New York Senate Gay Marriage Debate Possible Today - What are the Bill's Chances of Success?
posted by: Steve W. 26 days ago
A New York Senate special session may see gay marriage come to the floor today in what is likely to be a hotly fought debate on same-sex marriage. The bill passed the New York Assembly in May this year with a vote of 89 to 52, five of those votes coming from Republican legislators. But the political and financial landscape has changed a great deal since then, and with such a slim Democrat majority in the Senate, the success of the bill is anything but assured.
The Senate had been set to debate the gay marriage bill late in July, but a series of events that led to a brief loss of the Democrat majority meant that a debate never occurred.
Governor David Paterson promised that he would schedule special sessions to catch up with debates and legislation that were missed during this time, and revealed that this would include gay marriage.
Paterson had been criticized by some who said he was using gay marriage as a tool to ensure his re-election, something which is by no means certain given the heat he had taken over the state's current fiscal deficit. However, he has restated his commitment to the Senate at least debating, if not passing, gay marriage, regardless of his re-election bid (which he intends to run for in spite of the Obama administration asking him not to). Paterson has promised to sign the bill into law should it reach his desk.
Speaking in an exclusive interview to gay rights blog Towleroad, he said:
Quinn, a Manhattan born Democrat, who is also openly gay, spoke candidly to reporters at New York City Hall, saying:
While Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) had indicated back in June that there were enough votes to pass the gay marriage law, other gay marriage proponents in the Senate - where Democrats hold a majority of just 32 to 30 - were less optimistic, but did say that gay marriage was gaining momentum. This was before the need for special sessions.
There are also those amongst the Senate's Democrats who are vehemently opposed to the bill, such as Senator Rubén Diaz Sr. who is keen to point out that gay marriage legislation has not done so well of late, telling the New York Times:
Scozzafava, a moderate Republican, had been behind gay marriage and abortion rights drives, two issues that Diaz opposes. Diaz also points to the recent vote taken in Maine where, in spite of optimistic predictions, Maine's voters chose to repeal or "veto" the state's same-sex marriage law at the ballot.
We can expect that Diaz will be hard to win over, if that is possible at all, and that he will most likely lead the arguments against gay marriage if the bill comes to the floor.
The only way to perhaps sway his vote would be if the Democrats made this a matter of party politics and decided that they would vote together to pass the bill as a show of strength, something that is doubtful but possible.
In related news, 700 clergy members and lay preachers from New York State chose to back the same-sex marriage bill in a press release on Monday.
Part of their gay rights affirming statement reads:
The success of gay rights legislation is always difficult to predict in any debate. The New York Senate may be particularly tough. If the bill can actually reach the floor, it does have a slim chance at passing, but it will be a drawn out fight. Whether same-sex marriage will be debated today or not looks to depend on whether any movement is made on New York's budget woes. If progress is substantial enough on that issue, there could be a debate on gay marriage.
According to the New York Times there were 25 votes that could be counted on as of Monday. Interestingly, it is reported that the leader of the Republican caucus is not asking for a vote down party lines, meaning Republicans could vote however they wanted. None have publicly committed to a vote in favor of passing gay marriage, but with some Democrats against the bill, Republican support will probably be necessary.
Take Action:
Live in New York and want your senators to support gay marriage? Click here to learn about the variety of ways you can tell them.
UPDATE 1: The New York Post details why it is unlikely that the gay marriage bill will be debated today. When more news on the bill, or a new date for the debate, is put out, it will be posted here. Nevertheless, if you have time, please call your senators and let them know you support gay marriage.
UPDATE 2: According to the New York Times, Senator Pedro Espada has commented that he would expect that the gay marriage bill will now come up at next week's extraordinary session after the budget deficit issue is resolved.
UPDATE 3: Following closed door discussions, Gov. Paterson gave a press conference late Tuesday in which he indicated that a debate and possible vote on gay marriage will happen before Christmas. This ties to Senator Perdro Espada's thoughts that the debate will be pushed back until the deficit issue is resolved. Early reports suggested the vote on gay marriage would be put back indefinitely, but both Gov. Paterson and other senate members seem more optimistic.
The Senate had been set to debate the gay marriage bill late in July, but a series of events that led to a brief loss of the Democrat majority meant that a debate never occurred.
Governor David Paterson promised that he would schedule special sessions to catch up with debates and legislation that were missed during this time, and revealed that this would include gay marriage.
