Scozzafava to speak at gay rights rally

POTSDAM — Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava will be the keynote speaker at a gay rights rally being held at SUNY Potsdam this week.

The rally, which will be open to the public, is sponsored by Standing on the Side of Love, a national campaign organized by the Unitarian Universalist Association.

"This is a reimagining of Valentine's Day as a day and a time of acceptance, tolerance and understanding for everyone," said Austin J. Kenyon, who is organizing the campus event. "The main focus of the event is love and same-sex marriage."

The college's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Association also is helping to organize the event.

"Over the last year, the growing popularity of President Obama got a lot of activism restarted in young people, including myself. So we want to build on that momentum for this human rights issue," said Mr. Kenyon, who is a graduate residence director at the college. "This is not something that's just happening at SUNY Potsdam; it's across St. Lawrence County and Northern New York. It's an issue for everyone."

After Ms. Scozzafava gives the keynote address about her position on marriage equality, a guest panel will lead a discussion of gay rights issues.

The president's proposed repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and same-sex marriage and adoption will be a main focus, Mr. Kenyon said.

Students, faculty and community members will circulate petitions at the rally, which will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday in the Barrington Student Union.