New York Legislative Session Extended: Gay Marriage Still Possible
posted by: Steve W. 160 days ago
Just when you thought it was all over for another year, gay marriage in New York rises from the ashes of a broken Senate. The legislative session ended Monday. No gay marriage bill had been debated or signed.
But Governor David Paterson has pledged that, due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks that have produced a 31-31 split in the New York Senate, there would be an emergency session today (and everyday until he is satisfied) and also revealed his belief that the Senate should complete their deliberation on same sex marriage before they were finally allowed to break.
Initially it seemed that gay marriage would not be part of the special session's agenda when Governor Paterson revealed his intentions at a Sunday press conference. “If the senators do not cooperate with this order, I will convene a special session every day until they do... that includes Saturdays and Sundays. That includes July 4. There will be no excuses.”
Paterson later clarified his position to the New York Times, telling them that "It has always been my intention to see same-sex marriage come to the floor. I don't want there to be any confusion... I am forced to reveal my true intentions, even though the advocates knew them already."
The gay marriage bill will be amongst a group of other legislation including local sales tax legislature and schooling initiatives that will be debated, with the key focus on making up for the time lost during the Democrat and Republican power struggle.
Whilst Governor Paterson has the power to call the 62 Senators in for this extraordinary legislative session, he has no power to compel them to vote on any legislation, let alone the gay marriage bill that some had speculated led to the unrest in the Senate to begin with. Others say that this is untrue, and that, rather, gay marriage acted as an indicator that the Democratic led Senate had been fracturing since it began.
The unrest came to a head with a defection by two Democrat Senators including Pedro Espada Jr. (Bronx) who migrated to the Republican side of the hall and claimed the title of Senate President, the legality of which is still being disputed.
Many gay groups had thought that these events would doom the passage of a gay marriage bill for this year. This was especially infuriating because it had looked quite promising under a Democrat led Senate with Senator Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) having previously expressed his confidence that the votes were there to pass this legislation. That was before the Republican party took control of the Senate however.
That by no means indicates that the bill will face insurmountable opposition (or that the voting landscape would shift dramatically, but may mean the Democrats will be on the defensive). The Republican party has been largely silent over the gay marriage bill, but has, over the past few weeks, received intense scrutiny and pressure from groups like the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) who have said they would campaign against any Senators that voted in favor of the gay marriage bill.
Indeed, NOM pledged $500,000 to oppose those offending senators in the primaries, and this sum would be in addition to a $600,000 media campaign that NOM have launched in several districts to bolster their grassroots opposition to the gay marriage bill. As to whether this strong-arm tactic will help or hinder NOM's cause remains to be seen.
Joe Solomonese from The Human Rights Campaign highlighted the importance of this opportunity to pass gay marriage, however, in a statement:
“For those of us who want to see marriage equality in the state of New York, the time to act is now. If you live in New York, call your state Senator today. If you know someone in New York, ask them to call their state Senator. This is the moment, the time is now.” The full HRC statement can be found here.
Help Making That Important Call:
Who is my Senator? How can I call them?
What do I say when I call my Senator?
But Governor David Paterson has pledged that, due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks that have produced a 31-31 split in the New York Senate, there would be an emergency session today (and everyday until he is satisfied) and also revealed his belief that the Senate should complete their deliberation on same sex marriage before they were finally allowed to break.
Initially it seemed that gay marriage would not be part of the special session's agenda when Governor Paterson revealed his intentions at a Sunday press conference. “If the senators do not cooperate with this order, I will convene a special session every day until they do... that includes Saturdays and Sundays. That includes July 4. There will be no excuses.”
Paterson later clarified his position to the New York Times, telling them that "It has always been my intention to see same-sex marriage come to the floor. I don't want there to be any confusion... I am forced to reveal my true intentions, even though the advocates knew them already."
The gay marriage bill will be amongst a group of other legislation including local sales tax legislature and schooling initiatives that will be debated, with the key focus on making up for the time lost during the Democrat and Republican power struggle.
Whilst Governor Paterson has the power to call the 62 Senators in for this extraordinary legislative session, he has no power to compel them to vote on any legislation, let alone the gay marriage bill that some had speculated led to the unrest in the Senate to begin with. Others say that this is untrue, and that, rather, gay marriage acted as an indicator that the Democratic led Senate had been fracturing since it began.
The unrest came to a head with a defection by two Democrat Senators including Pedro Espada Jr. (Bronx) who migrated to the Republican side of the hall and claimed the title of Senate President, the legality of which is still being disputed.
Many gay groups had thought that these events would doom the passage of a gay marriage bill for this year. This was especially infuriating because it had looked quite promising under a Democrat led Senate with Senator Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) having previously expressed his confidence that the votes were there to pass this legislation. That was before the Republican party took control of the Senate however.
