Yet another example of the growing rightward tilt of the New York State Democratic Party is the candidacy of Bill Owens in the special election in the 23rd district to replace Republican U.S. Representative John McHugh, who is leaving Congress to become Secretary of the Army. Owens is the candidate chosen by the Democratic Party, running against Republican Dede Scozzafava and Conservative Doug Hoffman.

There isn’t a genuine progressive choice in this race. As a kickoff to his campaign, Owens has begun by throwing progressive Democrats under the bus, trying to prove that he can be just as intolerant as any Democrat.

At a time when people across New York State are struggling to get marriage equality legislation passed at the state level, and a majority of New Yorkers are in support of such legislation, Owens has come out in opposition to this progressive effort.

“I believe that everyone should be afforded civil rights… however I think that the word marriage has some very important religious connotations, and I would not be in support of a bill that addressed it in that fashion,” says Owens. What’s the point in electing a Democrat, if the Democrat supports right wing homophobia? What nonsense, for Bill Owens to say that he supports civil rights, while denying equality to ten percent of his constituents.

The Green Party is unambiguous in its support for same sex marriage. The Green Party platform states, “We support the recognition of equal rights of persons gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender to housing, jobs, civil marriage, medical benefits, child custody, and in all areas of life provided to all other citizens.”