Marriage bill introduced in New York

Timothy Kincaid

June 14th, 2011

Andrew Cuomo must be pretty confident with his vote count. He’s introduced a marriage bill in the NY Senate.

In addition to providing for same-sex marriage, it has broad protections for “a corporation incorporated under the benevolent orders law or described in the benevolent orders law but formed under any other law of this state or a religious corporation incorporated under the education law or the religious corporations laws.”

Some will no doubt be annoyed by this inclusion, but it appears that this will purchase safe passage in the Senate. And while there may be some religious universities that refuses to recognize a professor’s spouse for insurance purposes, this exclusion will not impact very many. Catholic hospitals already have to recognize the patient’s designation of who is “family”, and we really have no interest in making some anti-gay church rent us their reception hall.

A second Republican has pledged support for the bill, leaving only one more to go (New York Post Daily News Courier Tribune Bulletin Times):

New York is within a single vote of legalizing gay marriage, after a second Republican state senator said on Tuesday that he would support the measure should it come to the floor this week.

The senator, Roy J. McDonald, from the capital region, made his comments to reporters amid growing indications that Republican leaders would bring the bill to an up or down vote on Thursday or Friday. Three other Republican state senators, speaking on condition of anonymity because their conference had not yet formally debated the measure, said they believed the bill was almost certain to come up for a vote and that it would likely pass, making New York the sixth and largest state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

Earlier today, Sen. Alesi, the first Republican to pledge support, predicted that the bill will pass with 6 Republicans in support.

F Young

June 14th, 2011

I think that the exception is too broad. Organizations that receive any government funds, eg adoption agencies, should not be exempt.

JohnAGJ

June 14th, 2011

I agree with you F Young, but this is an easy sop that can be dealt with later. They can either be removed through legislation later, challenged in state court as violations of the NY Consitution, etc. I’m speaking solely about those exceptions that allow such groups to use public funds at the same time they discriminate and not permissible exceptions under the US First Amendment.

CPT_Doom

June 14th, 2011

There should be a reciprocal allowance for those of who are LGBT to discriminate against any organization that invokes the exception. Why should a gay teacher, for instance, be forced to attend an academic conference run by bigots?

Timothy Kincaid

June 14th, 2011

F Young, I don’t disagree.

However, it’s worth the trade off for now. And besides, these “religious objections” have a way of drying up as soon as they no longer serve as a woe-is-me tool.

Catholic Charities has provided adoption services to gay couples for years. It only became an issue to them when they had to and could moan and wail and play the martyr. (Am I hinting that they are a bit more interested in the media then the principle? No, I’m outright stating it!)

Mark F.

June 15th, 2011

F Young is correct, but whatever it takes to pass the bill right now…

Priya Lynn

June 15th, 2011

These exceptions to allow religious organizations to discriminate are awfully offensive. Religion is not an excuse, religous organzations and people should be required to follow the same laws everyone else is. Contrary to the lie of anti-gays equality laws don’t give gays “special rights” but this is a special right for religionists and its morally wrong and should be unlawful.

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