| By
JESSICA TORREZ-RILEY The Patriot Ledger |
May 31, 2007 |
A
HISTORIC STRUGGLE’ - ESPOUSING EQUALITY:
About
100 supporters of same-sex marriage hold vigil in Quincy
QUINCY - Iraq War veteran Sgt. Adrian Quinn was among 100 people who gathered yesterday at Gilbert Memorial Park to hold a vigil for marriage equality.
Wearing an Army-green T-shirt and a Red Sox baseball cap, Quinn spoke of his 16 years in the Army National Guard.
‘‘I swore an oath to uphold the constitution of this commonwealth,’’ Quinn said, noting that he will return to Iraq in July. He is worried that he could come home to a commonwealth ‘‘less free than the one I left behind.’’
The Legislature is expected to convene in two weeks to vote on whether to put an amendment banning same-sex marriage on the November 2008 ballot. Putting the amendment on the ballot would allow the state’s voters to decide the issue.
Quinn said he wants the Massachusetts constitution to remain one that he can ‘‘feel proud defending.’’
The advocacy organization Quincy for Marriage Equality held the one-hour vigil at the intersection of West Squantum Street and Huckins Avenue in hopes of influencing how Quincy legislators vote on the amendment question, said Jerry Ringuette, one of the vigil coordinators.
‘‘This is a notable turnout here in Quincy,’’ said Ringuette, who also spoke to the crowd about his almost three-year marriage to his spouse, Ed. ‘‘We are here for Quincy, but we are here for Massachusetts as well. Massachusetts cannot be the state to actually step backward.’’
Several others, including Quincy for Marriage Equality co-founders Kathleen and Michele Frost, spoke about how the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s 2003 decision to allow same-sex marriages had affected their lives.
Passing drivers honked and waved, encouraging the vigil participants, some of whom held signs that read, ‘‘It’s wrong to vote on rights.’’
In January, three of Quincy’s state legislators voted in favor of allowing the amendment to go to voters: Sen. Michael Morrissey, Rep. Stephen Tobin and Rep. Bruce Ayers. The city’s fourth state legislator, Rep. Ronald Mariano, voted against.
Ringuette said the vigil location was important; it is on the route home for Morrissey and Ayers.
The Rev. Sheldon Bennett of United First Parish Church of Quincy said, ‘‘We are engaged in a historic struggle. (If you) deny equality of marriage, it opens the way to deny other rights.’’
The Rev. Bennett, who has been vocal in his support of same-sex marriage, asked Morrissey, Tobin and Ayers to ‘‘vote their consciences.’’
‘‘Block the risk of the tragedy if discrimination is written into our constitution,’’ he said.
Marc Solomon, campaign director for MassEquality, said he feared the effects of putting a same-sex marriage question on the ballot.
‘‘If this makes it to the ballot ... we will have neighbor versus neighbor and divisive fighting,’’ he said. ‘‘We need to make sure that doesn’t happen in this great city, in this great commonwealth.’’
Jessica Torrez-Riley may be reached at jtorrezriley@ledger.com .
Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Thursday, May 31, 2007
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