Gay unions? Rally draws both sides
By BRIGID O'MALLEY, bmomalley@naplesnews.com
November 13, 2005
http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/news/article/0,2071,NPDN_14940_4234834,00.html
The signs the group of young women held read: "Jesus is Embarrassed. He Judges No One" and "God Loves All of His Children."
Just feet away at a table, people were collecting signatures that would put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage up for a statewide vote in November 2006.
On Saturday afternoon, about an hour into the anti-gay marriage rally, about 35 people supporting the idea, a handful of protesters and three Collier County sheriff's deputies to keep the peace had gathered behind the Golden Gate Community Center.
The Collier chapter of the Christian Coalition and a statewide group called floridaformarriage.com sponsored the rally.
With a little rock and Christian music playing, the rally was a peaceful one, with even the half dozen, sign-wielding protesters swaying to the music in the audience.
But the views from both sides were heartfelt - and very different.
Some of the anti-gay marriage supporters said they were taking their cue from the Bible or from the traditional idea of marriage.
"Marriage is between a man and a woman," said 53-year-old Sheila Woods of Naples who attends Beth Yeshua Messianic Synagogue. "That's just a basic part of society."
Nineteen states already have passed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, with Texas voters being the latest to take that step on Tuesday. Last week, a U.S. Senate panel voted to support a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Beth Rutherford, 19, of Naples, whose father, Jerry Rutherford, is president of the Collier County chapter of the Christian Coalition, said she turned out to support her parents.
"Obviously, I think everybody should be married and have kids," she said as she held her son, 2-month-old Jason. "That's the way it's supposed to be."
But nearly an hour into the rally, six young women showed up with signs to peacefully protest the rally. Several of them said they were surprised there wasn't a bigger turnout in conservative Collier County.
"I believe in gay marriage and civil unions," said 17-year-old Amanda Young of Naples, who held a sign reading, "Keep God Out of Politics."
She added, "I don't think they can use the Bible as a defense."
Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who is running for governor in 2006 and supports the same-sex marriage ban, shook hands with the crowd at the start of the rally, but wasn't on stage.
One protester said she couldn't believe politicians would come out on this issue when there are other more pressing needs in the community.
"For politicians to come down to an area a couple weeks after a hurricane to bring a hate agenda is indicative of the lack of development of their agenda," said 46-year-old Peg Robinson of Naples.
November 13, 2005
http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/news/article/0,2071,NPDN_14940_4234834,00.html
The signs the group of young women held read: "Jesus is Embarrassed. He Judges No One" and "God Loves All of His Children."
Just feet away at a table, people were collecting signatures that would put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage up for a statewide vote in November 2006.
On Saturday afternoon, about an hour into the anti-gay marriage rally, about 35 people supporting the idea, a handful of protesters and three Collier County sheriff's deputies to keep the peace had gathered behind the Golden Gate Community Center.
The Collier chapter of the Christian Coalition and a statewide group called floridaformarriage.com sponsored the rally.
With a little rock and Christian music playing, the rally was a peaceful one, with even the half dozen, sign-wielding protesters swaying to the music in the audience.
But the views from both sides were heartfelt - and very different.
Some of the anti-gay marriage supporters said they were taking their cue from the Bible or from the traditional idea of marriage.
"Marriage is between a man and a woman," said 53-year-old Sheila Woods of Naples who attends Beth Yeshua Messianic Synagogue. "That's just a basic part of society."
Nineteen states already have passed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, with Texas voters being the latest to take that step on Tuesday. Last week, a U.S. Senate panel voted to support a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Beth Rutherford, 19, of Naples, whose father, Jerry Rutherford, is president of the Collier County chapter of the Christian Coalition, said she turned out to support her parents.
"Obviously, I think everybody should be married and have kids," she said as she held her son, 2-month-old Jason. "That's the way it's supposed to be."
But nearly an hour into the rally, six young women showed up with signs to peacefully protest the rally. Several of them said they were surprised there wasn't a bigger turnout in conservative Collier County.
"I believe in gay marriage and civil unions," said 17-year-old Amanda Young of Naples, who held a sign reading, "Keep God Out of Politics."
She added, "I don't think they can use the Bible as a defense."
Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who is running for governor in 2006 and supports the same-sex marriage ban, shook hands with the crowd at the start of the rally, but wasn't on stage.
One protester said she couldn't believe politicians would come out on this issue when there are other more pressing needs in the community.
"For politicians to come down to an area a couple weeks after a hurricane to bring a hate agenda is indicative of the lack of development of their agenda," said 46-year-old Peg Robinson of Naples.
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