MENY's Jeff Friedman and Cathy Marino-Thomas at the Picnic. Photo: Susan Jordan

By Susan Jordan

Marriage Equality New York (MENY) will sponsor a Wedding Equality March here on Sept. 26. The NYC-based group has organized a Wedding March across the Brooklyn Bridge for several years, and now is bringing the March to various places around New York State.

The March will take place in downtown Rochester, gathering at 1:30 p.m. at the Monroe County Office Building. At 2 p.m., it will cross the Main St. bridge and pass the Radisson, turning left on St. Paul and then on Mortimer St., crossing the Sister Cities pedestrian bridge and continuing along the Genesee, ending with a community gathering at Genesee Crossroads/Charles Carroll Park.

At the conclusion of the March there will be a community celebration at Genesee Crossroads Park. People can bring their own beverages and snacks and picnic along the riverfront. A food vendor will be on site with food and beverages for purchase. Pride & Joy Families will have fun activities planned for families with children ages 5-12.

Call Todd Plank with questions at 585-278-4190, or e-mail todd.plank@gmail.com (put Wedding March in subject line). People are encouraged to register online at www.meny.us or call 877-772-0089. Questions about the Rochester March can be emailed to rocmarch@meny.us.

When registering online, individuals, couples and families are encouraged to create a fundraising page and invite their friends and co-workers to sponsor them and help raise funds to support the work of MENY. By raising $25 or more you can qualify to receive a MENY t-shirt and/or umbrella (available in sixes S-3XL) in your choice of any six of the rainbow pride colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue or purple). Items can also be purchased online or by contacting Todd Plank.

Plank told The Empty Closet, “This will be the first year that Rochester will be participating in Marriage Equality New York’s Annual Wedding March. Buffalo and Albany are also organizing marches to coincide with NYC’s march across the Brooklyn Bridge. With the November elections fast approaching, it is critically important that New Yorkers send a message to both their current and prospective State and Federal legislators that LGBT people and our many allies demand equality now! Across NYS and the USA we collectively comprise a huge voting block. Politicians ignore us at their own peril!”

MENY leaders speak out

Jeff Friedman, board president of the MENY PAC, and Cathy Marino-Thomas, board president and communications director of MENY, came to Rochester for the Pride Picnic on July 18. They talked with The Empty Closet about their statewide organizing plans for this year.

Jeff Friedman said, “We are a single issue group and we will be focusing on key districts, trying to pick up another yes vote in the NYS legislature.”

The Human Rights Campaign’s senior strategist for New York marriage equality, Brian Ellner, will be working with MENY and the other groups fighting to pass the marriage equality bill; they include the Empire State Pride Agenda, Fight Back New York and Outspoken for Equality.

Cathy Marino-Thomas said, “We are happy to work with Brian Ellner.” She added that several legislators, both Democrat and Republican, who voted against marriage equality last December, are seen as vulnerable in the November election or in this month’s primary. She said, “Shirley Huntley, a Queens Democrat, is facing a primary challenge and is seen as vulnerable,”

In upstate, MENY feels that Republican Senator Joseph Robach is facing a serious challenge in November from Democratic challenger Robin Wilt, a progressive who is a supporter of LGBT people’s right to marry and have their families legally recognized. Wilt attended the July 16 Pride kick off party, walked in the Parade on July 17 and came to the Picnic on July 18. She has been endorsed by the Pride Agenda, NOW and the Women’s Campaign Forum.

Jeff Friedman said, “We just need to appeal to the Democratic base and get our message out. If we can do that, we will win. Robin is very focused, and we are very focused.”

Cathy Marino-Thomas said, “People are ready for a change. It’s the best time for people like Robin. She’s very dynamic and on point and has a real handle on what’s happening in this area.”

Jeff concluded, “Robin represents the new progressive generation. The notions of Republican and Democrat of the past haven’t brought us anything. Forty years of Republican control in the Senate didn’t help upstate. Taxes have continued to rise, although Republicans said they’d reduce taxes. But they just passed the buck to the counties. We need real change.”