What is A Heterosexual Woman's Right to Marry In New York Worth?

I saw this great article on Queerty this morning and knew I had to share it with you all!

"Homos aren't the only ones livid over yesterday's marriage defeat in New York. Jamie Frevele, a heterosexual New Yorker gal, is pissed too. Jamie, you see, was born with the right to marry the person she loves, because she is a straight person. But she's a single gal in the big city, and believes it's unlikely she'll be exercising that right anytime soon. So she's auctioning it off to the highest bidder. We'd say something about how the auction is "open to all," but let's be honest: While homos can bid, they can never win.

Before eBay takes it down — immutable rights can't be sold, can they? — go here to see the auction item. Jamie, a media industry vet, tells Queerty that any proceeds will go to The Point Foundation, the mentoring group for LGBT youth. For the curious:

New York State has voted down marriage equality. A lot of people just don't believe all adults should be allowed to get married, usually for religious reasons, which is silly because you need to obtain a license from the state to get married, and there's a separation of church and state in this country, so denying someone the right to get married based on their sexual orientation is actually against the Constitution. The 14th Amendment, actually: Section. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

I'm an unmarried heterosexual woman, and since I probably won't be using my right to get married, I would like to give it away. I would like to sell it to the highest bidder and donate the proceeds to an organization that supports LGBT rights since the government designed to protect all of us is picking and choosing based on what they think is icky, weird, or unkown to them.

Bid now, and you can have my super wonderful privilege and legal ability to get married as many times as you want in a classy place like the one pictured. You don't have to know the person, you don't have to like them, you don't have to think through your decision to get married or anything – you can just do it! Because you can! Come on, it's cool to get married, and think of the pictures you'll have to show people of this person that they will definitely think is so wrong for you and probably is! But heavens to BETSY, do NOT marry someone of the same gender because that would be a mockery of the institution of marriage.

And if it doesn't work out, just get divorced. Half the cool people who get married do that anyway.

I will write you up a fancy, wonderful, articulate proclamation handing over my right to get married. I have no official documentation because this is something I was born with since I was born heterosexual. Unfortunately, this is only a symbolic gesture. However, since I'm picky and difficult, it's probably something that, if a physical object, would have been considered pristine and shiny after some dusting. Your bid, on the other hand, is real, and the donation you make to an organization that supports those who have been treated as second-class citizens will be well worth it.

I have not named an organization yet because I thought I would see if anyone wanted to join me on this journey rather than drag them into something they're not serious about, ready for, etc.

Happy Bidding!

Jamie Frevele

Free shipping included.

In New York Republican Candidate Backs Same-Sex Marriage, Democrat Oppose It

The Washington Blade reported today that Gay Republicans are rallying behind a New York GOP candidate who favors same-sex marriage in her bid for the U.S. House against a Democratic contender who opposes marriage rights for gays.

Diedre “Dede” Scozzafava, a Republican New York state Assembly member, is seeking to represent her state’s 23rd congressional district. A member of the Assembly since 1999, Scozzafava voted in 2007 and again earlier this year in favor of bills to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.

She’s facing off against Democrat Bill Owens, a Plattsburgh, N.Y., attorney, who last month said in a radio interview that he doesn’t support same-sex marriage. Doug Hoffman, a Lake Placid accountant, is running on the ticket for New York’s Conservative Party.

The seat will become vacant after the U.S. Senate confirms Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.) as Army secretary. Lawmakers are expected to confirm McHugh to the position shortly after they return from the August recess.

McHugh must resign his congressional seat before New York Gov. David Paterson (D) can call for a special election, but some media outlets have speculated that the election would take place on Election Day in November.

Charles Moran, a Log Cabin spokesperson, said Scozzafava represents the views of New York’s 23rd congressional district because “she fiscally is fairly conservative, but … on the social issues she’s very much mainstream in what the district believes in and also what America believes in with marriage equality.”

“We love Dede,” he said. “This is a district where Dede has represented and lived for many years and this is just another example of Republicans continuing to push for an inclusive message.”

Scozzafava, who was unavailable for comment for this article, was quoted in a July 24 article in the Politico voicing support for same-sex marriage.

“I’m pro-choice, and I also support gay marriage,” she said. “The leadership might not like that — but the people that I’m closest to have voted for me, know me, and they’re very supportive.”

But one group opposed to same-sex marriage is infuriated over Scozzafava’s position. Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, said his organization contacted New York Republican officials and asked them to remove Scozzafava as their nominee in the race.

“It is a slap in the face to the voters of this district,” he said. “This is a socially conservative district and we hope that the nomination will be removed and someone else will be put in her place because this is not a good move for the Republican Party by any stretch.”

Scozzafava’s marriage position contrasts with that of her Democratic opponent. Owens, the Democratic contender for the House seat, told North County Public Radio on Aug. 12 that he doesn’t support marriage rights for same-sex couples.

“People who are seeking civil unions should have that option,” Owens said. “However, I think that the word ‘marriage’ has some very important religious connotations and I would not be in support of a bill that addressed it in that fashion. But I certainly fully support civil rights for everyone in every area.”

The National Stonewall Democrats didn’t respond to a request for comment on Owens’ marriage stance.

Moran said Owens’ position shows that Democrats aren’t “necessarily in lockstep” on LGBT issues, such as same-sex marriage rights.

Log Cabin’s political action committee, Moran said, can’t endorse Scozzafava until Paterson officially calls for a special election. But once that takes place, Moran said Log Cabin’s endorsement would “come out … swiftly.”

“Our New York operation is primed and prepared to send Dede Scozzafava to Washington, D.C.,” he said.

Log Cabin’s PAC will contribute to Scozzafava’s campaign, Moran said, and will bundle checks with a goal of reaching a combined contribution of somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000. Moran said he expects Scozzafava to win her bid for the U.S. House seat and that New York’s 23rd congressional district would stay in Republican hands.

Trevor Thomas, a Human Rights Campaign spokesperson, said his organization was seeking more information before making an endorsement decision.

“While the seat is not yet vacant, we have been in contact with both campaigns and have provided our questionnaire to learn more on their positions,” he said.

Brown said the National Organization for Marriage “will work to highlight Dede Scozzafava’s record” on marriage. He said NOM hasn’t determined whether it will endorse Owens or Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate.

“We’re determining how involved we are going to be, but are definitely going to be involved,” he said.

By Chris Johnson

Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marinoni are getting married!

Cynthia Nixon and her partner of nearly six years, education activist Christine Marinoni, are finally tying the knot!

The Sex and the City star, 43, showed off her diamond engagement ring at the Love, Peace and Marriage Equality rally for gay rights in New York City Sunday. The event supported New York governor David Paterson's proposed bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

Nixon has said she would wed "if it became legal in New York. "I don't really want to get married to get married pretend. I think we'd like to do it in a real, actual, legal way that the state would recognize."

The actress is mom to Samantha, 12, and Charles, 6, from her prior relationship with English professor Danny Mozes.