Why We Should Follow New York's Example

The State of New York just passed a bill that will grant Same-sex Marriage, becoming the largest state to do so. Once it becomes legal, roughly 10% of the country's same-sex couples will have the right to marry. But why did it take New York so long? Why aren't more states following suit, or even on the federal level?

The biggest factor against equal rights is the religious people who are against it. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all have more than significant numbers in America, and they all have passages in their holy text that condemns homosexuality. But we must remember that we are a separation of church and state. Marriage is not necessarily a religious right. Plenty of Atheists and Agnostics get married, and almost every single culture and country on this earth has had the concept of marriage. 

Even when you get religious people to agree to the above argument, then usually counter it with the  "it's against tradition" concept. Same-sex partnership has been recorded since ancient times. Arrangements similar to Civil Unions has been verified to exist in ancient parts of China and Europe. Same-sex marriage was even legal for quite some time in ancient Rome.  

Let's not forget that it's already legal in many countries currently. The Netherlands was the first modern country to make it nice and legal since 2001. Belgium, Spain, Canada, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Iceland, Portugal, and Argentina have already legalized Same-sex marriage.  

If America is truly the land of the free, then why does the majority of the LGBT population have very little rights? If I had to predict how same-sex marriage will be legalize in every state, it will most likely be a Supreme Court decision. Similar to how Loving vs. Virginia nullified all state laws banning interracial marriages. It is sad that many of our politicians including many of our Democrats on state, and federal levels are too scared to vote for equal rights. I'm dissapointed to see nobody even try to push even something like Civil Unions on a Federal level. I know the court case concerning California is moving up in the courts, and I'm hoping the Supreme Court rules for equal rights not only for our friends on the west coast, but for every state.

By: Adam Rankin Click Here to Read More..

My March With The Young Democrats at Upstate Pride

It's a bit hard for a lot of people to support the equal rights of the LGBT community with all the hatred and bigotry in this country, especially South Carolina. However, Upstate Pride had a great turnout of folks. We had our own little booth at Barnet Park, and after seeing a lot of folks, we get to march.

Most people went to march, but we had a few stay to make sure nobody came in to mess up our booths. Line-up was pretty simple and easy. Didn't take long to get the ball rolling. 

Even while we were waiting, I still had a good time. The drinking liberally guys, and the athiests for gay rights group were a nice bunch of people. 

We marched and we marched proud. I loved my sign, and marching with my fellow Young Dems will be one of most cherished memories for years to come. 

The march wasn't too long, but it sure was HOT. We clapped, sung, and chanted a lot of phrases for equality. We did lag a bit behind everyone, I think our "regular" non-young Democrats got a bit ahead of us, and before we knew it we were at the near-tail of the line. 

The end of the march was met with quite a success. We proudly marched back to Barnet Park. 

We did a get bit of protesters who camped out near Barnet Park to yell, scream, and use hate speech against everyone. 

But most didn't try to talk back, and I don't think we had too much trouble out of them.  They stayed for awhile after the march took place, but only a few remain when I went to my car to pick up my girlfriend Daisy so she could come to the rest of the event. 

Jacob and Hirak did a good job at holding down the fort while we gone, and the rest of Young Dems also helped in promoting and getting new members to our group. 

The rest of the event was mainly a bunch of speeches, and tents with info or stuff to buy. I loved the speech given by Mayor Junie White of Spartanburg. 

But we also had a lot of good tents at the event as well. Such as  the For Gay Teens from Gay Teens support group, which one of our members Alex (far right near the yellow sign) is apart of.  

This was my first LGBT pride march that I ever marched in. I had a good time, and met a bunch of great people. We had folks from every age, race, and sexual orientation show up for the rights of everyone. I'd like to thank everyone who came to support us, the city of Spartanburg, the honorable police force who kept protesters to the side, The Spartanburg Democratic Party and anyone else I might of left out. I will march again next year. I'm a Straight Liberal Democrat, and I don't hate like a Social Conservative Republican. 

By: Adam Rankin

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