Despite threatening weather, organizers estimated that nearly 5,000 people came out to City Hall in Boston, MA to stand together as supporters of marriage equality. Organizers, including local politicians, leaders with Mass Equality, and U.S. Congressional Representatives Rep. Nikki Tsongas and Rep. Edward Markey all spoke to the crowd.
Massachusetts made history in 2004 when it became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. That thought was not lost on organizers today, many of whom traveled to California in the lead up to the vote on Proposition 8 to help with the No on 8 campaign. State Rep. Carl Sciortino read from the Constitution of the State of California, “All people are by nature free and independent and have certain inalienable rights.” Thus launched the demonstration.
Some quotes and highlights:
Rep. Nikki Tsongas (D-Mass.): “We are a partner with everyone across the country when it comes to bringing about marriage equality.”
State Rep. Byron Rushing: “I am here this afternoon because we are engaged in struggle. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. We are here to struggle. In this democracy, marriage is a civil institution, and in a democracy, all civil institutions must be open to all who qualify.”
Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass): (Reflecting on the fact that gay marriage is now illegal in California, while it is legal here in Massachusetts) “There is one thing that distinguishes Massachusetts from California on the issue of gay marriage. We are right, and they are wrong! … Gays should have the same rights as straights. As God’s children, they should have the same rights straights have. Everyone is entitled to full rights under the U.S. Constitution, so now we engage in this great struggle. … They asked the ancient Greek philosopher when we would know full and true justice. And he answered: We would know true justice when all of those who have not been harmed are as angry as those who have!”
Gary Daffin (LGBT political activist and Executive Director, Multicultural AIDS Coalition): “Here in Massachusetts, we wanted our brothers and sisters in California to wake up after the Election and relax and feel at home in their country. It took Black people 400 years for us to feel at home in our own country. It might not take the LGBT community 400 years, but we need to keep fighting.”
Heather Baker (special ed teacher and Boston LGBT rights activst): “We are the American family, we live next door to you, we teach your children, we take care of your elderly. We need equal rights across the country.”
Even though the weather wasn’t picture perfect, the scene outside of Boston City Hall was. And yeah, that may sound cheesy, but the energy level at today’s “Join the Impact” rally in Boston gave me faith that we can build this national movement to ensure marriage equality, and work to foster LGBT rights in all 50 states.
To view a set of photos from the Boston “Join the Impact” rally, go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/3…
To view a few You Tube clips from today’s event, go to:
http://gayrights.change.org