Paterson Will Introduce Same-Sex Marriage Bill

[cal04]

Source: NY Times

Gov. David A. Paterson will announce on Thursday plans to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, according to people with knowledge of the governor’s plans.

Mr. Paterson’s move, which he first signaled last week after Vermont became the fourth state to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed, reflects the governor’s desire to press the issue with lawmakers in Albany as other states move ahead with efforts to grant more civil rights to homosexuals.

The action in Vermont, where state legislators overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, came less than a week after the Iowa Supreme Court granted same-sex couples the right to marry.

Mr. Paterson has said in recent days that the state legislature should move ahead now with the legislation regardless of whether it can muster enough votes. His reasoning, which some gay rights advocates have challenged, is that New York should make a statement that it is committed to treating same-sex couples the same way it treats couples of the opposite sex.

Read more: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/paterson-w...

[Fluffdaddy]

1. Good. Lets roll

[Captain Hilts]

2. His administration is a controlled crash. I can't look. I support this. nt

[closeupready]

3. Terrific news.

[TheWraith]

4. It won't pass the State Senate, not without a miracle.

The Dems only control the New York State Senate by a margin of 32 to 30, and we know there are at least 3 DINOs who've threatened to defect to the Republicans over the issue.

[saltpoint]

5. Paterson's right to encourage movement on this but I wish he were

pushing it from a position of greater political clout.

For other reasons I just don't think he is long-destined for his current job.

[iandhr]

6. I support marriage equality

But I worry about a national backlash in 2010. That the GOP will use this to gain traction and take back some power in the house and the Senate. Most people disagree with us over this issue and I worry that can bite Democrats in the ass.

[CatholicEdHead]

8. Same here

MN State Senator John Marty (DFL) proposed a gay marriage bill this session but it will not be getting out of committee. On another note, the reproposed anti-gay marriage amendment is also not going anywhere. These bills will pass on their own sooner than later. Then the state constitutional amendments can slowly be rolled back in the few states that have them.

[awoke_in_2003]

9. you can usually expect backlash

when someone does the right thing

[iandhr]

10. This battle will be won

but it will take a long time i think

[CatholicEdHead]

13. It is a generational thing

So within 20-30yrs all this current nonsense will be rolled back.

[iandhr]

16. Yes

That time frame sounds about right

[theHandpuppet]

18. Gee that's so comforting....

If we're still alive 20-30 years from now, my partner and I might be able to marry to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Only three more decades to endure legal discrimination and hope we can keep going without one of us getting seriously ill or dying.

[NYC Liberal]

23. Dontcha know, if we lose any ground in 2010, we can blame "TEH GAYZ"!

What's the point in winning ... or even running ... if we aren't going to DO anything with the power?

[No Elephants]

24. Thank you. I am so tired of reading it will all be over in 20 or 30 years, as though real people

are not involved.

I am sorry that you've suffered and that you continue to suffer.

[JerseygirlCT]

14. That number keeps declining, though.

And if we can succeed in turning out large numbers of younger people, we may have the initiative.

Besides, it's just plain the right thing to do, you know?

[TheWraith]

15. Maybe, but I doubt it. It's all about the character of the election.

Compare 2004, where the election was dominated by that sort of distraction issue, versus 2006 or 2008 where it had little to no real traction. When real issues like the economy and government competance push their way into the arena, the smaller stuff is ignored. Yeah, there are times when we need to keep our heads down on controversial issues. But I seriously doubt 2010 will be one of those times.

[TommyO]

20. So, when do we move forward on this?

It's never a good time to push for civil rights, there is always opposition to progress.

How long should we delay equal treatment under law to suit the haters and bigots out there?

With attitudes like yours, there is never a good time.

[HockeyMom]

7. Way to go New York!

So proud of my native state. My daughter, who moved back to NY from Florida, will be very, very happy about this.

Good luck. I hope this passes.

[LeftHander]

11. It is too soon...we will lose elections....

[theHandpuppet]

19. I hear ya.

And it didn't take long for the expected chorus to arrive.

[JerseygirlCT]

12. Great! Where are things in NJ on this?

I'd expect them to be next.

[slay]

17. K&R

Yay!

[Vidar]

21. Good for Paterson.

[galledgoblin]

22. finally!

NY is falling way behind on this.