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05/16/2011
Video: Ruben Diaz's Chief of Staff: Civil marriage/religious ceremony separation is an 'opinion'
Sen. Ruben Diaz's Chief of Staff, Brendaliz Candelaria:
Jeremy Hooper: Hey, can I ask you -- you're Ruben Diaz's Chief of Staff, right?
Brendaliz Candelaria: Yea.
Hooper: How do you answer people say this is about civil marriage, not religion?
Candelaria: Depends whose opinion it is, because...
Hooper: No it doesn't, really, because people can get...
Candelaria: ..That's you're opinion, there you go...
Hooper: ...No, let me tell you, though...
Candelaria: ..No...
Hooper: ..No, it's not my opinion...
Candelaria: ...everyone has a...
Hooper: ...let me talk.
Candelaria: You're going to make me have an accident
Hooper: I'm not making you do anything...
Candelaria: ...I need you to turn around...
Hooper: ...I'm walking. People get married without religion, atheists can get married, people get married without religion, that's not my opinion, that's the truth. [pause] That's not my opinion, that's the truth. People get married in civil ceremonies, religion is an option for everyone.
Candelaria: You're right. But we believe that those rights belong to a man and a woman...
Hooper: *YOU* believe, the constitution doesn't believe that!
Candelaria: No, no -- I don't believe that, I'm just telling you what...
Hooper: Two atheists can get married right now, without religion
Candelaria: [Shrugs]
Not sure if by "No, that's not *my* opinion," Ms. Candelaria meant to say that she differs from her boss, or if she was simply something else (i.e. it's God's opinion, not hers). But regardless, I wanted to post this, despite the garbled audio and backwards-walking-messiness of it all, because it highlights one of the keys themes of yesterday's rally: That this whole thing is just an "agree to disagree" situation. This claim was omnipresent throughout the march and rally, despite all the truly outrageous things that the speakers said about gay HUMANS, our lives, and our loves (see below).
***
*EARLIER:
Presiding pastor says "Those who practice such things are worthy to death"
Preacher says 'breaking traditional marriage' will bring 'judgement and wrath of God'
NOM/Diaz rally speaker: Protect the family from Ricky Martin/the gates of hell
NOM's Brian Brown gives skewed, wholly religious speech
About that other group with a huge on-site presence, TFP
About that NOM/Diaz human chain
NOM-financed flyer supporting the event
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