Queens: St. Patrick's For All

Here's a slideshow from today's LGBT-inclusive St. Patrick's Day Parade in Sunnyside, Queens. It was a gorgeous day, almost t-shirt weather. Lots of well known folks and groups attended, from Mayor Bloomberg, Christine Quinn, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (mine!) to activists Ann Northrop, Brandon Brock and the folks at Marriage Equality New York. (That's them in the green t-shirts towards the end of the slideshow.) Organizer Brendan Fay, the famous Irish/gay activist, hosted from the podium. Fun day, very small town "let's throw a parade and invite everybody!"

Another Potential Challenger To NY's Anti-Equality State Senators

Queens activist Brandon Brock directs us to this Facebook page urging support for LGBT ally and civil rights attorney Jeremiah Frei-Pearson (at left in photo) who is considering challenging anti-equality incumbent NY Sen. George Onorato in the 2010 primary. Today Jim Luce writes in the Huffington Post about Frei-Pearson:

This fall I am adding my voice to the chorus that is rising from across New York State, especially in Queens, that we need this humanitarian to help solve the disaster known as Albany. As a college student, he interned for the late and great Senator Ted Kennedy and volunteered with several organizations that provide services to children. This is how I know Jeremiah, as founder of Orphans International Worldwide (OIWW). Jeremiah is particularly bright, savvy, and committed to humanity. Albany desperately needs him. Although Jeremiah went to Stanford Law School, in California, he came back to New York every summer. He returned after September 11 to assist in the clean-up efforts at Ground Zero. The Red Cross officially recognized him for his work. At Stanford, Jeremiah ran a center providing legal aid to poor people, co-founded the American Constitution Society and the Stanford Law School Democrats, and served on the Stanford Law & Policy Review.

If Frei-Pearson does toss his hat in the ring, that makes two LGBT-friendly opponents for the eight anti-equality Democrats in the NY Senate. Who will be next?

UPDATE: A new ActBlue donation page has been set up to the support the 2010 campaigns of the 24 Democratic NY Senators who did support marriage equality.

Gilbert Baker: "Where's The ANGER?"

At last night's Maine response rally in NYC's Union Square, rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker said to me, "Where's the ANGER? Where are the pitchforks?" as he surveyed the glum crowd. I told him his opinion reflected much of what you folks here were saying yesterday. From the bullhorn came the usual speechifying to the usual audience of activist regulars. NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn urged the crowd to continue to pressure NY's state senators, as did Marriage Equality NY head Cathy Marino-Thomas.

Here's a report from the rally by Our Scene TV reporter Blake Hayes.

Queens Activists Keep Pressure On NY State Sen. George Onorado

From Queens' #1 bear cub marriage equality activist: "Brandon Brock and Kristen Plylor-Moore of Western Queens for Marriage Equality speak about their NY State Senator George Onorato's opposition to the pending NY gay marriage equality bill."

Evening View - Queens Marriage Activism

Brandon Brock (far left), Brendan Fay (far right) and Astoria, Queens residents are holding nightly (5pm-8pm) vigils outside the office of Sen. George Onorado until the New York Senate has its vote on marriage equality.

(Photo via Manhattan Offender)