer and trans youth are often underfunded and understaffed. Is that something you could focus on?
That sounds like something I could do. Right now I’m talking to evilbeth about her project, but that will probably be a temporary thing. Your idea could be a longer term thing.
Okay, then, I’ll say something on-topic.
New York State, for those who do not know, has recently recognized SSM couples.
That is to say, a same-sex couple would have to get married elsewhere, such as in Massachusetts, or a similarly-legislated state. But once the marriage is officailly legal by the laws of that particular state, NYS will recognize the returning couple as married. I’m sure that we are not the only state in this “intermediate” position, but offhand I can’t name any others.
Recently I read a brief local essay by a partner in a SSM, and the main concerns were the results of a lack of Federal ruling or voting in favor. For instance, joint national income tax filing is still denied them, since the US government doesn’t accept their legitimacy.
- Jack
Maryland and Rhode Island, at the moment.
California is in a different “intermediate” position, of course.
If you really care about gay rights, what about joining with a group that promotes human rights in areas of the worlds where homosexuals are still being imprisoned or killed?
Surely there are some organizations out there which have a special concern about this issue, but if nothing else, consider joining with a group like Amnesty International.
I think that would make much more of a genuine difference for people than campaigning for gay marriage somewhere that it’s already legal honestly.
Here in Massachusetts, GLAD is working on fighting the Defense of Marriage Act in the courts. The Justice Department recently filed their intent to appeal to the Circuit Court. I don’t know what sort of services they might need, but they’re probably the local group doing the most to fight for marriage equality (not to shortchange the great work MassEquality has done, but I think it’s less specific to marriage equality these days).
It’s not? But I see it used all over the place.
This one is really already settled. As with miscegenation, all we have to do is wait for the old folks to die.
If policy were set by those under 30, only 12 states would not allow-same-sex marriage.
Write two checks.
I mean, it’s flippant, but seriously, it kind of drives me crazy when people dimiss monetary contributions as unimportant or worse impure or something. Yes, it’s important for SSM to have conversations with people you know, and volunteer work can do a lot, but cold hard cash is the most important thing you can do. We’ll never have SSM (or real climate change action, or…) in our lifetimes unless we have people who can work full time going through legislative dockets and court decisions to see what is actually going on legally, and who have the time and knowledge to testify at legislative or court hearings, who can once in a while go on mainstream media to counter opposition lies, and who have the resources to mount a state-wide campaign.
Actually, with miscegenation we had the Supreme Court decide the matter. Public opinion caught up several years later. I can’t remember where I saw the data, but a majority of the population were in favor of anti-miscegenation laws until sometime in the '80s. Loving v. Virginia was in '67.
Thank you.
Maybe so. I’ll try various search engines to check for official status of it as a nickname.
Meantime, I wouldn’t mind it being legally changed. There are a number of other cities named Rochester, so I think a unique name would be great.
We do have the distinction of being the largest in the US. That’s something I’ve known since my school days. We are also larger than the one in Australia and the two in the UK, making us the largest anywhere. For some odd reason I found that (the worldwide prominence) surprising.
- “Born and bred” Jack