Results tagged “samesexmarriage”

Just days after the New York State Senate voted down a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, the Garden State is getting ready for the debate. According to the Times, the New Jersey State Senate's Judiciary Committee is gearing up for a vote on gay marriage as early as Monday — with the full Senate preparing for a vote possibly on Thursday.

Yesterday City Council Speaker Christine Quinn urged angry New Yorkers to keep the blame focused on the politicians who voted down a bill legalizing gay marriage in the Senate Wednesday. But blame is a burning thing and it makes a fiery ring, and at the center is Governor David Paterson, a longtime supporter of same-sex marriage. Some Democratic party officials believed that Paterson, with his basement-level approval ratings, didn't have any leverage to apply to swing-vote Senators. But others, like suddenly known Staten Island Senator Diane Savino, thinks he could have made the difference.

In the wake of the State Senate's 38-24 rejection of a bill legalizing same-sex yesterday, advocates of gay unions will hold a rally on the north side of Union Square tonight at 6 p.m. Demonstrations are also expected in Albany and other cities, as people vent their frustration at the latest in a series of setbacks in the campaign for gay marriage equality around the nation.

After a lengthy debate, the New York State Senate voted 38-24 against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The Marriage Equality Act was finally brought to the floor for an up or down vote today after overcoming legislative roadblocks from opponents. During the emotional debate, one of the bill’s sponsors, State Senator Thomas K. Duane of Manhattan, who is gay, said, "This legislation would merely provide me and tens of thousands of other New Yorkers with equal rights in New York State. It would make me equal in every way to everyone else in this chamber."

Passing longstanding legislative roadblocks, the State Senate has finally brought a bill to legalize same-sex marriage to the floor for a debate and vote. Here's live streaming video from the historic debate:

In a 4-3 decision, New York State's highest court rejected a Christian legal group's argument that same-sex marriage was akin to incest and polygamy, and should therefore be denied government benefits for spouses. But the court's narrow ruling did not address the broader question of whether same-sex marriages performed in other states should be recognized in New York. The minority vote came from judges who argued that the case should have been tossed altogether, "on the ground that same-sex marriages, valid where performed, are entitled to full legal recognition in New York."

The State Senate failed to vote on a measure legalizing same-sex marriage yesterday, but after a two hour closed door meeting with Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson, Senate President Malcolm Smith, and bill sponsor Thomas Duane, Governor Paterson finally emerged to tell reporters that an up-or-down vote on same-sex marriage will be held "at a date not certain between now and the end of the year." Earlier, when pressed about the bill's chances in the Senate, Paterson said, "I can't explain the dynamic of the Senate, because nobody can."

One of the staunchest opponents to same-sex marriage is a Bronx state senator with two gay brothers, a gay grandchild, and a gay chief counsel. Democrat Ruben Diaz, Sr., a Pentecostal minister, has been a die hard foe of any bill that would legalize gay marriage in New York State, despite his supposedly convivial relationship with many homosexuals. "I love them. I love them," says Díaz, who grew up one of 17 children in Puerto Rico. "But I don’t believe in what they are doing."

Earlier this week, Paterson announced he would put the bill in front of the Senate during next week's special session. He had proposed the bill back in April, and the Assembly passed it in in May, but the bill was placed on the back burner after the Senate coup. However, the Senate is notoriously split on the issue and Paterson doesn't have much juice to twist Senators' arms.

Mayor Bloomberg thinks that he could strong-arm local Republican state senators into voting for a gay marriage bill, but he doesn't seem to believe that the Democrats have the cajones to bring Governor Paterson's same-sex marriage legislation to the floor. Asked why he thought he could change the minds of some pretty staunch GOP gay marriage opponents, Bloomberg said, “I’m the main funder. You know, you can’t dictate every piece of legislation, and I don’t want to say that they’re bribable. But they know where I stand, and they want me to be a supporter.”

Governor Paterson may have spent his summer struggling through a legislative mess brought on by the Senate coup and continually sagging poll numbers that threaten the possibility of his 2010 bid, but he wants to make it clear that he hasn't forgotten his pledge to bring gay marriage to New York. Paterson told that he intends to put his same sex marriage bill on the floor when senators convene for a special session he expects to call later this month. Lawmakers are not required to vote on legislation brought up by the governor, but there may be more of a chance for that now that John Sampson is Democratic Conference Leader. Former Majority Leader Malcolm Smith had a deal with the Three Amigos not to bring same sex legislation to the floor. But the most vocal opponent of gay marriage, Senator Ruben Diaz Jr., told the News, "I tell you - as a man, before God - if that issue comes to the floor, there's going to be chaos in the Democratic conference. You can take that to the bank." However Diaz also said, "(But) I'm not going to join the Republicans. Never. Never."

