Jamestown stands up to hate

by Deb Spilko

It's a known fact that same-sex marriage is good for tourism. In fact, New York City's own official tourism organization, NYC & Company, recognized that, embracing the new marriage law by launching a campaign aimed at making the city a destination for same-sex weddings. In a statement their CEO noted,"We anticipate that the campaign ...will create hundreds of millions of dollars in additional economic impact to the City's $31 billion tourism industry, and have a positive impact on tourism industry jobs."

So when Jamestown NY city council members were recently asked how to attract more tourist business to their fair town, openly-gay City Council president Greg Rabb had every reason to think that he was being reasonable in suggesting they become a same-sex weeding destination.

And it probably would have remained a relatively uneventful discussion, except that the Jamestown Post-Journal decided to print an inflammatory editorial about Rabb's proposal—using terms like "one-issue" and "agenda." The editorial succeeded in stirring up some of the local haters, enough so that Rabb feared for his safety, and required police protection.

But Rabb has served the city and its many different citizens well over the years, in many different ways, and as a result has much support in his adopted community. So on April 30, a large number of supporters turned out for a rally against hate and for Greg Rabb. The rally took place in front of Jamestown City Hall, just before the City Council meeting. About a hundred people showed up, as well as media from Buffalo and Erie. .

At the rally, Rabb told WICU/WSEE, "Am I frightened? You know what, no. Not with all these folks here. I feel like this is a good place to be and I have the people behind me."

"This is a town for everybody, and I want to make sure that's clear," said Rabb. "This is a diverse town and we want everybody to be here. As long as you care about the city, I don't care what religion, what race you are, how old you are, you're welcomed in Jamestown."