NY Gov. Cuomo Signs Same-Sex Marriage Bill Into Law

[Crossroads Inc.]

From Yahoo News

By Dan Wiessner – Wed Jun 15, 9:42 pm ET
ALBANY (Reuters) – The New York state Assembly approved same-sex marriage on Wednesday and the bill is likely to face a vote in the Senate on Friday, where it only needs support from one more senator to pass.

The Democrat-dominated Assembly voted 80 to 63 in favor of the marriage equality bill introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat in his first year in office.

The state-by-state battle over gay marriage has become one of the most contentious U.S. social issues ahead of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections.

"Only second-class states have second-class citizens," said Assemblyman Charles Lavine, a Democrat who voted in favor of legalizing gay marriage.
Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage, and several other states allow civil unions. The first legal same-sex marriages in the United States took place in Massachusetts in 2004.

New York's Assembly has easily passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage several times in recent years. But the move was rejected the first time it was voted on by the then Democrat-led Senate in December 2009.

The Senate is now controlled by Republicans and currently 31 of the 62 senators have publicly indicated support.
Senator Ruben Diaz, a Pentecostal minister, is the only Democrat out of the party's 30 senators who does not support same-sex marriage, while Republican senators Jim Alesi and Roy McDonald, have said they will vote in favor of it.

On Tuesday "Sex and the City" actress Cynthia Nixon and New York Ranger ice hockey player Sean Avery lobbied lawmakers in Albany to legalize gay marriage. Nixon has been engaged for two years to a woman and wants to get married in her home state.

Rev. Duane Motley, a Christian lobbyist, said in Albany on Wednesday that legalizing gay marriage would "undermine the stability of our society" because he said a child of a gay couple could only have one biological parent.

If the bill passes, same-sex couples could start marrying in New York 30 days later. The bill does not compel any member of the clergy to conduct a same-sex marriages.

A recent Siena poll found 58 percent of New Yorkers support same-sex marriage.
(Writing by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Greg McCune)

One step closer to another state decided to do what is right. We knew this was in the works for some time and it is good to see it come close to Fruition. Also I wanted to bold the last part of the story because it bares repeating.

One of the chief scare tactics the Right use against gay marriage as well as over social issues, is the "tyranny" of the Left against the right. That namely upon passing, 'we' shall begin forcing our viewpoints forcibly upon all institution. That hoards of wicked gays will come marching into churches and forcing good christian people to commit the horrible act of marrying wicked gays! The fact that they explicitly state in the Bill that this will not happen., will do nothing to deswade this often held fear tactic and I will bet money someone will be mentioning it soon:

"Don;t let the gays marry, because they will be forcing YOUR church to do it!!!"

[Slacker]

The general opinion here in New York is that they'll manage to convince one more Republican to do it-marriage equality has big popular support here in New York, not just in the City but in the suburbs and upstate too. That same mushrooming of support we've seen everywhere in the country has only been magnified here. The fact that Bloomberg has openly stated he'd financially back the re-election of any Republican who supported the measure negates a lot of the pressure the Conservative Party would otherwise be able to bring to bear, which is why we're seeing legitimate Republicans start to vote with their heads and not just with party line.

Roy MacDonald, one of the two Republicans who's come out in favor of the measure, did so in a spectacular way.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1hrqFs/ww ... r-gay-marr

“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing,” McDonald, 64, told reporters. “You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing. “I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this.”

[Pint0 Xtreme]

It sounds like the biggest obstacle currently is convincing the Senate GOP leader to put the motion on the floor. Even though we are officially one vote short, I think there may be GOP senators who would vote for it but haven't come out publicly stating so. A lot of people are saying that they have enough votes, including aides to the NY Governor, who has taken an extraordinary role in pushing for the bill. I'm crossing my fingers here over the next few days.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Well it looks like we will have to wait a little while longer for the vote itself:

By Dan Wiessner – Fri Jun 17, 3:50 pm ET
ALBANY, New York (Reuters) – New York state senators will not vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage before Monday, the senate majority leader said on Friday.
New York could become the sixth state to allow gay marriage if a bill introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, is approved by the Senate. Only one more Republican senator needs to support the measure for it to pass.

