Courage of NY Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward

The New York Assembly passed same-sex marriage legislation Tuesday night and Teresa Sayward (R-Elizabethtown) was one of four Republicans that voted in favor of the legislation. Thirty-eight Republicans and twenty-two Democrats along with a single independent voted against the Bill.

As the debate wound down, Teresa Sayward spoke emotionally of the struggles faced by her gay son as he grew up wanting "to be normal." She pleaded with fellow Assembly members to back the bill.

"Let's search our hearts tonight and do the right thing," said the Willsboro Republican as her colleagues rose to applaud her.

It's interesting to contrast comments from progressives and conservatives when it comes to the issue of gay marriage. Progressives speak of equal rights while conservatives speak of what the bible says, what the Catholic nuns taught, how gay marriage will destroy the family, etc.

I was surprised and pleased to hear gay marriage being discussed on Saranac Lake's "Talk of the Town" (on Tuesday). Many callers, 10 out of 18, were in favor of NY granting the right of marriage to gays. Unfortunately, the callers that were opposed to gay marriage gave the same tired reasons why it should never happen. One caller even proclaimed how the incidence of AIDS would increase if gay marriage was allowed! Another big reason to oppose gay marriage is that it is "just not normal" Some callers were good enough to define "normal" for the listening audience. Gay people are not "normal" because they are in the minority. Or, if you want to know what "normal" is.....read the bible (I choked on my coffee on that one).

Today (Wed.)on TOT our conservative friend "Gary, from Bloomingdale" gave us the benefit of his knowledge (the mp3 is only up for a week so listen while you can).

1. You are not born gay
2. I believe being gay is something you choose, it's a sexual preference
3. I know people that were married, had children, and then "turned" gay.
4. If you believe in God you gotta be saying "well God you made a mistake with me". If there is a God, he doesn't make mistakes.
5. If there is not a God it doesn't matter whether you are gay or not, does it? Doesn't matter whether you are a pedophile or not if there is no God.
6. The majority of gay people that I have known are a psychological mess, they really are.
7. Most pedophiles are GAY! (based on the fact that Catholic priests didn't molest any girls).
8. People better start quit looking through clouded glasses at this
9. And people asked what's normal? Normal is the way nature made you. That's normal.

You might think that Gary is wrong, but he checks into these things pretty carefully (he tells us).