While it's unclear what will happen to the gay marriage legislation with Albany in disarray (there might actually be a vote, but it's questionable whether there will be enough votes to pass it), one thing is for sure: Same-sex New York couples are heading to Connecticut to get married. A Westchester couple tells the NY Times that they would have loved to have a New York wedding—"Our lives are here; our friends are here"—but "It got to the point where it doesn’t look 100 percent good right now. When you have Greenwich, Conn., 20 minutes away, I said, 'Why are we waiting?'"

[UPDATE BELOW] You do know that if gay marriage becomes legal in New York, your children will be instantly turned gay by their crusading queer teachers, right? And according to this eye-opening new TV commercial, "it's not just kids who face consequences. The rights of people who believe marriage means a man and a woman will no longer matter. We’ll have to accept gay marriage whether we like it or not." Oppressed straight couples, Albany will never respect your rights if you don't stand up now!

The State Supreme Court in California has voted 6-1 to uphold Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that banned gay marriage in the state last November. But in upholding the law, the court also agreed to validate the 18,000 same-sex marriages that took place between June of last year when gay marriage was legalized (by the same court) and November, when Prop 8 was passed by the voters.

Meghan McCain, daughter of the Senator and presidential candidate John McCain, has an opinion piece in the Daily News today. It's actually an open letter to NY State's Republicans, asking them to support the state's gay marriage legislation, "No matter how politically charged the discussions about marriage equality may get, the question is really a simple one: Do the rights and privileges we offer citizens include everyone in our country, or only some of us? I believe that allowing gays and lesbians the freedom to marry is an idea whose time has come... Equality under the law and personal freedoms are what make America the greatest country in the world, and they are core values that I hold as a Republican." McCain also Tweets, "I sincerely hope new york lawmakers will vote YES on the marriage equality bill!" If more than a few Republicans were to vote yes, the bill could possibly pass (the Senate's Democrats are split).

Yesterday afternoon, at 45th and 6th Avenue in Midtown, there was a big rally, full of gay marriage proponents urging the State Senate to pass the gay marriage bill, holding signs like "Marriage Equality Now." Governor David Paterson made a last-minute appearance, rousing the crowd, "My name is David Paterson, and I came here today seeking justice. Let New York lead the country in making the dreams and wishes come true for people who want to get married." But at Third Avenue and 40th, there was an opposing rally, organized by the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization, led State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx)—signs included "1 man + 1 woman = God's will" and chants were along the lines of "New York is not Sodom and Gomorrah!"

A new Quinnipiac poll reveals that New York State is split 46% to 46% when it comes to allowing same-sex marriage. Quinnipiac also says, "Black voters opposed 57 - 35 percent while white voters tip narrowly in favor of gay marriage 47 - 45 percent." But there's more support for civil unions: Overall, voters support civil unions 65-27 "with 67 - 24 percent support from white voters and 52 - 39 percent support from black voters."

Last night, the State Assembly voted to approve the gay marriage bill. PolitickerNY reports the vote occurred "after four hours of debate and a technical problem that crashed the chamber's electronic voting mechanisms." Previously, in 2007, the Assembly passed a similar bill 85-61; this year, three Democrats switched their votes from no to yes as did two Republicans. One, Assemblyman Fred Thiele (R-Hamptons), explained, "There’s that little voice inside of you that tells you when you’ve done something right, and when you’ve done something wrong. That vote just never felt right to me. That little voice kept gnawing away at me." Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell (pictured), a vocal supporter of the bill, said during the debate, "I am seeking a piece of paper that is issued by my government that all of you have had. Some of you have had it two or three times, some of you are running for governor managed to marry their cousin and all that's ok. But I don't get one. So it's not about anybody's religion. This is about 'by the power vested in me by the State of New York.'"

The State Assembly is voting on the same-sex marriage bill today. The Assembly passed the bill 85-61 in 2007, and it's expected today's vote will have an even bigger showing of support. The NY Times reports that Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell (D-Manhattan), who is also the older brother of Rosie O'Donnell, "helped gather nearly 90 votes in the 150-member Assembly" and "is also using the Assembly vote as a way to pressure members of the Senate, where the legislation’s fate will be decided, and demonstrate to wary senators that there is support in their districts for the bill." He explains, "If you want to run for attorney general or for governor or lieutenant governor or senator or congressperson, and you’re not in favor of my equality, then I’m not interesting in helping you. And I’ve made that clear." O'Donnell is throwing an engagement party for himself and partner John Banta after the vote; he did tell colleague Greg Ball (D-Patterson) that he was "the best looking guy in the Assembly" and that Ball wouldn't be invited if he voted no. Of course, the passage of same-sex marriage in NY State hinges on the State Senate.

At the Empire State Pride Agenda's LGBT Equality & Justice Day event in Albany, PolitickerNY reports that Governor Paterson was greeted like a rock star: "An estimated 2,000...gave David Paterson a standing ovation, and chanted 'David, David.'" The Empire State Pride Agenda's executive director Alan Van Cappelle also referred to the ratings-challenged governor as "New York's governor, our governor, the next governor, David A. Paterson." Paterson, who announced same-sex marriage legislation but softened his urgency, told the crowd, "Sometimes it takes a disciplined effort and some losses to get to a victory." According to the Daily Politics, in a Q&A with reporters, "Paterson noted many of the same people now complaining they are being discriminated against for citing religious reasons for their opposition to same-sex marriage did not speak out against discrimination of gays and lesbians when he and others were pushing a hate crimes bill in the Senate."