Paterson had been criticized by some who said he was using gay marriage as a tool to ensure his re-election, something which is by no means certain given the heat he had taken over the state's current fiscal deficit. However, he has restated his commitment to the Senate at least debating, if not passing, gay marriage, regardless of his re-election bid (which he intends to run for in spite of the Obama administration asking him not to). Paterson has promised to sign the bill into law should it reach his desk.
Speaking in an exclusive interview to gay rights blog Towleroad, he said:
"People who've lived together for 10, 20, 30 years are waiting, hoping that this legislation will pass while they still have the breath to elicit an 'I do' on the altar, and I think it's time that it happens, and if I have to see legislation fail so I can identify who voted against it to better persuade them, then I'll take that chance... In this case, I have a feeling if it got on the floor it would be voted up."
On Monday, both the Major of New York, Michael Bloomberg, and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn publicly asked that senators approve the gay marriage bill.Quinn, a Manhattan born Democrat, who is also openly gay, spoke candidly to reporters at New York City Hall, saying:
“This is literally a moment where people can stand up and say that everybody's family matters, that everybody's home is a blessed place and that everybody has the same rights. You don't get a lot of times in life when you get to do that, when you get to send a message like that... Now the worst thing in the world is to have your hopes beaten down. And I urge people, if they think I am not as good as they are, to actually have the courage to say that in front of me and the rest of the New Yorkers who are members of the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community.”
Mayor Bloomberg also wrote a letter to lawmakers urging them to pass the law, saying:“I understand the hesitation that some may have to undertake such a change, but this is an issue that cuts across traditional divides. The issue is not the exclusive domain of libertarians, liberals or conservatives; it is a matter of removing the state as a barrier to personal relationships; it is a matter of basic fairness; it is a matter of family stability.”
While Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) had indicated back in June that there were enough votes to pass the gay marriage law, other gay marriage proponents in the Senate - where Democrats hold a majority of just 32 to 30 - were less optimistic, but did say that gay marriage was gaining momentum. This was before the need for special sessions.
There are also those amongst the Senate's Democrats who are vehemently opposed to the bill, such as Senator Rubén Diaz Sr. who is keen to point out that gay marriage legislation has not done so well of late, telling the New York Times:
“The people of the nation don’t want gay marriage... They didn’t want it in California; they didn’t want it in Maine. And the people of upstate New York, after what happened to the candidate in the 23rd Congressional District, they sent a message they don’t want gay marriage. Forget about it. People don’t want it.”
Diaz, who is as widely known for advocating on behalf of the poor and vulnerable as he is for opposing gay marriage legislation, is referring to the failure of candidate Dede Scozzafava to be elected as the Congressman of the 23rd Congressional District last week.Scozzafava, a moderate Republican, had been behind gay marriage and abortion rights drives, two issues that Diaz opposes. Diaz also points to the recent vote taken in Maine where, in spite of optimistic predictions, Maine's voters chose to repeal or "veto" the state's same-sex marriage law at the ballot.
We can expect that Diaz will be hard to win over, if that is possible at all, and that he will most likely lead the arguments against gay marriage if the bill comes to the floor.
The only way to perhaps sway his vote would be if the Democrats made this a matter of party politics and decided that they would vote together to pass the bill as a show of strength, something that is doubtful but possible.
In related news, 700 clergy members and lay preachers from New York State chose to back the same-sex marriage bill in a press release on Monday.
Part of their gay rights affirming statement reads:
“These faith leaders—a number of which are not allowed to perform marriages of same-sex couples themselves because of their faith traditions—consider this to be an issue involving the rights and protections of civil marriage, not the traditions and ceremonies of a religious marriage. Their commitment at this important moment in New York demonstrates that there is no one group that owns the pulpit when it comes to whether the state should be treating all families equally by providing same-sex couples access to marriage and the many hundreds of rights and responsibilities New York provides with a marriage license.”
The success of gay rights legislation is always difficult to predict in any debate. The New York Senate may be particularly tough. If the bill can actually reach the floor, it does have a slim chance at passing, but it will be a drawn out fight. Whether same-sex marriage will be debated today or not looks to depend on whether any movement is made on New York's budget woes. If progress is substantial enough on that issue, there could be a debate on gay marriage.
According to the New York Times there were 25 votes that could be counted on as of Monday. Interestingly, it is reported that the leader of the Republican caucus is not asking for a vote down party lines, meaning Republicans could vote however they wanted. None have publicly committed to a vote in favor of passing gay marriage, but with some Democrats against the bill, Republican support will probably be necessary.
Take Action:
Live in New York and want your senators to support gay marriage? Click here to learn about the variety of ways you can tell them.
