Prayer and protest against same-sex marriage

New York, USA - Not everyone is celebrating the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York State.

Hundreds of protesters converged on the Capitol on Sunday afternoon.

They are pushing for a popular vote to determine the future legal status of same-sex marriages.

"The fight for traditional marriage is not over!" shouts Reverend Norman Macklin of Empire Baptist Missionary Convention of New York. "It has only just begun!"

Many people's opposition of same-sex marriage comes, in part, from their faith.

Deborah Johnson of Albany says, "When God created man, He created woman and, in order for our families to grow and to flourish, it has to happen that way and that's the only way it could happen is through a male and female."

The protesters chanted, "Let the people vote!"

These New Yorkers are upset about the State Senate's June 24th vote to pass the Marriage Equality Act.

"They didn't vote for us," says Brenda Embry of Stuyvesant. "They voted in place of us."

Embry is represented by Senator Stephen Saland who is one of four Republicans whose votes tipped the scales in favor of same-sex marriage.

"He stated he voted because he felt this was the way to vote," Embry says. "He didn't listen to the people of his district."

Many people at Sunday's rally tell us the Senate vote represents broken promises.

Matt Musso of Latham says, "Very clearly, there were some elected officials who changed their minds after they were elected so they no longer represent the people who elected them."

A handful of pro-same-sex marriage New Yorkers attended Sunday afternoon's rally.

They say holding a popular vote is not the answer.

"I don't think we should vote on rights," says Shannon Shoemaker of Hannacroix. "I think it's an equal right."

Rev. Macklin says, "I think they got more than equal rights. They opened city hall on a Sunday with our tax dollars!"