I rarely, if ever, use this blog, (I try to keep politics to Jess Ashley) unless there is an issue that I feel overwhelmingly passionate about. Whatever your views on New York Marriage Equality this is a place for us to express our opinions WITHOUT being attacked. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. I certainly have mine but I listen, which I think is respectful, and try to understand where the other person is coming from.

A current issue that affect me, Kate and many, many of our New York friends is Marriage Equality in New York. If you’re not familiar with this–senators will soon be voting to make gay marriage legal. This would give loving couples the same rights and benefits as everyone else. I know someone, an author friend, who has been with his partner for several years but has not been able to marry him.

**NOTE** You do not have to live in New York to help!

My take on this issue is an overwhelming note to senators to “Please vote yes for New York Marriage Equality!” Everyone deserves the right to marry and have benefits and it’s 2011–shouldn’t discrimination be gone? This bill does not hurt anyone. Even if you don’t agree with gay marriage do some deep thinking and consider if saying “yes” hurts you or affects you in anyway. As human beings, we don’t have the right to judge one another. That’s up to G-d, so why not vote “yes” and let Him decide in the end, if you don’t believe in the bill.

A huge THANK YOU to my friend Amber Benson for RTweeting my NY4M Tweet. Amber played “Tara” on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

As you’ve see in the video about from the Human Rights Campaign this bill has gained support from many celebrities. My idol, Lady Gaga, has been encouraging her Little Monsters to get involved. She’s Tweeted about the issue on Twitter asking for help to allow this bill to pass. WE, as a young generation, can make a difference. Here’s a recent Tweet from her:

Lady Gaga
I feel the denial of gay marriage sends a prejudice message. Our youth deserve a fair+hopeful future with government that values us equally.
18 Junvia Twitter for BlackBerry®

I have been calling my senator, Tweeting and checking in with the Human Rights Campaign. If you’d like to educate yourself about this issue, definitely check out their Website.

If this bill is passed, it will mean everything to so many people. Plus, it will pump $184 million a year into NY’s economy.

If you want to get involved, here’s what YOU can do:

Tweet: “Vote yes!” to Senator Ball at ball4NY

Visit the Human Rights Campaign site to find other ways to help

Tweet this already written message or write your own:

Please call your senator, or Tweet “Yes” to @ball4NY as #NY4M vote grows near! @HRC

If you get involved, and post what you did and show me in the comments, when I leave Kate’s great-uncle’s (which may be in a couple of weeks), I will draw someone’s name at random for a 20 minute Skype chat with me! Or, if you don’t have Skype, we can chat over the phone.

Thank you for all of your support, Team Canterwood. Much love!