The O-town Scene

Diversity Rules by Jim Koury I am proud to be a New Yorker Through the course of a civil rights movement, there are times when an event occurs that impacts the progress of that movement in a very signifi- cant way. It changes the dynamic of the struggle from that point for- ward. The pas- sage of I am honored that I will be part of their legal beginning as a married couple in New York. Despite this major success toward full equality, we have a long way to go yet. While we now have marriage equality in New York and five other states, with others offering civil unions, there are those that are still being denied the right to marry because they are LGBTQ. Our federal government does not recognize this nation’s LGBTQ population as equals due to its refusal to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). While couples married in New York will have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight married couples enjoy in the There is no greater feeling than to know one’s government respects and considers all citizens as equals. the marriage equality bill by the New York state Legislature is such an event. With Gov. Cuomo’s signature, New York state becomes the sixth state in the nation, and the largest, to legalize same-sex marriage, and the third which has done so legis- latively, without being forced to do so by a court. I am thrilled to be able to be part of this move- ment that has produced full equality for the state’s LGBTQ people. Loving couples, some together for decades, now can soon solemnize their love for each other legally. I am proud that my home state has taken the bold step in removing second class status from its LGBTQ citizens. There is no greater feeling than to know one’s government respects and considers all citizens as equals. As many of my readers know, I am also the city clerk of Oneonta. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of July 24, at which time municipal clerks throughout the state may begin to process mar- riage license applications from same-sex couples. state, they still will be denied the many federal benefits accorded to straight couples because of DOMA. This is a travesty and must be rectified with its repeal or ultimate decree by the Supreme Court that it is unconstitutional. For the moment, however, we can relish a sweet victory. It provides the impetus and the motivation to move ahead and not rest until LGBTQ citizens throughout this great nation have achieved full equality on all fronts. Jim Koury was born and raised in Oneonta. He is a gay activist, and the city clerk of Oneonta, a position he has held for 18 years. He can be reached at editor@ diversityrulesmagazine. com. LGBTQ Events THURS. June 30 Trash Thursday with Katrina, 9 p.m., Mer- lin’s, 201 State St., Binghamton. FRI. July 1 College Night at Merlin’s, 201 State St., Binghamton. College IDs in free before 11 p.m. Crossing Over: Divalicious, 7 p.m., Twist Ul- tra Lounge and Dance, 252 West Genesee St. Syracuse. College Night at Twist Ultra Lounge, 252 West Genesee Street, Syracuse. SAT. July 2 Opening reception: Albert Crudo, 4 to 7 p.m., Main Street Gallery, 244 Main St., Franklin. SAT. July 9 Paisley for Brains, 8 p.m., Black Box Theater, 410 Canal Place, Little Falls. Take a musical trip through the psychedelic ‘60s with Musty Chiffon. MON. July 11 Friends of Sean Massey Fundraising Din- ner, 5 to 9 p.m., Tranquil Bar and Bistro, 36 Pine St., Binghamton. Help Sean get re-elected to the Binghamton City Council to represent the LGBTQ community. THURS. July 14 Franco Feeling, 7 p.m., Tranquil Bar and Bistro, 36 Pine St., Binghamton. SAT. July 16 Star Crazy, 8 p.m., Black Box Theater, 410 Canal Place, Little Falls. A Live Vocal and Visual Re-creation spoofing the ladies of Hollywood. Majorities of Americans support legalized gay marriage, which means majorities of Americans are not prepared to assign subpar status to the intimate relationships of gays and lesbians. Majority of Americans support same sex marriage WASHINGTON — On Friday, New York be- came the sixth and most populous state to enshrine marriage equality into law, a huge victory for the national gay rights movement and for equality itself. This is also a major defeat for those self-described "conservatives" who hate government except when it's enforcing a form of legalized discrimination that comports with their prejudices. But this isn't 24 O-Town Scene June 30, 2011 about them. What happened in New York is not just a legal breakthrough; it's an important chapter in a larger story. For the first time, as my Washington Post colleague Jonathan Capehart and others have reported, majorities of Americans support legalized gay marriage, which means majorities of Ameri- cans are not prepared to assign subpar status to the intimate relationships of gays and lesbians. Majorities of Americans no longer think it's accept- able to tell people they have no right to partake in a basic human ritual that is viewed by the religious as sacred — or viewed by the nonreligious as merely fundamental to life as we live it — on the basis of sexual orientation alone. One can only hope that the events in New York will hasten the arrival of a time when this national dispute — which seems jarringly ridiculous even today — is studied by students from elementary school on up as a historical relic, as a long-settled skirmish in the larger, ongoing battle to ensure that our government, and our society at large, treats all Americans as deserving of full equality. _ Greg Sargent, The Washington Post the Diversity Scene June 30-July 6

• Cover