Several long-time gay and lesbian couples and other activists gathered in West Palm Beach Feb. 14. Both gay and straight speakers denounced the anti-gay marriage amendment that will be on the November election ballot in Florida. (Photo by Donald Cavanaugh)
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By DONALD CAVANAUGH
Thursday, February 21, 2008
About 40 people, most of them couples, gathered at the historic Hibiscus House in downtown West Palm Beach at 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The occasion was advertised as “A Demonstration of Love” and was sponsored by Equality Florida and Fairness for All Families.
“This should demonstrate that, contrary to the untruths being put forward by anti-gay organizations, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people can and do establish long-term, committed, loving relationships,” said Allan Hendricks, local organizer for Equality Florida Meetups and master of ceremonies at the demonstration. “We have local couples who have been together from two to 52 years. We can’t form meaningful relationships? Hah!”
The 52-year couple, Rev. Richard Nolan and Robert Pinkpank, were out of town and could not attend, but local activists Ruth Berman and Connie Kurtz came to celebrate their 33 years as a couple. Ruthie and Connie, who in 1988 sued for and won partner benefits from the New York City School District, were subsequently the subjects of a PBS documentary “Ruthie and Connie: Every Room in the House.”
In addition to Hendricks, the program included Rev. Renwick J. Bell, pastor at Church of Our Savior MCC (Metropolitan Community Church), who read parts of an 11th-century Slovenian same-sex commitment service created and used by the Catholic Church. Bell also announced that ordained MCC clergy were officially boycotting their state-authorized roll of witnessing civil marriage contracts for heterosexual couples until gay couples achieved equality.
Bell was followed by Mark Pafford, candidate for House of Representatives from District 88, a seat that is currently held by Susan Bucher, a long-time supporter for civil rights for GLBT Floridians. Pafford, who joined the celebration with his wife, Tracy, spoke about how he and his wife could take so much for granted just because they can marry.
“This is how it should be for everyone,” he said, calling for the defeat of the anti-gay marriage amendment, which will go before the voters in 2008.
Tobias Packer, South Florida coordinator for Equality Florida, spoke briefly about the proposed amendment and other legislation of importance to the GLBT community that will be proposed during the impending legislative sessions that begin on March 4, including a safe schools bill, repeal or modification of the state ban on gay adoption, a comprehensive civil rights bill, a statewide domestic partner bill for state employees and a right-to-the-end-of-life bill. (More information can be found at www.eqfl.org.)
After the speeches guests were served champagne and wedding cake. They then organized into a candlelit walk from the Hibiscus House down to CityPlace, where they distributed hand-made Valentine’s Day cards celebrating GLBT couples and engaging those who would listen in brief conversation about the need to prevent the anti-gay amendment from passing in November.
“I think this was a good thing,” said Hendricks as the organizers reassembled at Hibiscus House to debrief and clean up. “A few more people know a little bit more about us, and that’s progress.”
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