Marriage equality in NY state is very close to happening. If you can attend tomorrow, please do.
Click on the image for more details.
Rally for NY Marriage Equality – Tuesday in Albany
NY Gov. Cuomo Expects Passage of Gay Marriage Bill
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Friday that he expected same-sex marriage legislation to be approved before the end of the legislative session next week, and indicated that to win passage of the measure he is prepared to yield to Republican concerns for greater protections of religious groups.
“I am a proponent of marriage equality,” Mr. Cuomo told reporters on Friday. “I am also a proponent of religious freedom, and separation of church and state, so these are both very important principles. I don’t see one in competition with the other.”
With signs pointing to a vote on the marriage issue in the State Senate next week, there are widespread expectations that it will pass. 31 of the Senate’s 62 members have expressed support for the measure, including two Republicans.
Other Republican lawmakers appear to be seriously considering lending their support if Mr. Cuomo agrees to amend the proposal to give greater protection to religious organizations.
The State Assembly passed the same-sex marriage bill on Wednesday.
The legislation proposed by the governor includes exemptions for religious organizations and affiliated charities or nonprofit groups to protect them from litigation if they refuse to host or provide services for same-sex weddings.
But Senate Republicans want further provisions to protect such organizations from any repercussions from state agencies, that might deny aid or benefits based on discrimination.
“Governor Cuomo has been most gracious in terms of listening to some of these concerns,” Mr. Skelos added. “I think he’s doing the right thing by doing that, and those concerns will continue to be addressed.”
Senator Stephen M. Saland, a Hudson Valley Republican who is seen as one of the most likely tie-breaking votes, is one of the lead negotiators for the Senate Republicans over the marriage issue. Both the governor and the Republicans described negotiations as cordial and productive.
Likening the prohibition on same-sex marriage to earlier bans on interracial marriage, Mr. Cuomo said he was encouraged after talks with Republican lawmakers and confident that a marriage measure and his broader agenda would both be approved next week. “This state has a proud tradition and a proud legacy as the progressive capital of the nation,” he said in a hallway outside his office. “We led the way, and it’s time for New York to lead the way once again.”
David Tyree calls marriage equality ‘anarchy’
Ex-NY Giants receiver David Tyree is coming out against gay marriage HARD … claiming it’s the first step on the road to “ANARCHY.”
During the interview, Tyree is asked about the push to legalize gay marriage in the United States — and says if it happens, “This will be the beginning of our country sliding toward … it’s a strong word, but anarchy.”
To reinforce his point, Tyree says, “You can’t teach something that you don’t have … so two men will never be able to show a woman how to be a woman.”
Tyree — who’s African American — goes on to say, “How can marriage be marriage for thousands of years and now all the sudden because a minority, an influential minority, has a push or agenda … and totally reshapes something that was not founded in our country.”
Ironically, Tyree’s statement comes almost 44 years to the day after interracial marriage was legalized in the United States … thanks, in part, to the agenda of an influential minority.
His entire interview goes on and on, basically making the case that if you don’t believe HIS way, you are wrong and an anarchist.
Marriage is a civil contract between two people. You apply for and receive a marriage license from a civil government, not from a church. If you are an atheist in this country, you can still be married. Religion is not required to get a marriage license.
Also, the constant call that marriage is about raising children is false and small in scope. There are married couples who choose to not have children; there are senior citizens that get married after child bearing years; there are lots of marriages that have nothing to do with children.
I don’t see the opponents of marriage equality looking to cancel or annul those marriages. Only same-sex marriages seem to be a target for these folks.
Do the math kids. This isn’t about children.
NY State Assembly to vote on marriage equality today
In light of the fact it’s passed many times in the Assembly, this vote should go well for the LGBT community.
As far as the state Senate is concerned, GOP state senators met today for several hours about the proposed bill to legalize marriage equality. No word on if there was a decision made on how they will proceed.
From the NY Times:
Senate Republican leaders said on Wednesday that they had not decided whether to take a vote on legalizing same-sex marriage, as advocates were in a full-court press to gain the one vote needed to pass the measure before Monday, the scheduled end of this year’s legislative session.Thirty-one members of the 62-seat Senate have now publicly backed the legislation, including two Republicans who have emerged in recent days to say they would vote for same-sex marriage. The Republican-controlled chamber, where gay marriage was defeated two years ago by a wide margin, is seen as the last obstacle to the measure, which is strongly supported by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.
