A group of anti-gay marriage demonstrators took to the streets Thursday in the wake of the NY State Senate voting on a bill this month that would legalize it.
Around 3 p.m. a group of representatives from the Catholic Pennsylvania-based American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) gathered at the corner of West Church Street in Fairport holding signs reading "God's marriage = 1 man + 1 woman" and "Honk for traditional marriage."
Many drivers honked and gave the men a thumbs-up while others shouted profanities, threw objects and made vulgar gestures as they drove past.
Fairport Police responded to the scene when a young man allegedly charged a protester and tore his banner to pieces and attempted unsuccessfully to light it on fire.
Members of the group say they chose to stand there because of its proximity to the office of N.Y. Senator Jim Alesi, who has voiced his support of gay marriage in the past.
"Homosexual marriage is a sin," said Michael Macaluso of East Rochester. "God's natural laws are productive, and going against God's natural laws is disruptive."
Others, including teenagers, voiced their disagreement.
"You can have your opinions," said 15-year-old Moria McJury, "I believe in God and I believe that as long as you're in love it doesn't matter who it's with. But I'm not going to stand on a corner and shout my opinions at random people — that's stupid."
The demonstrators first went to Irondequoit and ventured to Henrietta after standing nearly two hours on the street corner in Fairport.
Fourteen-year-old Justin Curtis responded by drawing a sign of his own that read: "Support gay marriage. This is Fairport" and stood holding it silently.
"I know kids that are gay and I don't want them to be criticized," said Curtis.
TFP member Norman Fulkerson said the aim of the demonstration is not to criticize others but make a logical argument in support of God's plan for traditional marriage as outlined in the Bible.
"There's nothing personal about us being out here," he said. "It's a principled stand."
A group of anti-gay marriage demonstrators took to the streets Thursday in the wake of the NY State Senate voting on a bill this month that would legalize it.
Around 3 p.m. a group of representatives from the Catholic Pennsylvania-based American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) gathered at the corner of West Church Street in Fairport holding signs reading "God's marriage = 1 man + 1 woman" and "Honk for traditional marriage."
Many drivers honked and gave the men a thumbs-up while others shouted profanities, threw objects and made vulgar gestures as they drove past.
Fairport Police responded to the scene when a young man allegedly charged a protester and tore his banner to pieces and attempted unsuccessfully to light it on fire.
Members of the group say they chose to stand there because of its proximity to the office of N.Y. Senator Jim Alesi, who has voiced his support of gay marriage in the past.
"Homosexual marriage is a sin," said Michael Macaluso of East Rochester. "God's natural laws are productive, and going against God's natural laws is disruptive."
Others, including teenagers, voiced their disagreement.
"You can have your opinions," said 15-year-old Moria McJury, "I believe in God and I believe that as long as you're in love it doesn't matter who it's with. But I'm not going to stand on a corner and shout my opinions at random people — that's stupid."
The demonstrators first went to Irondequoit and ventured to Henrietta after standing nearly two hours on the street corner in Fairport.
Fourteen-year-old Justin Curtis responded by drawing a sign of his own that read: "Support gay marriage. This is Fairport" and stood holding it silently.
"I know kids that are gay and I don't want them to be criticized," said Curtis.
TFP member Norman Fulkerson said the aim of the demonstration is not to criticize others but make a logical argument in support of God's plan for traditional marriage as outlined in the Bible.
"There's nothing personal about us being out here," he said. "It's a principled stand."
