Friday, December 24, 2010

December 13, 2010 Marriage Equality Meetup

Heavy snowfall did not deter the diehard members of EROC from meeting to plan 2011 activities. =Grounds Coffee Shop is ground zero for LGBT activism in Rochester, NY.

November 20, 2010 Marriage Equality New York (MENY) Retreat



Anne Tischer from EROC, Kitty Lambert of OUTspoken for Equality in Buffalo, Rosemary Rivera of Citizen Action and her spouse Sandra Lowry traveled to New York City to sit in on MENY evaluations of the election results and strategy planning to achieve Marriage Equality in NY. There was plenty of time for socializing and of course a trip to Macy's to view the Christmas window displays.

October 14, 2010 Rally For Civility

After gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino made a series of homophobic, racist, and misogynistic verbal slurs, EROC picketed outside his campaign headquarters. At a time when 15 LGBT teen suicides occurred within weeks, the message to Mr. Paladino was clear. "Words Matter . . ."

October 2, 2010 One Nation Rally, Washington DC


Equality Rochester joined the LGBT contingent that marched onto the National Mall with thousands of progressive groups to call for "the change we voted for". In the photo above, Anne Tischer and Tom Privitere greeted Get Equal activists Jake Goodman, Sergio Llanos, Lt. Dan Choi and Natasha Dillon.

Wedding March held September 26, 2010



For the first time Rochester joined the annual statewide marches coordinated by Marriage Equality New York (MENY) to highlight the need for equal access to civil marriage for same-sex couples. Over 300 participants carried a rainbow of umbrellas as they crossed the International Bridge over the Genessee River. The march was followed with a community festival of games, desserts and live music at Crossroads Park.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

July 2010 Pride Events











Equality Rochester (EROC) built and sponsored the Marriage Equality New York (MENY) float for the 2010 Rochester Pride Parade. The high spirits continued the next day at the picnic, where Todd Plank manned the MENY information table while EROC members picniced. Visitors Cathy Marino-Thomas (MENY Board President) and Ron Zacci (MENY Executive Director) joined us from New York City.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Linked by Love Mall Walk

























May 22 marked the first "Linked by Love" LGBT visibility Mall Walk. Over 30 participants, same-sex couples, family members, friends and supporters donned messaged t-shirts and strolled through Marketplace Mall in Henrietta to call attention to the fact that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and couples are linked by love to each other, to family, friends and the community at large. The event advocated for support of Marriage Equality for same-sex couples.

The Times of Harvey Milk


As part of the national Harvey Milk week of action May 17 - 22, EqualityROC and the Gay Alliance co-sponsored a showing of the academy award winning documentary "The Times of Harvey Milk" on May 19. A lively discussion concerning visibility and the evolving nature of the LGBT civil rights movement followed.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Unfair Gay Tax Day and Unhappy Hour



April 15 is never a good day for taxpayers but it is particularly obnoxious for same-sex couples who face clear anti-gay discrimination when they file their taxes. Unable to file jointly, same-sex couples who are legally married are forced into a legal lie as they must check "single" on their returns. Gay and lesbian couples pay far more in taxes but are denied significant benefits like Social Security survivors benefits, Medicaid chronic care spousal protections and spousal exemption from inheritance tax. EROC members protested outside the Federal Building and then adjourned for a fun filled "Unhappy Hour" at 140 Alex Bar & Grill.

MENY Town Hall with Ron Zacchi


Ron Zacchi, Executive Director of Marriage Equality New York (MENY), traveled to Rochester to welcome EROC into the MENY statewide network of affiliated grassroots groups. He shared MENY's 2010 strategy to advance marriage equality and highlighted statewide actions like September's Rainbow Wedding March, a MENY signature event that will be happening in multiple cities across the state including Rochester.

The Nearly Wed Game











Four fun local couples - Pat & Lisa, Omar & Peter, Rosemary & Sandra and Dave & Roger competed in our update of the classic TV game show which highlighted an evening devoted to expanding community awareness of the status of marriage equality for same-sex couples.