By Luba Patlakh

After receiving death threats and getting their tires slashed, two New York women fighting for the right to marry joined with the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) in an effort to form a project to help persuade the state legislature to pass a same-sex marriage bill.

The conference was held in the Cultural Center Theater on Feb. 27. The featured speakers were Bob Perry, NYCLU legislative director, Lauren Fortmiller and Pam Thiele, both marriage ambassadors who are fighting for their right to marry, and members of the NYCLU.

Last December, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed a bill creating civil unions. The bill allowed same-sex couples the right of civil marriage. New York State Senator Spitzer endorses same-sex marriage, but is constantly putting the issue aside.

All of the speakers agreed that now is the time to get Spitzer to move forward and advocate on the issue.

The conference discussed the movement toward civil marriage in New York and how it differs from civil union. Fortmiller and Thiele engaged the audience in personal stories about how they have been affected by not receiving fair treatment.

“Denying marriage to a certain set of citizens is discrimination. It is our right to call ourselves a family, our civil right,” Fortmiller said.

However, not everyone agrees with civil marriage as opposed to a civil union.

“If it’s a same-sex sexual union, then I have a problem with it,” said Evans Julce, a senior films studies and philosophy major. “It should be a civil union because it is a contract. To say it’s a same-sex marriage changes the essence and meaning of the word marriage.”

Julce added that he feels a single person needs someone to represent them or bequeth property to, for example, in the case of a will or a hospitalization and because of this he said he agrees with civil unions.

Fortmiller gave an example of a time when she was being hospitalized, and she desperately needed Thiele to come with her into the room because of her sensitivity to medications, but was denied her company and support.

“I needed Pam in the hospital room with me because I get epileptic seizures and can’t talk, but they would not let her in,” Fortmiller said.

Thiele came prepared with all documents to show proof of their civil union, but the nurse would not allow Thiele to go in with her sick partner.

“All of the personnel were sitting and watching her tell me I can’t go with Lauren, no one said anything,” Thiele said. “But they couldn’t say that we are married because we are not!”

They were both upset with the situation, Fortmiller said, but even more so when they found out that “the next cubicle [hospital room] had six people in it.”

“Civil marriage is the most important right to gain; we should not be in the position to constantly explain ourselves,” Thiele said.

Both women, along with Perry, discussed the importance and relevance of lobbying Spitzer to move forward and lead teams to meet with legislators to persuade them.

“It took 30 years to pass the New York state law to protect the gay and lesbian community,” Perry said. “All because a deal was made, Pataki had to cut a deal, or the law would not have been enacted in 2002.”

Without force and persuasion, a civil marriage bill will not be passed and the speakers all agreed, “now is the time to make a change,” according to Perry.

Tara Keenan-Thomson, executive director of the NYCLU, is working with University students to form the Civil Liberties union on campus, which would allow students to become involved in the campaign to pass the same-sex marriage bill.

“This is our chance to lead the community and legislatures to do the right thing,” Keenan-Thomson said.

Students who attended the conference said they were eager to begin working hard on getting things moving. Lia Mulligan, a senior and social science major, works with Keenan-Thomson to form the Civil Liberties Union on campus.

“I think it is very important for people to press the issue, especially as constituents of New York state, this issue should be in people’s minds and not something they forget,” Mulligan said.