That by no means indicates that the bill will face insurmountable opposition (or that the voting landscape would shift dramatically, but may mean the Democrats will be on the defensive). The Republican party has been largely silent over the gay marriage bill, but has, over the past few weeks, received intense scrutiny and pressure from groups like the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) who have said they would campaign against any Senators that voted in favor of the gay marriage bill.
Indeed, NOM pledged $500,000 to oppose those offending senators in the primaries, and this sum would be in addition to a $600,000 media campaign that NOM have launched in several districts to bolster their grassroots opposition to the gay marriage bill. As to whether this strong-arm tactic will help or hinder NOM's cause remains to be seen.
Joe Solomonese from The Human Rights Campaign highlighted the importance of this opportunity to pass gay marriage, however, in a statement:
“For those of us who want to see marriage equality in the state of New York, the time to act is now. If you live in New York, call your state Senator today. If you know someone in New York, ask them to call their state Senator. This is the moment, the time is now.” The full HRC statement can be found here.
Help Making That Important Call:
Who is my Senator? How can I call them?
What do I say when I call my Senator?
Read more: politics, gay marriage, new york gay marriage, david paterson, new york senate
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Marena - "Yes, there are a number of countries that allow same-sex marriage but just look at them, they are morally on a slippery slope down to the sewer. I've visited some of them and was revolted by what I saw."
How are they on a "slippery slope down the sewer"? Because they allow gay marriage? Was that what revolted you when you visited?
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Yes, there are a number of countries that allow same-sex marriage but just look at them, they are morally on a slippery slope down to the sewer. I've visited some of them and was revolted by what I saw.
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Either everyone can get married or no one can get married. We never had to vote on hetero marriage, why should we have to vote on gay marriage?
I'd like to see at least 10 good reasons that DOES NOT involve quotes from the bible, Christian/Right Wing/Conservative propaganda, and or talk about polygamy, beastiality, or pedophilia.
I've witnessed gay marriage. It's no different from straight marriage. In fact it was a lot more interesting than straight marriage, and it was beautiful.
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Jack,
What is normal? Who is normal? Who gets to decide what normal is? For a long time, normal was measured by white males over the age of 18.
What is normal for you, may not be normal for me or what is normal for me may not be normal for Carol H. What is normal for Carol H may not be normal for Susan - but we all have to live here - on this earth together! So, we have secular laws because they are laws that are common for everyone without religious dogma. Gay people pay the same taxes that you pay and they go to school, work, and do the same things straight people do. If they are denied rights - that means they are being taxed without having the same rights. How is that fair?
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I find the whole affair DISGUSTING . I do wish there were a lot more NORMAL folk about!!!!
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we should let and allow the same sex marriges the same rights and privilages that the other marriges have
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Alice B. i totally agree with you we need to stand up for many peoples rights that they are being taken away everyone deserves to have the same rights we need to end this descrimination and hate once and for all EQUALITY FOR ALL
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Bravo NY Gov Patterson who knows discrimination from the inside out both as a Black/African-American man and as a blind man. As a disabled LGBT bi person I am particularly proud of Patterson standing up to this BIGOTED CRAP. He has the guts to do what's right. (Another reason we're glad to be rid of his predecessor who would have been happy to end the session "on time" and fly off to a vacation complete with "escort services.")
WITH THE ECONOMY TANKING - WHERE DO THESE HOMOPHOBIC MORONS GET ALL THIS MONEY TO SLING THEIR SEWAGE AGAINST OUR LGBT RIGHTS CAMPAIGNS?!!
I'm struggling and most of the people I know are too. If these homophobes really GAVE A DAMN ABOUT THE HUMAN RACE they would be giving that money to FOOD SHELVES right now!
SANCTIMONIOUS HYPOCRITES ALL SHOW THEIR TRUE NATURE - THEY LOVE TO HATE AND THEY HATE TO LOVE!
Readers: STAND WITH US AT PRIDE - ATTEND PRIDE - IF YOU ARE ABLE, MARCH WITH US TOO LIKE MY STRAIGHT DAUGHTER WILL BE DOING IN THE NYC PRIDE PARADE!! We need your SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY - OUR LIVES ARE ON THE LINE!
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cont. But we would deny basic rights to own property, to work at a job that a person likes and is good at, and the basic right to love a consenting adult whom they choose...The Constitution placed no rules on whom was granted life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. It did not carry anything about marriage in it at all... Anything having to do with marriage has been added by amendment, by those who wish to add hate and discrimination to a document that talks about freedom.
The belief that homosexuality is wrong is a religious belief. The laws of our country should be for everyone - those who believe and those who do not; therefore, they should be secualr in nature - not dogmatic.
Laws should be made for the common good & when those laws deny basic rights - then you want gays to pay taxes and not have representation. That is tryanny. That is the reason we fought for independence. Isn't it funny? The British people don't care if someone is homosexual - they may have a queen; but parliment makes all the laws - they have a single payer health system and are much more live & let live than those of us in the land of the free & the home of the brave... Perhaps someday, we will "grow up" too.
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