A nine-year-old boy put on his own
rally for gay marriage at the Colorado State Capitol Saturday,
reports The Denver Post.
Ethan McNamee stood on the west
steps of the Capitol and told supporters: “I believe I am doing the
right thing. I hope this rally will make an impact and let our
voices be heard.”
The third-grader said he decided to
weigh in on the issue of gay marriage after learning that one of his
friends had two moms that could not be married in Colorado.
Ethan's rally was an independent class
project, overseen by his teacher, Kyle Kimmal, who said he worked
hard not to impose his views on the boy. Kimmal also arranged for a
rally permit.
Speakers at the rally included local
politicians and gay rights leaders, including members of the GLBT
Community Center of Colorado and a local chapter of Parents and
Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PLFLAG).
Colorado voters agreed to place a gay
marriage ban in the state constitution in 2006, but a proposed
measure filed by two citizens, Stu Allen of Lakewood and Hallie
Atencio of Denver, might change that. The measure seeks to override
Amendment 43 and allow gay and lesbian couples the right to marry.
Voters might see Allen's proposal on the 2010 ballot.