By Sue Russell

Sitting at the rear of the Convention Center, I surveyed the crowd of 1500 exuberant New Yorkers. I sat near the back wondering if I could possibly blend into the crowd of same-sex couples, many of whom were holding hands and chatting amiably.

As the governor appeared, the crowd erupted into wild cheers. Governor Paterson promised "justice to those who don’t receive it now". Only six weeks earlier, I had sat in the very same Convention Center at New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms’ Legislative Day. Although that crowd was of similar size, it had been noticeably more composed, somewhat disturbed by current issues, yet upbeat.

Gov. Paterson addressed same-sex marriage advocates in Albany.

These were all civil-rights issues, defeated for a decade, Paterson pointed out, until they were adopted. He promised the raucous masses that Martin Luther King would approve linking the fight for [Black] civil rights to today’s desire for "equality" in sexual orientation – a comment with which Dr. King, a preacher of the Gospel, likely would not have agreed.

Reminding the Empire State Pride Agenda attendees that "social change takes time", Paterson energized the audience by challenging, "Change is not preceded by victories; it is preceded by struggle". The governor continued by characterizing the opposition as those who are "motivated by a five letter word – guilt." Ignoring the issue of morality, the Governor continued, "[our enemies] have guilt for not protecting the gay and lesbian students who are bullied." "Where," demanded the governor, "were the people of ‘Faith’ when gay and lesbian students were beaten and often brutalized for expressing their feelings for each other?"

Dennis Poust, Director of Communication for the New York Catholic Conference, later responded to this claim, "We certainly haven’t been motivated by any guilt feelings. Our position is based upon what is best for society."¹ Poust also said that the Christian argument against gay "marriage" can also be a "secular one" because every study that he has seen supports the fact that children do better in school, live healthier lives, and become better contributors to society when raised by "both a mother and a father in the same household." Rev. Jason McGuire agrees, "The ideal home is one in which both a mom and a dad are present to guide and shape the everyday lives of their children."

Paterson, whose approval ratings have plummeted to all-time lows, has been using the gay marriage distraction to direct attention away from weak economic conditions. He is attempting to increase his support among the more marginalized elements of his Democratic Party who want radical social change.

In an interesting side note: Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle admitted that most of the buses that brought supporters to the capital were paid for by labor unions.

"We must change the law AND the culture," shouted Paterson. "Anyone who has experienced racism, anti-Semitism, disabled [sic], and women…all these know of the need for justice for all." The difference between these four groups and the homosexual individual is that ethnicity, gender, and disability are immutable traits and are therefore true civil rights issues. Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice. It is an action; not an identity.

The high point of the Governor’s speech, followed by a round of shouts and a standing ovation, came when Paterson cried out, "Let not proposition 8 [in California] be a detriment, let it be a call to arms!"

I trembled slightly, wondering if a pinch would awaken me from a dream in which people wanting to reshape our culture had suddenly invaded our planet. But, no, the next and even more dynamic speaker was about to take the podium.

Openly gay Manhattan, New York, State Senator Thomas Duane was next to rally the crowd. With the enthusiasm of a high school cheerleader, Duane coached the audience to chant "IF", "WHEN", and "NOW" as he pointed to them." [Gay] "Marriage" shouted Duane, "it’s not…" "IF" replied the crowd. "It’s…" "WHEN" parroted the audience. Duane: [and] "We demand it…" "NOW!" shouted the eager throng. "We are gonna’ win." effused Duane. "We are gonna’ win."

This group’s strategy is to chip away at traditional values until they are slowly redefined. Eventually even Christians may begin to question what is right. It’s the age old approach that the serpent took with Eve in the Garden of Eden when he asked, "Yea, hath God said…?" (Genesis 3:1). Next, we wonder: "Why did we think that those old ideas were right anyway?" Some come to decide that the old "wrong" is the new "right". I am reminded of a line from Alice through the Looking Glass. "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you CAN make words mean so many different things."²

"It’s just a matter of time," says the Senator. "Change WILL happen. We can give a big ‘Thank You,’ to the Governor. We can thank the Gay and Lesbian Caucus in the Assembly. And we are drooling over the Senate."

Senator Duane’s next remarks took a calculated turn. "When we get gay marriage," Senator Duane intoned with a sly twinkle in his eye, "I will hardly be able to wait to get home." "Send me home," pleaded Senator Duane. "My partner and I have a BIG wedding to plan." The audience roared with approval. His speech had become an appeal to the pocketbook. "To those of you in Western New York (Niagara Falls)… To those of you in Lake Placid...When we get gay marriage we are coming to visit and we are planning HONEYMOONS!" The crowd erupted into wild shouts and cheers.

Duane’s final words of that day were to encourage his listeners to go visit their senators, and "tell your story". Gay advocates are coached via Empire Pride’s website on how to lobby their legislators. "Remember: head, heart. and gut. The Head – give the facts and data your legislator may need to know about the issue. The Heart – share "your story", putting the human face on your issue, and the Gut – remember that you are [your legislator’s] boss; they are accountable to you; you can elect them and you can put them out of office."

Soon the pumped up crowd, turned-troops, poured out of the convention center, eagerly attending prearranged meetings with their legislators. Each lobby session with a senator was facilitated by a trained LGBT legislative liaison. Nothing is left to chance. The LGBT movement wants to change our culture and has calculated how they will make it happen; they are feeling momentum on their side.

Somewhat disheartened, I wandered past a small sea of information tables. One sign read, "United Methodists for Justice"; they had free brochures. The next table was sponsored by Planned Parenthood; they offered free condoms in a cute little basket. Others touted, the NY ACLU, marriageequalitynewyork.org, and Gay Pride Rockland. Two women passed by pushing a baby stroller. Two men kissed before parting to go to their assigned lobby locations.

I have been reminded since then not to be discouraged. We read in Ecclesiastes 9:11, "the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise." And in 2 Chronicles 20:15, "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s."

Still there are actions we as Christians must take. Remember that all this militant demanding-of-rights is because these groups of people are the GUILTY ones. Not us. They are trying to assuage their consciences by making the legal system say their relationships are okay. But, in truth, even that will not work, because they are violating the conscience God has stamped into their very personalities. What they need is to be healed.

Meanwhile we must stand up and patiently (and coherently) explain to our Members of the Assembly and Senators why they should vote "NO" any time this legislation (or any form of it) appears before them.

To make this easy to do, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms has implemented a new tool. Visit the Legislative Action Center at www.nycf.info or click on "Senate May Soon Act on Same-Sex Marriage " to get suggested ideas for email or postal mail letters to your representatives about the issue of same-sex marriage or a host of others bills before the New York State Legislature.

Recently, a Christian legislative staff friend stopped me, alarmed. She said, "Where are the Christians?" She had personally taken 15 calls to her assemblyman related to gay marriage. Every single caller urged passage of the Gay Marriage Bill. I repeat her words, "Where are the Christians?" Please call your state senator at (518) 455-2800 or write them at NYCF’s Legislative Action Center today.