Maya Angelou pleads with Democratic State Senator on gay marriage. A: "Not for a million dollars"

[Bluebear]

Thank you, Ms. Angelou, you are an angel. Shame on you, Sen. Huntley. What a vile thing to say. What a revelation of your inner self, bringing money into it. At least now we know where the bidding starts for your votes.

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“I would ask every man and every woman who’s had the blessing of having children, ‘Would you deny your son or your daughter the ecstasy of finding someone to love?' To love someone takes a lot of courage. So how much more is one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, ‘I forbid you from loving this person’?” - Maya Angelou, phoning New York state Sen. Shirley L. Huntley (D-Queens) and asking that she support marriage equality.

Sen. Huntley says that while she enjoys Angelou's poetry, her opinion on same-sex marriage is unchanged. “If they gave me a million dollars, tax free, I just wouldn’t vote for it.”


Huntley

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New Yorkers, please contact your state Senator:

http://www.nysenate.gov/senators

and urge them to extend marriage rights to same-gender couples.

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/05/friendly-voices-maya-angelou.html

[marmar]

1. Ms. Huntley sounds like yet another relic from another era who needs to retire....

.... or be involuntarily retired thru the ballot box.

[Bluebear]

3. Ironically, I bet Maya is around the same age. Here, it's a question of heart, not age

[LaurenG]

6. Thank you Bluebear you are fair and I appreciate that. nt

[fortyfeetunder]

23. Ms. Angelou is in her 80's

She is progressive, and very open minded, a reflection of her childhood, and spirituality.

I suspect neither she or the representative had anywhere close to the same experiences leading to their current positions.

[virgogal]

7. You think she feels that way because of her age.? Now that's what

I call stereoptyping.

I'm over 70 and happily attended the wedding,in 2005,of two gay friends who have been together for 40 years.

Her religion probably has more to do with it than her age.

[David__77]

12. It is indeed generational - this isn't an ageist observation.

She's progressive on almost everything - pro-worker, abortion rights, etc. But gays? Too much for her: 'not even for a million TAX-FREE dollars.' That isn't merely the statement of an issue by a politician - it's clearly the expression coming from deep-seated aversion to homosexuals. And that sort of "don't speak the name" aversion is found in a vastly greater concentration among the older generations. Many have a good position and many have been won to the right position, and it's certainly not too late for her either. But we should be aware that the younger progressives needs to educate and assist their older peers on these questions, just as the younger ones must learn the experience and strategic strength of the older ones.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

2. A tragically closed mind.

I see many of them daily.

[gratuitous]

4. Uh, Senator Huntley?

How much exactly would you sell your vote for? I presume we're just haggling over the price of your prostitution right now.

On second thought, forget it. This change is coming, and it's coming to your district. And some time in the very near future, your callous words will be used against you. Not in a court of law, but in a far more significant (to you) court: The court of public opinion. You will be weighed in the balance of humanity and found wanting. I couldn't wish for a worse fate on my most despised enemy. And you will have earned it all by yourself; nothing can be done to stop it.

[ArbustoBuster]

15. To quote Winston Churchill, "We've determined what you are and are haggling over the price."

I hope the Senator lives a long, healthy life...long enough to finally have an epiphany where she realizes what a horrible human being she is.

[Bluebear]

17. THAT was the quote I was trying to place!

[ArbustoBuster]

18. Glad to be of service. :)

Although I mangled the quote a bit. It should be: "We've already established what you are, now we're just haggling over the price."

[Renew Deal]

5. I live in NY. I just don't see how it's going to pass.

There aren't enough democratic votes and I can't imagine the republicans getting on board.

[ejpoeta]

8. speaking of giving money.... who does give her money..... to run for her seat??

it isn't about your personal opinions!! it's about civil rights and equal treatment under the law. religion has no business in government. period.

[Booster]

9. I'll bet she would.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. LOL, exactly.

She's a politician.

[WePurrsevere]

11. I wrote mine, Aubertine (D), and he won't vote for it...

:grr:

Thank you for your recent email regarding same sex marriage. The recently introduced bill to legalize same sex marriage is similar to one that I did not vote for as a member of the state Assembly and I am not in support of now. I have been on the record throughout my time in state office as a proponent of traditional marriage.

It is not my intention to offend anyone. Rather it is my belief that the concerns raised by proponents of this change, including equal rights, can be better addressed in other ways.

I appreciate you taking the time to contact me on this matter and please feel free to call me if you wish to discuss this or any other matter in the future.

I doubt my reply to him will change his homophobic mind but I tried.

Dear Mr Aubertine,

Thank you for taking to the time to write me back.

Until not that long ago it was "traditional" to own slaves and it was "traditional" to pay women less and not allow them to have the same rights and protections as men. Just because something is "traditional" doesn't make it RIGHT as far as basic human rights are concerned.

As a constituent I'm deeply sorry to hear that where gays are concerned you are against the basic human and civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution of this country. I will certainly be taking your stance into consideration when I vote next election.

[Bluebear]

13. What a wonderful letter, especially you use of "traditional"

Thank you.

[Fresh_Start]

14. they don't need to give her a million dollars

they need to give her gay children and gay grandchildren. That would bring the indecency of depriving individuals of their rights home. And sadly, I don't think anything else will for those with closed minds.

[Bluebear]

16. +1

[Chovexani]

20. I can guarantee you should probably has some

And that's no guarantee of not being bigoted, just about every big name homophobe has a gay child or sibling. :(

Religion is the problem here, I bet if there was a bill to prevent Christians from getting married this cow would be raising bloody cain.

[JI7]

24. even that doesn't change some people, look at Cheney, Keyes, Gingrich etc

[bluedawg12]

19. She has a money value on civil rights - we just haven't reached it then?

Shame.

[Stevenmarc]

21. It's obvious she needs a few gays in her life, she's very Sears Photo Studio Easter Sale

[ruggerson]

22. All democrats like this need to face a primary challenger and be crushed

[Creideiki]

25. There are few people whose depth of humanity

impresses me more than Ms. Angelou. Definitely a model to attempt to emulate.

[Bluebear]

26. beautifully said