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Community Celebrates CNY Pride Week While Awaiting Marriage Equality Decision from Supreme Court

Scott Willis
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WAER News

  The raising of the rainbow flag at Syracuse City Hall took on more meaning Monday with a supreme court decision on marriage equality expected any day now.  CNY Pride officially kicked off pride week, which they hope ends in a victory in the high court after decades of activism. CNY Pride President Bruce Carter says considering history, it only makes sense that justices would continue a constitutional path toward equality.

"I don't know why almost 40 years after the decision in Loving vs. Virginia where the supreme court said it was in fact unconstitutional to prohibit folks of different races to  marry.   I don't know why there's any delay in a decision saying folks of different sexual orientations can marry as well.   This is a matter of equality and not a matter of special rights."

And Carter says these rights need to be recognized.

"I do not know what theocratic nightmare has created this particular environment where some people feel they can deprive other people of their basic human rights.  But that is the world in which we live.  The only way to change this is through activism.  And, for those of you who don't want to be quite as active...through voting."

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
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WAER News
CNY Pride Parade Coordinator Chris Shepherd introduces the parade's grand marshals.

Carter says elected officials on all levels of government need to know it is immoral to discriminate against its own citizens regardless of their preferences.  Mayor Stephanie Miner has been a long-time outspoken supporter of LGBT rights, and acknowledges the uncertainty leading up to the high court's decision.

"We don't know what it will say, but we know what it should say.  And if it doesn't say that, we know that we will be on the front lines demanding that it one day does say that, and we will not give up until there is marriage equality for everyone." 

CNY Pride Parade Coordinator Chris Shepherd says the supreme court’s decision will be an historic moment.

"We're either opening a brand new page in the history of freedom in this country, or we are persevering on just as women and African-Americans and so many other forgotten Americans have done before."

  Pride week continues with an interfaith service Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church at James and Townsend Streets.  On Wednesday, "Cloudburst" will be screened at 7 p.m. at the ArtRage Gallery on Hawley Ave. The celebration wraps up Saturday with the pride parade at noon and festival to follow  at the Inner Harbor. 

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
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WAER News
Mayor Stephanie Miner reads the proclamation for Pride Week.

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.