N.Y. Gay Marriage Hope Fading?

By Julie Bolcer

DAVID PATERSON X390 200907 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

As New York lawmakers prepare for next week's special session called by Gov. David Paterson, some are questioning whether the senate will bring the marriage equality bill to the floor for a vote, despite previous assurances from some Democratic leaders.

Senate majority leader John Sampson, a Democrat from Brooklyn, is reluctant to bring the bill to the floor unless he is certain it has the 32 votes needed to pass, according to New York magazine's Daily Intel blog. The question is whether those 32 votes exist in the current climate.

“Privately, Sampson has told Republicans he has 25 or 26 votes (out of 32 Democrats), leaving him six or seven GOP votes short of passage," reported the Daily Intel. “Sources say Republicans could deliver perhaps three or four, but only if Sampson guarantees at least 29 or 30 on his end."

The assembly passed a marriage equality bill for the second time this spring, but the senate has yet to vote on it.

Same-sex marriage advocates plan to rally in Union Square in New York City on Wednesday evening.

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Reader Comments

Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Davya
Date posted: 11/4/2009 3:32:00 PM
Hometown: wynnewood, PA

Comment:
Mark, I have noticed your insistence on instant demonstrative action in many comment threads. While I agree that we should openly march as soon as possible in a national or state-wide fashion, I don't think that assertiveness against the popular vote is what we need at the moment. Don't worry, our local connections won't fester- in fact they can only strengthen in the current majority versus minority dialectic. Gradually but not necessarily slowly, our popular status will grow. Not everyone who didn't vote is a country bumpkin, people who can be gained with more time- months', even a year's time of grassroots consolidation. Also, do not forget that, the great moment is arriving at which the equal protections law will come to clash with DOMA and state bans on marriage. As soon as a state gov't employee is legally married in one state and becomes a federal employee, laws will explode in contradiction. Keep up the fight and yes, we should march every month on Washington against DOMA
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Joe Mustich, JP
Date posted: 11/4/2009 2:41:33 PM
Hometown: Washington, CT

Comment:
No, hope isn't fading in NY. In the meantime please come to CT to wed! Cheers, Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace, Washington, Connecticut, USA. And congrats to all the couples who came to CT to wed this summer from all across the country!
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Mark
Date posted: 11/4/2009 1:36:55 PM
Hometown: Wappingers Falls

Comment:
The gays of NY need to storm the Senate building and DEMAND that the senators join the Assembly and Governor in finally giving us the same civil rights they and their families enjoy. Our tax dollars pay their salaries and family benefits. We must DEMAND that they vote to allow us equal civil marriage rights NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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