Justice and History at City Hall

A certain justice will be done on July 24 at City Hall in Syracuse. City Hall marks the intersection of Ann Marie Buerkle's brief anti-gay history in Syracuse politics with a great leap forward for the march for equality for all people.

July 24 is the date in New York State when same-sex marriages licenses become available all across the state. There will be a celebration at City Hall!

Here is a brief history of Buerkle's short tenure on the Syracuse Common Council for those who don't know it. 

Contrary to what Sarah Palin said in her endorsement of Ann Marie Buerkle last summer, Buerkle was appointed, not elected, to her only other political position.

She became a counselor-at-large on the Syracuse Common Council on January 31, 1994, to fill a vacant seat.

The vote was not unanimous.

Rick Guy, Miles Bottrill, Edward Carni,  Susann Panick and  [Councilor] Cowan voted for her.

This was the era of the polarizing politics of Rick Guy, a man who got his religion mixed up with his politics in a most dangerous way. Extremist views on many issues, religious values seeping into civic matters ... it was a time that Syracuse people of heart do not look back on with joy

Vicki Mannion, Karen Uplinger, Charles Anderson and [Councilor] McCarthy voted "no" on Buerkle's appointment.

This was 5 years after Buerkle's "blackened foetus" cameo at Planned Parenthood in Syracuse.

 Buerkle's next most famous attempt to embarrass herself came In early May of her year on the Council, when she tried to impose her religious values on city residents by joining up with Guy against a resolution for the city to recognize by proclamation Saturday, June 18 1994 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Day. Guy and Buerkle were in imminent danger of losing, so Guy objected to taking the vote and the resolution was tabled until the next meeting.

The battle was bitter. The antis whipped up a frenzy of fear and loathing among fundamentalists and aging Catholics, with petition and letter-writing campaigns targeting counselors who might be on the fence. Remember that HIV-AIDS was still very much a polarizing issue and Texas could still tell you what you could and could not do in your bedroom.

Later in the month the Syracuse Common Council voted 5 to 4 against "recognizing Saturday June 18, 1994, as Gay and Lesbian Pride Day in the City of Syracuse".

Voting yes were McCarty, Mannion, Uplinger and Anderson.

Voting no were Guy, Buerkle, Cowin, Bottrill and Carni.

Buerkle and Rick Guy united on several more fronts, including a December 1994 attempt at a curfew for minors. They were defeated.

Buerkle was not elected when she tried to retain her Common Council seat, so she was gone in January 1995, less that a year after her appointment.  

Fortunately, except for an unsuccessful run for NYS Assembly last year, replete with robocalls and disinformation, Rick Guy has disappeared from the public policy front.

Activists will never forgive Guy and Buerkle.  That year in the history of Syracuse had a galvanizing effect on progressives.

So, on July 24 celebrate like a rock star at City Hall!!!!

Blueskygirl bets Ann Marie Buerkle and Rick Guy will not be there. Ha.

Just Mind Your Own Business, Ann Marie; Nothing to See Here

To Buerkle and Her Buddies:

A short editorial on religion and politics, religion and health, religion and what have you:

Mind your own business.

You will find, if you care to look, that who can get married, for instance, will not make a bit of difference to you or your life. If you don't like gayness, then skip it. Just like if you don't like Volkswagens, don't get one.

If you don't think that people of the same sex should get married, then change the channel, reject them if they are your relatives, close your heart to them. But don't get in the way of them living their lives, because it is none of your business.

No one is telling you what you can or cannot believe, pray for or teach yourself.

Just keep it to yourself.

It's really very simple.

Equality At Last ... 33 to 29!

Statements On Passage and Signing of NY Bill to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage:

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York

"New York has finally torn down the barrier that has prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted."

Kirsten Gillibrand, US Senator

"New York has always led the way for equal rights - from leading the suffrage movement, to Abraham Lincoln's remarkable speech opposing slavery speech at Cooper Union - and we have done it again. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to marriage equality which brought home this great victory. I also want to thank the committed advocates who worked day in and day out, and all of the New York State lawmakers - Democrats and Republicans - who came together to uphold the fundamental American values of equality and justice for all.

"New York State has sent a powerful message to the rest of the nation. The right to get married and start a family is a basic, human right that must be shared by all Americans. Every loving, committed couple in America deserves this right. And no politician should stand in the way of this fact.

"Marriage under the law is the foundation for strong families. I will continue to help lead the fight in Washington to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act so that all loving and committed marriages in New York are recognized by the federal government."

Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York 

"Today's passage in the New York State Senate of legislation recognizing the right of couples to marry regardless of their gender is a historic triumph for equality and freedom. New York has always been a leader in movements to extend freedom and equality to people who had been denied full membership in the American family. By welcoming all people - no matter where they are from, what faith or philosophy they follow, or whom they love - New York became the strongest, most dynamic city in the world. And today, we are even stronger than we were yesterday.

"In recent weeks, I have had many conversations with our State Senators. I emphasized that not only is marriage equality consistent with bedrock American principles, but it is also consistent with bedrock Republican Party principles of liberty and freedom - and the Republicans who stood up today for those principles will long be remembered for their courage, foresight, and wisdom. In fact, 10 or 20 or 30 years from now, I believe they will look back at this vote as one of their finest, proudest moments.

"I want to thank the Senators for graciously taking the time to talk with me over the past few weeks, and for approaching this issue so thoughtfully and honestly. Based on my conversations with senators, I was fully convinced that if we could get a bill to the floor for a vote, we would have marriage equality in New York State. So I want to thank Majority Leader Skelos for allowing democracy to work - and allowing the will of the people to be done. And I especially want to thank Senators McDonald, Alesi, Saland and Grisanti for having the courage of their convictions and bringing this historic change to New York.

"The passage of this bill is the culmination of a decades-long struggle for equality by gay and lesbian New Yorkers. Although there are too many people to acknowledge and thank, I want to express special appreciation to Governor Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Silver for their leadership, and to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who has been a tireless and passionate advocate for gay and lesbian rights for many years. Together, we have taken the next big step on our national journey toward a more perfect union."

The Two Republican Senators Who Changed Their Minds:

Steve Saland, NY Senator

The bill's fate was sealed when one of the key undecided votes, Sen. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, began the debate by declaring first his struggle and then his decision to support the measure. Saland, known for being a serious and meticulous lawmaker, evoked memories of his parents' tolerance lessons and his long marriage while explaining his vote. He acknowledged his vote would disappoint some of his constituents. but Saland said he believed in equality, "and that equality includes the definition of marriage."

Mark J. Grisanti, NY Senator

Buffalo state Sen. Mark J. Grisanti, a Repubican who had been undecided, voted yes. "I cannot legally come up with an argument against same-sex marriage," said Grisanti, a lawyer, Catholic and former Democrat.