UPDATE 1: The New York Post details why it is unlikely that the gay marriage bill will be debated today. When more news on the bill, or a new date for the debate, is put out, it will be posted here. Nevertheless, if you have time, please call your senators and let them know you support gay marriage.
UPDATE 2: According to the New York Times, Senator Pedro Espada has commented that he would expect that the gay marriage bill will now come up at next week's extraordinary session after the budget deficit issue is resolved.
UPDATE 3: Following closed door discussions, Gov. Paterson gave a press conference late Tuesday in which he indicated that a debate and possible vote on gay marriage will happen before Christmas. This ties to Senator Perdro Espada's thoughts that the debate will be pushed back until the deficit issue is resolved. Early reports suggested the vote on gay marriage would be put back indefinitely, but both Gov. Paterson and other senate members seem more optimistic.
Read more: civil rights, gay marriage, gay rights, lgbt rights, same sex marriage, new york gay marriage, new york senate, governor paterson
comments
We are going to HELL!!!!!!
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
If those of us that are straight be alllowed to marry then the gay population should be given the same exact rights. Why put people through this discrimination?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
STOP making it legal for gays to marry. This it VERY VERY WRONG.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Human beings as a species are STUPID. Although some can sing like angels, and many people have other wonderful talents, human beings as a whole are bar none THE most destructive, wasteful and aggressive species on the planet. Clearly real LOVE is not an actuality for our species as a whole - look what we feel free to do to [other] animals. So for certain sections of the human race [straight and/or closeted people] to pontificate about who deserves to love whom and how is so monumentally INSANE that I can only say: are we nearly extinct? We seem to be losing our ability to bond on any authentic and longstanding basis - the exception proves the rule - and as the result we are becoming so alienated from one another that Dark Ages dogma means more to vast multitudes than their fellow humans - their brothers and sisters in suffering. As an out bi woman I find myself constantly blabbergasted by the downright BLEEPING STUPIDITY of much that goes by the name of "human values." Such hypocrisy!
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
There are so many good comments registered here on this article and not to much more to add that's already been said.
But let me just reiterate in addition here of what I've stressed repeatedly on previous gay marriage issues. No one has the nayrights or say-so, whether it be an individual, religion or government entity to intervene and block the love genuinely shared by two human beings. No body...
As we progress and mature, perhaps this will never even be an issue put into a ballot box to be voted on...
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Juliet, in the U.S., marriage is a civil institution. You can be married in a church, synagogue, mosque, or courthouse, but your marriage will not count without a little piece of paper from the state in which you live. As Sarah D. pointed out, there is no moral reason to not allow same sex couples the same rights straight couples have.
We didn't put civil rights for women up to a vote, we didn't put civil rights for blacks up to a vote, and we shouldn't put civil rights for gays up to a vote. Their marriages will not affect yours, nor will it damage the institution of marriage.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
there's no real logical, or even moral, reason why gay marriage should stay illegal.
Agreed - provided a moral and monogamous relationship is proven and the so called partnership is not formed just to claim same benefits.
Good reason for equality is gay partnerships seem to last longer nowadays than their counterparts.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
"May all the gays fighting this issue find some peace. However, this issue is so often in the forefront in the media. Let's prioritize caring for our elderly and our children, national and international peace."
It does violence to reduce complex human beings to a single label. Substitute "straights" for "gays" above. Is being heterosexual all there is worth saying about those who are straight?
Pope Paul VI hit this one on the head: "If you want peace, work for justice." There will be peace for all people, gay, straight, whatever, when there is justice...and not before. Peace can only be built upon right relations. By definition that excludes discrimination.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
May all the gays fighting this issue find some peace. However, this issue is so often in the forefront in the media. Let's prioritize caring for our elderly and our children, national and international peace.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
"Marriage is fundamentally a religious concept; governments should neither reward nor prevent it."
Actually, historically the reverse has been true. Marriages have historically been matters of civil law primarily designed to establish inheritance rights. Religions have developed rites to bless unions, whether marriages or merely couples that have held themselves out as monogamously bound to each other.
Seems to me that we ought to simply return to civil marriages, which would be available to any citizens wishing to marry, with status and attendant rights created by law. Then, if religious organizations want to give their blessings to those marriages and pledge their support to the couple as a community, let them do so or not as their consciences dictate.
Religious institutions should not be in the marriage business. Religious values should never determine the recognition or denial of civil rights. But invoking the blessing of the deity and pledging the support of the community is by definition the role of the religious institution. If we could as a society think clearly enough to honor each of these institutions and their respective roles in their proper places, perhaps we could come to grips with this problem.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
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Photo used under the Creative Commons Attribution License, with thanks to Clementine Gallot.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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