AS APPEARED IN THE DAILY NEWS , JULY 23, 2004 SPORTS FINAL EDITION

SECTION: SUBURBAN; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 302 words

HEADLINE: RENEWING VOWS - & TRADITION

BYLINE: BY SONDRA WOLFER DAILY NEWS WRITER

BODY:

   AS THE SAME-SEX marriage controversy rages, couples from across the metropolitan area will show support for traditional unions Sunday with a mass renewal of vows outside City Hall.

   "Since the beginning of the human race, marriage has always been defined as between a man and a woman," said Dr. Joseph Mattera, director of the City Covenant Coalition, a network of ministers in the New York area that organized the ceremony.

   "We're publicly opposing same-sex marriages and calling public officials to account for any intention of legalizing or recognizing same-sex marriages," Mattera said.

   He stressed that the event is not intended to be anti-gay, and said participants have been asked to avoid arguing with protesters and told not to bring any inflammatory signs.

   "This is not gay-bashing," Mattera said. "We believe we have to do what we can to strengthen traditional marriage and family as the major building blocks of society."

   Coalition members will speak out against a new city law requiring that companies doing business with the city offer benefits to domestic partners. Mayor Bloomberg vetoed the law but was overridden by the City Council in June.

   The Rev. Jeff Beacham, one of the event's organizers, said the coalition got to the point where "we felt we had to speak out on these issues because we are offended by the hijacking of what we feel is a spiritual and religious issue."

   But Councilman Philip Reed (D-Manhattan), who is openly gay, said he doesn't understand how same-sex marriages detract from unions between a man and a woman.

   "There's going to be same-sex marriages in this country," Reed said. "So they can either get over it, or recognize it for what it is, which is a strengthening of family values."

   Taking the high road, Reed added, "I want to celebrate with them their renewal of their vows."