The stakes are high because New York would become the most populous U.S. state to allow gay marriage approved by lawmakers, handing the gay rights movement a huge victory.

But with lawmakers set to break for summer recess on Monday, and with Republicans in the majority in the state Senate, it remained unclear if the measure would even be allowed to come to a vote.

When asked by reporters if there was any chance of the Senate voting on the issue before Monday, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said: "No."
Two Republican senators have already publicly said they will back the proposal, while one Democrat senator opposes it -- leaving New York's 62-member Senate split.
Republican senators were discussing the gay marriage bill and other issues on Friday and would continue talks on Monday, Skelos said.

"There is a concern right now as to the unintended consequences of some of the religious clauses, carve-outs, protections, and we're reviewing that," Skelos said.
Skelos said Cuomo indicated to him on Friday that he would be open to amending the proposal to include more specific exemptions for religious groups.
The bill does not compel any member of the clergy to conduct same-sex marriages, but some Republican lawmakers are concerned the legal protection is not strong enough.

"Republicans need to understand, no one wants to force the Catholic church to marry gay couples. There are plenty of existing protections," said Richard Socarides, the head of national gay-rights group Equality Matters, referring to parts of the state Constitution that protect religious groups.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, New York's top Catholic official, told a radio show Friday that Cuomo included the Church's lawyers in the drafting of the bill.
The state-by-state battle over gay marriage has become a contentious U.S. social issue ahead of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections. Five states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage and four states have civil unions.

New York's Democrat-dominated Assembly voted 80 to 63 in favor of the bill on Wednesday.
In California, a judge last year overturned a ban on gay marriage, but no weddings can take place while the decision is being appealed. It could set national policy if the case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court.

Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage, and Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois and New Jersey approved civil unions. But gay marriage is specifically banned in 39 states.

The first legal same-sex marriages in the United States took place in Massachusetts in 2004.
A recent Siena poll found 58 percent of New Yorkers support same-sex marriage.

If the bill passes, same-sex couples could start marrying in New York 30 days later.
(Writing by Michelle Nichols, Editing by Greg McCune)

Once again bolding that section as it is one of the chief scare tactics on the right. Still it seems it is on track even if delayed a bit.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

They want exemptions in the bill that would allow continued discrimination under the guise of "religious protections". The exemptions they want to add include allowing marriage-related private businesses to refuse services to gay couples.

[Crossroads Inc.]

I had not heard about that yet.

So... Knowing it will go through, and knowing they can't stop it, they instead simply wish to be able to refuse service to gay couples on "Religious grounds". That is a bit like Doctors who refuse to prescribe 'Day After' meds for religious reasons.

It isn't enough that "we" won't enforce our views on their churches... They still want to be able to enforce Their views on other bussines. Classy.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

Douchebag NY Senator outlines his requirements for marriage "equality"

Gay marriage bill dead without church exemptions, says state Sen. Greg Ball

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/201 ... z1PqiBNKlE
ALBANY - A state senator who holds a key swing vote on the bill to legalize gay marriage says he does not believe the measure will pass without specific exemptions for religious institutions.

Sen. Greg Ball (R-Putnam) said he delivered that message directly this past week to Gov.Cuomo and his aides.

Most contentious is Ball's argument that individuals and businesses - not just religious organizations - who oppose gay marriage should also be exempted from the state's discrimination laws.

"If you're going to pass a marriage bill, real religious exemptions and carveouts to protect the Catholic Church and other religious groups need to be included," Ball told the Daily News.

"Short of that, I don't think you'll see a marriage bill pass."

With 26 Senate Democrats supporting gay marriage, six more votes are needed to pass the measure. Seven to eight senators, including Ball, have listed themselves as undecided.

A bill that passed the Assembly in past years stipulates that clergy can't be forced to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.

