New York State Assembly passes same-sex marriage bill (89-52)

[ruggerson]

Source: AP via WKRG

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The fight for same-sex marriage in New York is moving forward.

New York Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell through sometimes fiery debate ushered in a bipartisan vote Tuesday in the Democrat-led Assembly that would allow same-sex marriage in New York.

O'Donnell, the gay brother of entertainer Rosie O'Donnell, says he's been engaged to his partner for 28 years and wants to give marriage a shot.

Assemblyman Michael Benjamin, a black man from the Bronx, says he objects to comparing gay marriage to racial civil rights. He says the measure will put government on a collision course with religious freedom.

(more at link)

Read more: http://www.wkrg.com/associated_press/article/ny_assembl... /

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. When does the senate vote? nt

[t0dd]

3. They won't

.. unless we can get the 32 votes we need to pass it. Malcolm Smith has said repeatedly that once he knows the 32 votes are there, he will immediately bring it to the floor. Time for some intense lobbying!

[Bluebear]

2. Cheers!

[ruggerson]

5. back atcha

[aquart]

4. OMG, I didn't realize it was even up yet.

Well, my state senator is gay, so I'm not worrying about Tom Duane's vote.

[OswegoAtheist]

6. As much as I want this immediately...

...I think it should be held off until september/october. If we want this done in New York this year, we need to have the students involved, especially Upstate. It really pains me to say "give it a few months" but I think that we need organized responces from the campuses to pull it off.

Oswego "SUNY days ahead" Atheist

[EFerrari]

11. I don't see anything wrong with being careful to gather up the votes.

[brendan120678]

16. NY Legislature doesn't do a whole lot in the fall...

Generally their legislative calendar is January - lat June, sometimes going longer if certain bills still need to be negotiated and passed. And unfortunately, I believe that if the Senate doesn't consider this bill during this session, it will have to start all over again in the Assembly as well.

It's been a few years since I moved out of New York, but I'm pretty sure that's how it works.

[OswegoAtheist]

21. They generally don't do much, period.

But you do have a point. Stupid schedule.

Oswego "I wish I could get that much pay for that little work" Atheist

[xchrom]

7. recommend

[pleah]

8. Off to the greatest page.

[maddezmom]

9. Good news

[babylonsister]

10. Rec'd! Great news!

But "he wants to give marriage a shot"?! Be careful what you wish for, Daniel.

I kid!

[annabanana]

12. Ok NYers!

Contact your State Senator and let them know they have to get it through THEIR chamber too!

http://www.nysenate.gov/

[Jim Lane]

13. Unfortunately, this development is largely meaningless. The real question is the State Senate.

For years, the Democratic-controlled State Assembly has been passing good bills on many subjects, only to see them die in the Republican-controlled Senate.

In 2008, we took a narrow (32-30) majority in the State Senate, for the first time in decades. The trouble is that marriage equality is one issue on which a few conservative Dems are NOT on board with the majority. At the start of the session, four of them even threatened not to support Smith, the former Minority Leader, for Majority Leader unless he promised not to bring this bill up for a vote.

Smith made no such deal, AFAIK, and the rebels settled for much less. They can still vote against the bill, though, and other conservative Dems might join them. Smith can't get the bill through unless he can find some Republicans to vote for it. That may be a pretty heavy lift.

It's more likely that 2009 is merely setting the stage for the 2010 election. We might be able to increase the size of the Democratic majority, so that defectors have less power, and/or we might be able to primary some of the DINOs who threatened to betray the Party to get what they wanted.

My prediction: Marriage equality will come to New York by action of the Legislature in 2011. Part of my prediction is that New York courts will not emulate those in California and elsewhere that have held marriage discrimination unconstitutional.

As a side note, I strongly prefer legislative action over a court decision. Getting marriage equality through the decision of elected officials is much better for LGBT causes, for civil rights in general, and for the overall political process.

[blue_onyx]

14. "Getting marriage equality through the decision of elected officials is much better"

It is probably better for it to come from the elected officials but it isn't always possible. I wonder what percentage of Iowans approve of gay marriage. I haven't seen any polls on gay marriage support in Iowa but I would guess more people are against it than are for it. Elected officials will not support gay marriage if they in any way fear it may hurt their chances of being reelected.

My state isn't ready to support gay marriage. I don't think it's fair for gay people here to have to wait for everyone else to catch up. Unfortunately our Supreme Court is right leaning so gay marriage isn't coming from them either (plus the damn gay marriage ban in 2004). Gay marriage should come from the people because it's the right thing to do but for most states, I think it will have to come from the courts.

[Zhade]

15. It is equivalent to racial civil rights. Get the fuck over it, homophobes.

NT!

[JerseygirlCT]

18. Makes me just crazy when I see that

In what way could it NOT be equivalent? How can this not be the same thing, all over again?

I guess it's that when you're among the bigoted ones who see homosexuality as a "lifestyle choice", not as something innate. Lots of education to do out there.

[Betty]

17. as far as religious freedom goes,

there are some churches that would like to marry same sex couples, so arguing that this bill threatens religious freedom is completely false. Unless you think only certain religions count.

[KamaAina]

19. I love New York!

Over the past few years, I've gone from a wussy "Why don't those people just accept civil unions so the right can't use the issue to get out their base?" guy to an out-front supporter of marriage equality. For this I credit one of our finest DUers, as well as a new friend I met just last week.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[No Elephants]

20. Marriage between people of the same gender does NOT affect anyone's religious

freedom. It affects only those who want to force their religious beliefs on everyone else by making them law.

BTW, religious groups fought against racial integration, too, saying the Bible frowned on it.

those who ignore history are doomed to talk like morans.