President Barack Obama's endorsement of gay marriage on Wednesday was
welcome news throughout much of the Hudson Valley Region where WAMC's
Dave Lucas gathered reactions
Linda Mussman is the co-director of Time and Space Limited in Hudson -
she and her partner Claudia Bruce were among the first people to be
married in New York State under the marriage equality act -
Mussman believes President Obama's evolution will help bring issues of
civil rights and equality to the forefront more quickly
Stephan Hengst is the co-founder of Big Gay Hudson Valley Dot Com: the
Poughkeepsie-based organization serves Ulster, Columbia, Dutchess,
Putnam, Orange and Sullivan Counties
The new stance taken by the White House reminds Linda Mussman of the
struggles she endured in the past
Stephan Hengst says the news from the White House couldn't have come at
a better time for the Hudson Valley's Gay Community, as it prepares for
four consecutive weekends of Gay Pride events
Not everyone in the Hudson Valley is pleased with President Obama's
announcement: Reverend Bill Banuchi is Executive Director of the New
York Faith and Freedom Coalition in Newburgh - he likens Barack Obama to
"a reed in the wind" - he says the President is not a man of principle
but rather "goes with the flow." I
Banuchi proclaims "Marriage is a non-negotiable issue" - Congressman
Maurice Hinchey released a statement saying he is very pleased that
President Obama spoke out in favor of gay marriage... He said loving
adults should be allowed to wed without any discrimination regardless of
their sexual orientation.
