Sen. Brown and LGBT rights

My post on Buffalopundit.com this evening, commenting on Donn Esmonde's recent column claiming that NYS Sen. Byron Brown will be a "status quo" mayor:

Byron Brown is well-known for his generous support of community-based HIV/AIDS groups. He counts on the gay vote in our city, particularly now that Sam Hoyt is out of the running (Sam, as a lot of folks know, really walks the walk on gay rights).

In a phone conversation with me a few months ago, however, Sen. Brown showed a distinct lack of complete compassion for gays and lesbians by saying he supports 'civil unions' instead of actual marriage (you know, with a license and all). His reasoning: "I get a lot of support from Black and Hispanic pastors who feel that homosexuality is wrong."

So perhaps if you are gay and sick, you can get support from Sen. Brown. But if you're gay and proud and healthy, you're not good enough to receive full civil rights in our society. Which feeds the culture of gay self-loathing and shame and contributes to the huge Down-Low problem in our city. Which directly contributes to the spike in straight women's HIV rates (how many don't know their husbands have a man on the side?).

When I asked Sen. Brown if Brown V Board, and "separate but equal" applied in this case, he said he felt civil unions were good enough. Good enough for whom? is the lingering question.