More than 100 people rallied outside the First English Lutheran Church in Syracuse on June 25 to celebrate the passage of same-sex marriage in New York state.

The Marriage Equality Act passed through the New York State Senate late on June 24 and was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo shortly after. The Rainbow Alliance of Central New York kept close watch on the legislation and sent a mass email inviting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and allies to the rally once the act was passed, said Amit Taneja, assistant director of Syracuse University’s LGBT Resource Center.

Taneja, who attended the rally, said he was pleased with the turnout considering the Alliance had 12 hours to coordinate the event. Passers-by honked car horns in support of the ralliers, and members of both the LGBT and heterosexual communities attended, Taneja said.

Though Taneja celebrated the act’s passage with friends, his initial reaction was a mix of ‘shock and welcome surprise.’

The LGBT community has traveled down the same legal road several times without creating permanent change, and Taneja said he does not usually have high hopes for legislation favoring same-sex marriage.

He also said the effect of the Marriage Equality Act is undercut by another already existing act.

Under the Defense of Marriage Act, married same-sex couples lack the taxation and immigration benefits enjoyed by heterosexual couples, he said. Other states are also not legally obligated to recognize same-sex marriage licenses issued in New York, Taneja said.

‘Because of the disparities in federal policy, the impact is greatly minimized by the Defense of Marriage Act,’ he said.

Beyond marriage, ‘homophobia and intense violence’ still affect the LGBT community, Taneja said. Though SU’s LGBT Resource Center has not scheduled a program to specifically address same-sex marriage issues for the fall 2011 semester, programs are planned to discuss HIV and AIDS, LGBT youth and class imbalance.

Another institution on campus has also expressed support for same-sex marriage in the past: Hendricks Chapel. 

Tiffany Steinwert, dean of Hendricks, said members of the chapel have presided over same-sex ceremonies previously, and she anticipates little change now that the act has passed.

‘I do not anticipate a rise in the number of same-sex weddings, as Hendricks Chapel has always been open to gay and lesbian couples. While the state may have changed its policy, we as a community of faith have not changed ours,’ she said in an email.

The chapel has actively supported the LGBT community and has partnered with the Resource Center for events including the You Are Not Alone campaign, ally training and Hillel LGBT night, Steinwert said.

Steinwert said the acceptance of all sexual orientations has grown on campus.

‘The journey to liberation is long and so we must take it step by step, day by day,’ she said. ‘I am convinced that one day we will look back on this time and wonder why it took us so long to affirm the full humanity of LGBTQ persons.’

dbtruong@syr.edu

Published on July 1, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Debbie: dbtruong@syr.edu | @debbietruong