But Catholic leaders warn of a host of other serious "religious liberty" land mines that could force them to cut a range of services.

Adoption and foster-care services, state contracts and wedding-hall rentals at churches, synagogues or Knights of Columbus facilities are all in jeopardy, they say.

"It's not like we would support the [gay marriage] bill if it didn't have these issues, but certainly, this is one of the important side issues," said Dennis Poust, spokesman for the state Catholic Conference.

New York's anti-discrimination laws would force religious organizations to either cater to same-sex couples against their teachings or stop providing key services, he and other religious leaders argue.

Otherwise, they say, the church and related organizations could face lawsuits because the law prevents discrimination based on marital status.

"The basic problem at the state and local level is that there are dozens of these anti-discrimination provisions built into all sorts of laws," said Ed Mechmann, a lawyer with the Archdiocese of New York.

"When these laws were written, no one anticipated the issue of gay marriage," he said.

Gay rights groups say the fears in New York are overblown. They say the state' s anti-discrimination laws already provide exemptions for religious organizations.

"The religious exemption laws that currently exist will not be changed at all by allowing loving same-sex couples to marry here in New York," said Ross Levi of the Empire State Pride Agenda.

The groups also say the adoption argument is moot since state law already allows same-sex couples to adopt, though Mechmann argues religious groups are not bound to help gay couples.

The article is slightly old but it underlines their expectations. They'll only cease state-sponsored discrimination against gay couples if we allow private businesses to discriminate against gay couples.

[Crossroads Inc.]

You know... Part of me says "Go For It"
Lets just pass the law and then we can watch these companies loose millions in potential revenue. Lets see how long they stick to thier guns as other companies begin to cash in on the amount of Gay Tourism that NY is sure to recieve.

Make no mistake, it is disgusting the lengths these people feel they need to go to enforce their own petty views upon the rest of the state.

[Knife]

They want exemptions in the bill that would allow continued discrimination under the guise of "religious protections". The exemptions they want to add include allowing marriage-related private businesses to refuse services to gay couples.

I'm not very well acquainted with NY politics, but I would say that if it is between stale mate and this, go for this. I know a lot of people want a clear cut victory, no quarter given type thing, but shit sometimes you take what you can get and try harder next time. It's bullshit and most people will see it as bullshit, but some progress is better than none. Now if there is a chance of passing it without all this bullshit, then go for it and I wish NY luck on it.

[Dalton]

Go for it. Money is the ultimate decider. They'll change their tune once they realize how much fucking money stands to be made, especially when Allies begin to boycott businesses for being anti-gay.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

It's pretty much down to the wire right now. Governor Cuomo is trying to negotiate with Skelos (GOP Senate Majority Leader) on the exemptions. Most LGBT advocates realize that they're going to have to give into some of those demands. Skelos isn't necessarily going to vote for the bill but it's all about convincing him to have a vote on the bill in this session.

[Crossroads Inc.]

If this goes through it is going to be a huge victory for equal rights. NY is about as big as they come, and having it legit there is going to pave the way for several other cities.

Personally I've been bitting my nails over this, "down to the wire" is almost an understatment at this point.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

I'm being very cautiously optimistic here.

A tweet from Capital Tonight reads:

Republican working the #gaymarriage vote insists a firm 32 in Sen GOP conference, refuses to reveal tipping point. Still no word on vote.

[Stravo]

I hope that when this passes it acts as a domino for other states to finally give up this wretched farce that not allowing gays to marry is somehow not the same as not allowing blacks, asians, or whites to marry. People are being discriminated against whether you agree with their life style or not. And might I add as an ex-Catholic the absolute disgust I felt when jackass Dolan actually prayed against the passage of this bill. They'll cover up boys being raped but let's not let those gays get married.

[Crossroads Inc.]

I hope that when this passes it acts as a domino for other states to finally give up this wretched farce that not allowing gays to marry is somehow not the same as not allowing blacks, asians, or whites to marry. People are being discriminated against whether you agree with their life style or not. And might I add as an ex-Catholic the absolute disgust I felt when jackass Dolan actually prayed against the passage of this bill. They'll cover up boys being raped but let's not let those gays get married.

