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NY Senate marriage vote within 50 days

Timothy Kincaid

November 11th, 2009

Governor Paterson is telling media that the Democratic Senate leadership has promised a vote on marriage equality in the NY Senate before the end of the year. (Daily News)

Flanked by four rank-and-file Senate Democrats and ESPA Executive Director Alan Van Capelle, Gov. David Paterson this evening announced there will be a gay marriage vote at “a date not certain between now and the end of the year.”

“This is the first time that the Senate leadership has indicated that it will support a vote on marriage equality,” Paterson said during Red Room press conference that followed a meeting at which the question of bringing the bill to the floor to fail tonight was yet again discussed – and apparently rejected.

“This is a stunning and very happy development in this process,” the governor continued. “…I will continue to place marriage equality on any special sessions that I call on Monday and Tuesday because I feel that the bill should be debated immediately. However, I have profound respect for the leadership of the Senate and the process that they took to bring us to this vote.”

To the extent that the promises of the NY Senate leadership have any credibility whatsoever, this is very good news. Even if we do not win this vote, we will know the names of those individuals who are unwilling to treat all New Yorkers with dignity and equality.

And the Senate leadership will also get a valuable opportunity to explain to the community exactly how the community benefited from working so hard and spending so much money to achieve a Democratic majority in the Senate. Considering the willingness of New York gays to see the advancement of the community as more important than partisan power games or the career advancement of politicians, this should be a fascinating conversation.

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Elliot in NY
November 11th, 2009 | LINK

As Colbert once put it: “We’re here, we’re queer, and they’ll get to us eventually.”

Burr
November 11th, 2009 | LINK

I don’t buy it. They’ll find SOME stupid reason to screw it up.

demsenate.com - Box Turtle Bulletin » NY Senate marriage vote within 50 days
November 11th, 2009 | LINK

[...] O­ri­gi­n­al p­o­st­: B­ox­ Tu­rtle­ B­u­lle­ti­n­ » N­Y­ Se­… [...]

Trevor
November 11th, 2009 | LINK

I promise to think about maybe considering it some other time possibly.

Emelye Waldherr
November 13th, 2009 | LINK

The Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act and the Dignity for All Students Act were sacrificed to this losing effort by Gov Paterson, the Empire State Pride Agenda and the politicians in the NY Senate. While people debate and fuss and pontificate over the ability to legally marry their same sex sweetheart, gender variant people in NY are still being denied jobs, housing and service in the public sphere with no legal recourse. Marriage equality is important, yes. Inclusive nondiscrimination law, however, is vital!

When will the GLB community stop throwing their trans brothers and sisters over the side?

cd
November 16th, 2009 | LINK

exactly how the community benefited from working so hard and spending so much money to achieve a Democrat majority in the Senate.

Um, it’s Democratic. With “ic”.

Timothy Kincaid
November 16th, 2009 | LINK

cd,

Fixed.

Though I still think that grammatically it should be “Democrat majority”. That would be a body whose majority is Democrats. To me, “Democratic majority” sounds like the majority of the Democratic caucus, rather than of the whole body.

But I googled for news usage and you are correct.

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