Governor David Paterson is expected to introduce same-sex marriage legislation today. On Tuesday, when word leaked of his plans, he said, “The timing was always right. It’s just who is willing to take that step. And I am.” (Of course, the NY Times notes that the "move allows him to lead on an issue that could prove defining in his governorship, which has so far been marked by political missteps and the crumbling economy.") But don't expect Albany to do anything about the bill anytime soon—though the Assembly has previously passed same-sex marriage legislation, it will probably be stalled in the State Senate. State Senator Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) is convening a meeting to block the bill. Diaz also thinks it's "disrespectful" to introduce such legislation when Archbishop Dolan is being installed this week.

After saying he would renew the push for same sex marriage in the Legislature last week, sources tell CityRoom that Governor Paterson will introduce legislation on Thursday: It "reflects the governor’s desire to press the issue with lawmakers in Albany as other states move ahead with efforts to grant more civil rights to homosexuals... [However] The fact that Mr. Paterson is introducing a bill does not, however, mean that action in the Legislature is imminent. It could take months — even longer — before the bill makes its way through the appropriate committees and onto the floor of the Senate and the Assembly." The State Assembly has previously passed a gay marriage bill in 2007, but it stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. Though the Senate is now controlled by Democrats, the majority is fractured and Senate Majority leader Smith's spokesperson said last week, "Currently, there are not sufficient votes in the Senate to pass the marriage equality bill."

Governor David Paterson announced that he would re-introduce same-sex marriage legislation this month. Paterson told Ithaca TV station WGRZ, "We'll put a bill out and let the people decide one way or the other."

    

Earlier this morning the NYCLU shouted "I Do!" to marriage for all New Yorkers at their National Freedom to Marry Day. Reps from the organization joined forces with Marriage Equality New York and the Empire State Pride Agenda for a call to action and rally in front of the Manhattan Marriage Bureau on Worth Street. This marks the 12th annual Freedom to Marry week, and before attempting to apply for their marriage licenses, over 100 activists rallied outside in support of lesbian and gay couples seeking marriage equality. At present, only Massachusetts and Connecticut permits same-sex marriages.

After earlier saying he would "defend the proposition as enacted by the people of California," California Attorney General Jerry Brown has asked the California State Supreme Courtto void Proposition 8, which bans same sex marriage. The L.A. Times reports that his brief, filed just under the deadline, declared "the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification."

Democrats now in the majority of the state senate for the first time in over forty years appear to be preparing to stall on voting to legalize gay marriage, a big issue that helped push them over the top this election year. Several factors appear to be giving Democrats hesitation: the strong wave that came out against gay marriage in the Prop 8 battle in California, fear of the issue backfiring on Governor Paterson's reelection chances in 2010 and the hopes to appease Gang of Three leader Ruben Diaz who has said he will not support a majority leader who would allow a same-sex marriage vote come to floor. Naturally that leaves many pushing for legalization ASAP upset after all the money poured into Democratic senate campaigns from gay rights groups around the country and the mobilization on their side amidst the Prop 8 battle. Liz Krueger, a senator from the Upper East Side told the Times, “We want to get there, but we want to get there the right way or else we risk setting ourselves back another decade."

After voters in California passed Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, a number of protests have taken place in the Golden State. And tomorrow evening, New Yorkers are planning a protest on the Upper West Side, outside the Church of Latter Day Saints at Columbus Avenue and West 65th. (Details after the jump.)

The highest court in Connecticut ruled 4-3 in favor of gay marriage. The majority opinion found the state's "understanding of marriage must yield to a more contemporary appreciation of the rights entitled to constitutional protection." Connecticut is the third state to allow same-sex marriages (it's allowed in Masachusetts and California).

The lawsuit against Governor Paterson's gay marriage stance--that state agencies should recognize out-of-state same-sex marraiges--was thrown out of a state court yesterday. State Court Judge Lucy Billings wrote, "The Governor's directive is an incremental but important step toward equality long denied, even if, according to the New York Court of Appeals, full equality is not constitutionally mandated." The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group, plans to appeal, which Billings predicted weeks ago.

When Governor David Paterson ordered that state agencies should recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages, the battle lines were drawn. The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group, filed a lawsuit yesterday, with plaintiffs including state Assembly minority leader James Tedisco, Assemblymen Daniel Burling and Brian Kolb and state Sens. Martin Golden and Serphin Maltese, claiming that Paterson "sidestepped the democratic process." However, Judge Lucy Billings implied that she would side with Paterson, saying, "The petitioners, I'm sure, are headed to a higher court."