The Albany gay marriage back room

[WillParkinson]

The Albany gay marriage back room

Gay City News reports that a high-stakes meeting that included the governor, senior Democratic lawmakers and top gay advocates offered “the best sign yet that marriage equality may become a reality by New Year’s Day.”

Says Gay City News:

Shortly after 8 p.m., Paterson, four senior Senate Democrats — Jeffrey Klein of the Bronx and Westchester, the deputy majority leader; Eric Adams of Brooklyn; and Manhattanites Eric Schneiderman and Thomas K. Duane, the measure’s lead sponsor — and Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA), the state’s LGBT lobby, appeared before the press to announce that the Senate leadership has made a specific commitment to hold a debate and vote on marriage equality before the end of 2009.

http://www.365gay.com/news/the-albany-gay-marriage-back-room/

[Rhiannon12866]

1. The governor and both senators are in favor of gay marriage.

So is my Republican Assemblywoman. She has a gay son. I'm hoping that this goes through... :thumbsup:

[RKP5637]

2. If this goes through then do the voters turn around and vote it out and that

ridiculousness of voting on civil rights and denying rights to gays? Just asking if you know, curious. Thanks! I hope it passes and stays in effect. This nonsense of married, not married and all needs to stop.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. This is New York, not Maine.

I have a lot of faith in the voters here. Even in my rural and traditionally red district, they voted overwhelmingly for Obama. And we can't forget NYC. They are the reason that NY is a blue state. :-)

[RKP5637]

4. Hope so. Wish it were the same here. It's so red here it practically defines a new

color. Thanks!

[TheWraith]

7. But that's fucking KANSAS, man.

Some parts of New York may look like Kentucky, but the percentage of the population in those areas is limited. :)

[RKP5637]

8. Yep, you're right. Lucky people in NY! n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

14. It's exactly the same way here. In 2004, I was very bummed out by all of the Bush* signs...

But, as I said, Obama won big here, and our newly-elected congressman is also a Democrat. Since I can remember, we were represented by a Republican, so firmly entrenched that the Democrats rarely even bothered to run anyone against him. So I'm encouraged, hope that things are looking up. *fingers crossed*

I actually brought up this issue with two people I gave rides home to tonight (hey, they were riding with me, LOL), one male, one female, both divorced, with children. I was all ready to bring up the subject of equal civil rights when the guy said that he hoped that his daughter, if she turned out to be gay, would have the same right to marry as anyone else. So I didn't need my speech. :D

[RKP5637]

15. Amazing! This is very upbeat to hear! Thanks! n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

16. I know! I was all ready with my talking points...

But I didn't need them. :bounce:

[Toasterlad]

9. And They Said, "This Is Maine, Not California"

I have learned you should never underestimate bigotry when it gets itself alone in a ballot box.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Agreed. Prejudice is easy when you're alone in the voting booth.

But we have two Democratic senators and a Democratic governor who support gay marriage, so I'm hoping that the voters will follow their lead... And this is not as rural a state as Maine. Large cities, with more diverse populations, tend to be more progressive. :-)

[ShadowLiberal]

5. I would guess it might be more difficult to amend the NY constitution to ban by marriage

I would think that if the bigots wanted to ban marriage in NY they would have put it on the ballot already in 2004 or 2006, though then again they didn't in California until 2008.

Still, some states (including most New England ones) require the legislature to approve of amendments to the constitution first before the people vote on it. I would guess it's the same thing in New York, but I'm not 100% certain on this.

[RKP5637]

6. Thanks! n/t

[ThomCat]

10. I have a lot of hope here in NY.

This is one issue I know our Governor really supports and advocates for with some passion.

I wish he was a better organized and more skillful leader. He definitely has a bucket full of faults. But I think he will get this done for us. He has my support for that.

[JackBeck]

11. I hope so, too, ThomCat.

I would love to celebrate with all of you and hope this happens soon. And it may give us the momentum to get it passed over here in Jersey before Christie is sworn in mid-January.

[ThomCat]

12. Hi JackBeck!

:hug:

I look forward to the celebrations. Consider yourself invited in advance to anything that happens here. :)

If/when we succeed I think it is because NJ gave us some of the momentum. Your state was ahead of us in making the first big advance. That got a lot of notice around here. If there is one thing a lot of New Yorkers hate it is being second place to New Jersey.

:P

[PHIMG]

17. Look at this site...tremendous grassroots pressure applied to one "NO" state senator

http://www.wq4me.com