Well lets be careful here. remember that is what we thought would happen in Massachusetts and instead it vulcanized the 2000 election against Gore and spawned an immense backlash we are still feeling today.

In truth the real hope that I feel in NY is one of the few things even the Right can't ignore... The almighty Dollar.
If it passes and the economy in NY begins to boom and not collapse in hellfire for its wicked ways, well that is much better in my book.

But it will be a very hefty "domino" in either case.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

Well lets be careful here. remember that is what we thought would happen in Massachusetts and instead it vulcanized the 2000 election against Gore and spawned an immense backlash we are still feeling today.

Massachusetts legalized marriage for same-sex couples in 2003, well after the 2000 election. It spawned a backlash that helped Bush win re-election in 2004.

In truth the real hope that I feel in NY is one of the few things even the Right can't ignore... The almighty Dollar.
If it passes and the economy in NY begins to boom and not collapse in hellfire for its wicked ways, well that is much better in my book.

But it will be a very hefty "domino" in either case.

While there will no doubt be a backlash against us if NY passes marriage equality, I don't think it will be anywhere as bad as it was in 2003 / 2004 if the last several national polls this year is to be trusted. In 2003, we were in the very small minority. We are now the majority; over 50% of Americans now support marriage equality.

[Crossroads Inc.]

As of sensing a turning tide, Obama has recently "come out" fully for Gay Marriage.

By ERICA WERNER and JULIE PACE, Associated Press – Thu Jun 23, 7:47 pm ET
NEW YORK – President Barack Obama praised New York state lawmakers who were debating landmark legislation Thursday to legalize gay marriage, saying that's what democracy's all about. But the president stopped short of embracing same-sex marriage himself.

"I believe that gay couples deserve the same legal rights as every other couple in this country," the president said at a fundraiser in Manhattan, his first geared specifically to the gay community. Coincidentally, the long-planned event occurred just as lawmakers in Albany were debating legislation that would make New York the sixth state to legalize gay marriage.

That served to spotlight the president's own views on same-sex marriage, a sore point with gay supporters who've otherwise warmed to him. The president has said his views are "evolving," but for now he supports civil unions, not same-sex marriage.

"Traditionally marriage has been decided by the states and right now I understand there's a little debate going on here in New York," the president said to laughter. He said New York's lawmakers are "doing exactly what democracies are supposed to do."

Debate on the measure continued into the night at the statehouse, and the outcome was uncertain.
[ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]

As Obama spoke a handful of people shouted out "marriage!" And Obama said, "I heard you guys."

[Pint0 Xtreme]

Eh? The article said he fell short of endorsing marriage equality.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

Language of the marriage equality bill has been agreed upon.

Consensus Reached on Religious Exemptions in Gay Marriage Bill
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and MICHAEL BARBARO
ALBANY — The Cuomo administration and legislative leaders have reached agreement on language to protect religious institutions from obligations to recognize same-sex marriage, two people involved in the negotiations said on Friday afternoon, potentially paving the way for a vote on the marriage legislation.

Senate Republicans were still discussing the marriage bill in a closed-door meeting on Friday afternoon; it remained unclear when — or if — they would permit a vote on the broader legislation. The State Assembly, which approved an earlier version of the same-sex marriage bill last week, would need to approve the new language before the full bill could become law.

Emerging from a meeting with Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblyman Daniel J. O’Donnell, a Manhattan Democrat who sponsored the Assembly version of the bill, said that there was an “agreement in principle” on the new language. He predicted that the Assembly would vote to adopt the new language on Friday.

Gay rights advocates said they were hopeful that the same-sex marriage bill would win passage before lawmakers left Albany for the year.

As of Friday morning, the number of senators who had voiced support for the marriage measure — 31 out of 62, one short of a majority — had not changed in over a week.