Republican senators met for four hours Wednesday to discuss the marriage issue, and, as they emerged, they said they had not reached a consensus about bringing the bill to a vote.
Should the bill pass, New York will become the sixth, and largest, state in which gay and lesbian couples can legally wed, intensifying the national debate over the role of gays in American society and adding momentum to a movement that had stalled in recent years.
Stay tuned.
Motion to Vacate Prop 8 Decision: Denied
U.S. District Court Judge James Ware ruled today that the Aug. 4, 2010, decision by now-retired Judge Vaughn Walker striking down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional could not be vacated — as the proponents of Proposition 8 argued on Monday, June 13 — because Walker is gay and has a partner.
Judge Ware writes:
The presumption that Judge Walker, by virtue of being in a same-sex relationship, had a desire to be married that rendered him incapable of making an impartial decision, is as warrantless as the presumption that a female judge is incapable of being impartial in a case in which women seek legal relief.On the contrary: it is reasonable to presume that a female judge or a judge in a same-sex relationship is capable of rising above any personal predisposition and deciding such a case on the merits.
During a Monday hearing on the matter, Judge Ware said that Prop. 8 supporters’ motion to vacate Walker’s judgment was the first time that a party had urged a jurist’s disqualification based on sexual orientation. He grilled attorney Charles J. Cooper, who argued that Walker had a duty to disclose his relationship, on what direct evidence existed that Judge Walker sought to marry his partner and thus personally benefit from a verdict favoring marriage equality.
No court has ever upheld the removal of a judge from a civil rights case because of his or her race, religion or gender, according to lawyers in the case.
In the end, Judge Ware decided “the Motion to Vacate Judgment on the sole ground of Judge Walker’s same-sex relationship is DENIED.”
From here, we await a 9th Circuit Appeals court to decide whether to uphold Judge Walker’s decision or overturn it. That decision is on hold waiting for the CA Supreme Court to decide if those seeking to uphold Prop. 8 have “standing” to do so.
Stay tuned.
NY governor sends marriage equality bill to state senate
UPDATE: Senator Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, told the Times Union Tuesday that he will back a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. He becomes the 31st senator to proclaim his public support for the bill. The bill needs 32 votes to pass the Senate. Yesterday, Sen. Alesi became the first GOP state senator to announce that he’ll vote for the marriage bill.
“I’m trying to do the right thing,” McDonald said. “Rather than wait I worked with the governor…I’m not out to alienate anybody. This is driven by compassion.”
“It’s my own evolution,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a vote on Friday.”
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has submitted a marriage equality bill to the New York Senate.
The bill contains a religious exemption clause which may convince the vote of GOP Senator Greg Ball, who has said his vote hinges on that language:
“The bill also guarantees that religious institutions and benevolent organizations such as the Knights of Columbus remain free to choose who may use their facilities for marriage ceremonies and celebrations or to whom they provide religious services, consistent with their religious principles.”
In the past, Gov. Cuomo has said he would not submit the marriage equality bill unless it had the votes to pass.
If you live in NY state, please contact your NY Senator. Find their contact info using this link:
http://www.nysenate.gov/senators
NY Daily News Poll on marriage equality
Possible GOP support for marriage equality in NY
Seven or more Senate Republicans have signaled Gov. Cuomo that they’re ready to legalize same-sex marriage, more than enough to put the controversial and historic measure over the top this week, The NY Post has learned.
A highly knowledgeable Senate insider said yesterday that “far more of the [GOP] members are in play than anyone realizes, including some surprising names from conservative upstate areas.”
Influences contributing to the changes of heart are secret Republican polls showing majority support for gay marriage in key swing districts and the strong possibility that the GOP could lose control of the Senate next year to Democrats campaigning on the issue, sources said.
But despite the growing support, passage of same-sex marriage remains uncertain at the start of the final full week of the legislative session.
This all sounds promising, however, I prefer to remain optimistic but cautious. This has happened before and the LGBT community has had the rug pulled out from under it.
A vote could come up this week.
UPDATE: Sen Alesi became the first (R) to announce that he’ll vote for the marriage bill. We’re two votes away. Stay tuned. Sen. Alesi is very important as the votes are done alphabetically. If he starts out voting ‘yes’ it could mean other will follow.
Wes and Mark – an Iowa wedding…
A beautiful Iowa wedding.
And the sky didn’t fall…
And everyone cheered…
“Loving” and the Fight for Marriage Equality
I can’t add anything to this, nor do I feel I need to.
Self-evident.