Boston's Alternative Source! image!
   
Feedback

[This Just In]

KELLY WATCH
Wrong again

BY DORIE CLARK

Long-time South Boston councilor Jimmy Kelly is well known for his role in keeping gays and lesbians out of the neighborhood’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, as well as for his staunch opposition to domestic-partnership benefits. Those who wondered whether Kelly had suddenly gone progressive after he supported liberal councilor Charles Yancey of North Dorchester for the council presidency (when it became clear that Kelly himself didn’t have the votes to win) got their answer last Friday, when the Waltham-based Massachusetts Citizens Alliance announced that Kelly has agreed to join its advisory board.

The organization is working to pass what it calls the “Protection of Marriage Act,” which would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman — and therefore exclude gay men and lesbians from the right to marry. “Marriage is essential to societal stability,” says 23-year-old Bryan Rudnick, the executive director and founder of the organization, who made headlines last year as a Brandeis senior when he brought National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston to speak on campus (see “Tight Security for NRA Chief,” TJI, News and Features, March 17, 2000).

Some in the gay and lesbian community are troubled by Kelly’s move. “It’s very disappointing that a Boston city councilor would take a public position like this [joining the organization], because it shows that he doesn’t believe in equality for all families, especially gay and lesbian families,” says Betsy Smith, co-chair of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Political Alliance of Massachusetts.

Though the group opposes domestic-partnership benefits, Rudnick insists it is not anti-gay. “It has nothing to do with sexual preference,” he says. “We’re trying to make sure that government sends out a message through public policy. It’s not about feelings or emotions, it’s about public policy.”

Kelly, who could not be reached for comment, indicated in a column he penned last month for the South Boston Tribune that he doesn’t understand what the fuss is about. “Maybe I’m missing something,” he wrote, “but I don’t see legislation defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman as being the equivalent of an anti-gay message. Am I wrong?” Um, yeah.

Issue Date: March 29 - April 5, 2001






home | feedback | about the phoenix | find the phoenix | advertising info | privacy policy


© 2002 Phoenix Media Communications Group