Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: LGBT voters are now the masses and someone is pandering to us!
NY Governor Paterson Announces Marriage Equality Bill: NEW YORK - APRIL 16: New York Governor David Paterson attends a press conference where he announced his intention to introduce a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York April 16, 2009 in New York City. Paterson, whose approval rating is low, faces a fight from Republicans hoping to block the bill in the legislature. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
If there is one thing that the Presidential race made clear to me it is how little politics is about the will of the leader.
Barack Obama has done more to include LGBT Americans in his formal and personal performances than any other President, but his cabinet is backtracking on all promises and endorsements that might benefit LGBT Americans (we have yet to see how much he helps in the fight for UAFA).
I truly believe that Governor Paterson believes in marriage equality.
I also believe that he would not be interested in pushing marriage equality through if he didn’t think it would help his ailing numbers. Sure, debate is helpful, but if those involved in the day-to-day struggle of LGBT politics can’t control when and how their own bill is tabled, then the political fight for equality won’t have much chance in the long run.
To be clear: Paterson’s move is the wrong one. We need to let the leaders of the community determine when their own bills should move ahead. After all, they have the most at stake.
But, whatever the outcome of the New York vote, there is one reason to celebrate: a Governor is falling in the polls, pushes a gay marriage bill and everyone accuses him of trying to boost his numbers.
Wait.
Are we in the same country here? Pushing LGBT rights is now pandering to the masses?
The state of New York may have New York City, but it holds a diverse collection of conservative and liberal constituents. There are religious communities and Republican communities and a whole host of residents who could be expected to oppose changing marriage. The City itself may be diverse, but is by no means uniformly liberal. I have experienced more harassment for being gay in New York than any other city in the U.S. or Canada.
If the gay marriage bill passes, and it very well might, Paterson will have a tiny legacy to rest on. If it doesn’t, hopefully, we will all learn that the political process needs careful planning and timing and doesn’t benefit from rash decisions from those on the outside of the struggle.
Either way, we can smile knowing that we are the masses and, finally, someone is pandering to us!
A governor whose numbers are already low is going to “pander” to the gay community because our tiny percentage of the vote will save him? Does any of this make sense? No.
More like Emma is repeating someone’s talking points.
No doubt she’s still upset with Gavin Newsome’s untimely move to jump start marriage equality in California. How dare some straight man give us our rights.
I’m always surprised at the timidity and conservatism of the articles on this site.
Good for Patterson. (But what has Obama done for LGBT Americans ?!?!)
You’re just wrong Emma. It’s only pandering if this person taking the position is doing it just to score political points. Governor Paterson has a history of supporting Equality. Being out in front on this is not pandering; It’s leadership.
We can debate the governor’s intentions for years to come. We can watch the energy-draining spats between gradualists and their counterparts for the rest of our lives. While all competing viewpoints need to be listened to and evaluated, it seems to me that we need to agree to gracefully acknowledge and welcome all efforts that benefit our minority position.
I guess I feel that we should make a much bigger deal about the fact that the governor of NY has done the right thing. And we should make clear a commitment that we will help him in his struggle against the huge battle that faces him on this issue.
Regardless of whatever prompted his decision, he’s made a move that is morally correct and politically risky. Most importantly, it’s a decision in need of seriously unified support from sexual minorities and their allies. That’s something “we the people” can do, even while we question his motives. But let’s be sure we do the right thing in the long run – support this proposed legislation. We can also say “thank you” to Gov. Patterson.
Gov. Paterson really does believe in equality for all. Please read his record before you accuse the guy of pandering.
I think he has not been successful because he likes open, transparent debate and healthy democracy. Albany dislikes his open style and prefers its backroom ways.
Gov. Paterson will have my vote, if he runs for re-election.
“Barack Obama has done more to include LGBT Americans in his formal and personal performances than any other President, but his cabinet is backtracking on all promises and endorsements that might benefit LGBT Americans (we have yet to see how much he helps in the fight for UAFA).”
You’re gonna have to clear this one up for me. Can you explain to me what Saint Obama has done? Granted, he’s been busy pandering to every other special interest group and jetting around the world being a rock star President. I mean, how can we really expect that he’d have time to address civil rights issues.
Budbud made the point that I have been saying all along. Marriages between gays are already legal in NY. They just have to take a 2 hour trip to another state to do pay the money and get the paperwork signed. It’s a simple technicality and that is lost revenue for NY, plain and simple.
Actually I think the exposure and vote is a good thing. Why not vote? So what if it gets voted down. That doesn’t hinder us and exposes your politicians for who they are.
This is so stupid. Gay marriages are already valid and legally recognized in New York.
The current statutory law just makes it so that New York doesn’t see any of the financial benefits of those marriages.
Vermont, Canada, Massachusets and Connecticut are ALL cashing in on license fees and marriage tourism from New Yorkers, who simply cross the border, get married and then come back to New York, WHERE THEIR GAY MARRIAGE IS ALREADY FULLY VALID!
Why is nobody talking about this? The current law is simply a legaly mandated loss of money for New York. It does NOTHING to prevent gay marriage in the state!
Is it also possible that Patterson is doing so because he as a blind man is also marginalized to an extent- think about money and how that affects the lives of blind people.
I’d like to think that it is the banding together of marginalized groups and hopefully ethnic minorities will follow as racism is still rampant.
“Barack Obama has done more to include LGBT Americans in his formal and personal performances than any other President, but his cabinet is backtracking on all promises and endorsements that might benefit LGBT Americans (we have yet to see how much he helps in the fight for UAFA).”
and he can fire GATES!!!
I think it is important to note that Gov. Paterson had an uncle who was gay who was partnered with another man. According to Gov. Paterson, this male couple greatly influenced him. I believe him when he says that marriage equality is a personal issue for him. I think the fact that he has low approval ratings right now means he’s got nothing to lose by pushing this civil rights issue, and perhaps, something to gain by just fighting the good fight (and maybe even successfully). I hope this legislation gets to his desk….