May 13th, 2009
Posted by Marie McGowan at 6:06pm

A Letter from Mom about Marriage

Last night, the New York State Assembly passed legislation that would permit same-sex marriages by a vote of 89 to 52. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has said he won’t schedule a vote until the legislation has enough support to insure passage. Governor Patterson has already promised to sign the bill once it gets to his desk, so the only thing standing in the way of marriage equality in New York is getting enough Senators to publicly support it.

Marie McGowan – proud mother of ACLU LGBT Project Attorney Sharon McGowan – wrote to her state senator, encouraging him to support the same-sex marriage bill. Here’s what she wrote:

Dear Senator Padavan,

I am writing to tell you that I want you to vote YES to allow same-sex marriage in our state.

I am a long time resident of your district. I live on 194th Street in Flushing and I have voted for you many times. I am a member of the Parish Pastoral Council of St. Kevin's Roman Catholic Church where my family has been actively involved since 1970. My four children attended St. Kevin's School; three graduated from St. Francis Prep and one from the Mary Louis Academy. Each one received one or more commendations from you during their school years, demonstrating your support and encouragement for our youth. I am grateful for your many years dedicated public service.

Senator Padavan, I have two gay children. Each is in a career of dedicated public service: my daughter is a Harvard-educated attorney working to protect the rights (and very lives) of LGBT Americans and my son is a Columbia-educated RN serving the homebound sick in the West Village of Manhattan. Each of my four children (now adults) deserves the same rights and benefits that being an American citizen and a New Yorker affords. Two can enter into a state-sanctioned marriage with all the protections that entails; two cannot. Civil unions are not enough; many of the protections of marriage are not afforded same-sex couples in a civil union. Separate is not equal, it never has been and it is not American.

Same-sex marriage in no way threatens the "institution" of marriage. It is very clear that traditional marriages are failing already because of societal pressures and norms. Allowing same-sex marriage will have no effect on that. To deprive one group of committed couples of the protection of the state is grossly unfair and un-American. The Catholic Church is wrong to put such intense pressure on the state to deny one group of New Yorkers the rights that are afforded to others. The Church can and will continue to set its own rules so the same-sex marriage law would not infringe on its freedom of religious practice. By so doing, the church will just drive more and more people away; persons loved by God just as much as any other. But that's the Catholic Church's business. It should stay out of the business of oppressing good citizens of the State of New York.

Senator Padavan, you are my state Senator. I ask, I demand, that you provide equal protection to these New Yorkers who only ask to be allowed to live lives of love and service unmolested by their own government and

VOTE YES FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK!

Most Sincerely,

Marie P. McGowan

If you live in New York State, your senator needs to hear from you. Visit the New York Senate web site to find your senator’s contact information and send them a message urging them to support same-sex marriage in New York.

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1. Margaret Rudolf Says:
   May 14th, 2009 at 8:19am

   The greatest threat to the American Family is apparently the ACLU. It is also the greatest threat to the USA in its relentless pursuit of photos to be released to the public. These photos are most likely to embolden the enemies of the United States and to place our servicemen and women in more danger. Guess that doesn't matter to the ACLU which seems to oppose all that is right and good.

2. Betsy Smith Says:
   May 14th, 2009 at 8:26am

   Mr. Anders,

   I just saw you on the Fox News, how you could support releasing pictures of terrorists getting less than they deserve is an out rage. I realize people like you don't like the military, don't like Americans, don't like freedom, oh sorry you do like freedom because you take advantage of the right that each and every military person and their families have given you. I doubt if you or anyone you love has ever fought in a war, too bad because I belive it would give you a glimpse into what the freedoms you take for granted. I'm surprised that Obama has stated the photos won't be released, but considering he is a person of less than creditability or honesty, as well as someone who has never worked for an honest dollar, he will release the photos, perhaps "doctored" to the order of the ACLU. I place your organization in the same league as "Accorn". Un-American, Liberal, and dare I say it Democrate.

3. LORRAINE Says:
   May 14th, 2009 at 9:24am

   MY STATUS AS MOTHER AND WIFE WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED BY A MAN OR A WOMEN WHO DENY PROPAGATION OF HUMAN LIFE ON THIS PLANET EARTH! EVERY MALE AND FEMALE WAS DEVLIVERED BY A MOTHER FROM THE FUSION AND FISSION OF HUMAN SPERM AND OVA "THE VITAL FORCE OF CREATION" DESTINED BY A "FERTILE EGG TO A CONTINUOUS TRANSFORMATION OF MASS TO ENERGY AND VISA VERSA UNTIL DEATH INTERUPTS! "Before action there must be thought and before thought there must be light energy"(electromagnetic spectrum,the COLOR-CODED SPECTRUM OF LIGHT ENERGY"). yes, THE NEW EMBRYO IS JUST AS HUMAN AS THE FULLY FORMED ADULT HUMAN BEING, BOTH WILL SUFFER AND DIE!d WITHOUT "COLOR-CODED' LIGHT ENERGY TO KEEP THE UNIVERES IN EQUILIBRIUM THERE WOULD BE "NO WORLD" "COLORS MATTER!(c) MARRIAGE IS A WOMAN AND A MAN WHO CREATE HUMAN LIFE BY UNITING THEIR SPERM AND OVA! WITHOUT CREATION FROM DIVINE LIGHT THERE WOULD BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES TO END HUMAN LIFE AND THE DIVINE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM ON EARTHON PLANET EARTH TO END THE WORLD.,,, ! braincell1@aol.c

4. roald Says:
   May 15th, 2009 at 12:32pm

   Lorraine, please stop yelling. It makes your posts difficult to read. What I did get out of it is:
   1. You don't really understand physics.
   2. My wife and I aren't really married because we did not desire children when we married.

5. Paen Says:
   May 16th, 2009 at 2:51pm

   The only threat to families is the hate propaganda that is aimed at the Gays and Lesbians that make up part of just about every family.
   Btw Roald what do you expect from someone who proclaims on the internet that they only have 1 brain cell.(check out her email)

6. Jesse Says:
   May 18th, 2009 at 10:39am

   ACLU, why don't you defend Carrie Prejean's right to free speech? She answered a question graciously and honestly. She did not steal the mic and begin spewing vitriolic hate speech. She was asked a question and she answered it. Then, she came under vicious attack from the media. So, where are you on this one? Why don't you defend this blatant violation of her free speech rights? Because you're really just a hypocritical organization of belligerent liberals. At least come out and call yourselves what you are. You only "defend" the civil liberties that fit your agenda. I have an idea for a new name. How about the "Union of Radical Leftists who Personally Hate Anything Relating to Christianity and Conservatism." But, you don't have the integrity to change your name, so I won't get my hopes up. Happy hating, ACLU.

7. Michael Says:
   May 18th, 2009 at 12:24pm

   Lorraine.. i'm assuming your older than 17 (my age) but judging by your "all caps" response makes me think otherwise.

   if you truly believe the soul purpose of marriage is to reproduce, than why not pass laws against sterile men, infertile, or menopausal women from marital union.

   If you choose to except it or not, modernized marriage is the union of two people who are deeply in love.

   it is people like you who will bring the downfall of what our country is found upon.

8. roald Says:
   May 19th, 2009 at 12:32pm

   Jesse - I am willing to bet real money that if Carrie was being denied the right to speak by the State (not the right to speak without hearing other people's opinions about her speech) and came to the ACLU for help, they would.

   From your posting I see nothing but hate. Stop, it is bad for your health.