The absence of an agreement between Republicans and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a strong supporter of the bill, over protections for religious institutions that oppose same-sex marriage raised the prospect that the Legislature could adjourn without addressing the politically freighted legislation.

Most Republican senators say they strongly oppose the measure on religious or moral grounds. Still others are worried that next year it could provoke a spate of primary challenges — or low turnout among conservatives — when Republicans will be battling to retain their one-vote Senate majority in newly redrawn legislative districts that could prove less hospitable to its long-serving incumbents.

Now we're just waiting to see if they'll put the bill to a vote.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

NY Senate likely to vote tonight

State Senate to Vote on Same-Sex Marriage

ALBANY — The State Senate will vote on same-sex marriage, a leading Republican state senator said on Friday, setting the stage for a final decision on the most closely watched issue facing the Legislature as it wraps up its annual session. The exact timing was unclear, thought it was expected to occur much later in the evening.

The marriage measure, which was proposed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and approved by the state Assembly, has been publicly endorsed by 31 of the 62 senators — leaving the measure one vote shy of the votes needed for passage in the Senate. The announced supporters include 29 of the 30 Senate Democrats and 2 of the 32 Senate Republicans. Supporters and opponents alike said that anything could happen when the Senate takes its vote.

The Senate easily defeated a same-sex marriage measure in 2009, when the chamber was controlled by Democrats; improbably, it seemed to face better odds this year, when it is controlled by Republicans, because Mr. Cuomo has succeeded in persuading all but one Democrat to support the measure, and because a few Republicans have changed their votes. Mr. Cuomo, a first-term Democrat, has said that passage of same-sex marriage is one of his top priorities.

The decision by Senate Republican leaders to allow a vote followed a week of intense behind-the-scenes negotiation between Mr. Cuomo and Senate Republicans, much of it focused on whether or not the governor’s proposal went far enough in protecting religious institutions that do not approve of same-sex unions.

Opponents of same-sex marriage rallied in force on Monday, gathering outside the Senate chambers to sing and chant, as their leaders delivered petitions with 63,000 signatures of New Yorkers opposing the legalization of same-sex weddings. Supporters, in turn, staged a rally at the Capitol on Tuesday, and representatives of both sides have been holding signs and talking with lawmakers in the halls of the Capitol throughout the week.

Should the bill pass the Legislature, New York would become the sixth and largest state in which gay and lesbian couples can legally wed, intensifying an evolving national debate over the role of gays and lesbians in American society and giving new momentum to a movement that had stalled in recent years.

This is the statement given by NY Senate Majority Leader.

[Dalton]

STATEMENT BY SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEAN SKELOS
Posted by Dean G. Skelos on Friday, June 24th, 2011

After many hours of deliberation and discussion over the past several weeks among the members, it has been decided that same sex marriage legislation will be brought to the full Senate for an up or down vote.
The entire Senate Republican Conference was insistent that amendments be made to the Governor’s original bill in order to protect the rights of religious institutions and not-for-profits with religious affiliations. I appreciate the Governor’s cooperation in working with us to address these important issues and concerns.
As I have said many times, this is a very difficult issue and it will be a vote of conscience for every member of the Senate.

You kissed the Church's ass - now follow through.

[Slacker]

With the religious exemptions clauses worked out, I have a feeling it's going to pass. The Catholic Church is pretty much the thing they're looking to protect here, and as long as Republican state senators can tell their Catholic constituents that Catholic churches and Knights of Columbus halls won't have to perform gay marriage ceremonies, they've got the fig leaf they need and the way is clear to make money. A whole lot of money.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

The bill is being debated on the NY Senate floor currently. Livestream: http://www.livestream.com/nysenate

[Pint0 Xtreme]

There are twitter reports that Senator Saland (R) is the 32nd and final vote we need.

EDIT: Senator Saland has confirmed he is our 32nd vote. Assuming things go smoothly, this marriage bill will pass!

[LadyTevar]

The Religious Exemption has Passed

Vote soon on the Bill itself.