In Reversal, 3 Democratic Senators Will Back Gay Marriage (NY)

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

ALBANY — Three wavering Democratic lawmakers in the State Senate have agreed to support legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in New York, several people with knowledge of the negotiations said on Monday, marking a potential turning point for the long-debated measure.

The three senators — Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. and Shirley L. Huntley of Queens, along with Carl Kruger of Brooklyn — all voted against the measure in 2009, when it failed by a wide margin. Their switch to the yes column leaves all but one Senate Democrat supporting same-sex marriage –and the fate of the legislation in the hands of the Republican majority in the chamber.

GOP senators voted unanimously against same-sex marriage two years ago, but several have indicated in recent weeks that they are undecided. Speaking with reporters on Monday, Dean G. Skelos, the Senate majority leader, said that if a same-sex marriage bill came to the floor, each Republican senator would be free to vote their conscience, but added that he had not formally asked his members where they stood.

The announcement, just days from the end of the legislative session on June 20, marks the first clear advance in months for advocates of same-sex marriage and a victory for John L. Sampson, the Democratic minority leader, who has spent weeks coaxing a consensus out of his oft-fractious conference.

Read more: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/strategy-session-called-on-gay-marriage-bill/?hp

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The question boils down to whether a handful of Republicans in the moderate suburbs are going to cave to the Conservative Party to avoid primaries in the short term, or recognize the demographic and political trends in New York and avoid oblivion in the long term.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheWraith]

2. I'm still counting no eggs. The Republicans around here are assholes. nt

[Renegades of Funk]

3. Addabbo

I am so happy. Addabbo is my state senator and he pissed me off for initially voting against Patterson's bill. I tried to vote against him, but he was never primaried and their was no 3rd party. Glad he changed his mind. No longer have to give his office a call voicing my support for marriage equality.

[barbtries]

4. you can almost see evolution happening.

the realization by more and more people that sexuality is not a choice, and that civil rights are for everyone.

[johnnypneumatic]

5. Finally!

why is it so hard just to get democrats to support equal rights?

[bluestateguy]

6. Don't pee in my Wheaties. Don't rain on my parade. Don't knock my ice cream cone on the ground.

I believe this bill will pass, and I will not tolerate those why try to ruin my day by saying otherwise.

[MineralMan]

7. I have my fingers crossed on this one.

[eggplant]

8. I hope it passes.

I'm sick of getting the defense of marriage robocalls. Ugh.

[Renegades of Funk]

10. Robocalls suck

I got one of those. Unequivocally declared my support for marriage equality and called them bigots.

[xynthee]

9. I initially misread "back" as "block"

So glad I decided to click on the link instead of angrily and dejectedly skipping it!