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Loading ...Big labor urges NY to pass marriage equality
09.09.2008 3:03pm EDT
(New York City) The New York State AFL-CIO is urging the Legislature is pass a bill that would allow same-sex couples in the state to marry.
It also wants lawmakers to enact legislation banning discrimination against transgender New Yorkers and provide a mechanism to end bullying and harassment of LGBT youth in public schools.The call came in the form of three resolutions that passed without objection at the AFL-CIO’s annual convention.
“Beyond doing the right thing, there is a very basic need for us as union leaders to actually lead on these issues,” said AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes.
The Service Employees International Union, which is not part of the Federation, passed a marriage equality resolution in 2006.
The AFL-CIO vote brings to more than 2.3 million unionized workers in the state calling for the enactment of LGBT legislation.
“The assumption that some people make about organized labor being silent or opposed to LGBT rights is just wrong,” said Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle .
“Organized labor has been and continues to be a powerful and vocal partner in moving these three important bills in Albany,” he said.
In 2006, the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, ruled that same-sex couples do not have a constitutional right to marry. It said that the issue could be taken up by the legislature.
A bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in New York passed the Democrat-controlled Assembly last year, but Republicans who control the Senate have refused to consider the legislation.
Gov. David Paterson earlier this year issued an executive order recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples who were married in areas where they are legal, according to new survey of likely voters. A challenge by Republicans was thrown out in court.
Legislation toughening state prohibitions against bullying to cover all LGBT students has been stonewalled in the Republican-controlled Senate since 2002 over the inclusion of gender identity.
A bill that would amend the state’s human rights law to include anti-discrimination protections based upon gender identity and expression passed the Assembly in June but it too has been tied up by Republicans in the Senate.
The Union is strong and the call for gay marriage is RIGHT. The times are changing fast and equality is at reach.
Fight the good fight!
For people wondering why vote for Democrats over Republicans, this is a perfect article providing 3 reasons. 1) There would be legal same sex marriage in New York if the Democrats controlled the State Senate. 2) There would be job protection for the transgendered in NY if Democrats controlled the State Senate. And 3)there would be protections against bullying LGBT students at school if NY Democrats controlled the State Senate. Thankfully, the Democrats control the NY Assembly and Governor’s office.
” The Times They Are A Changin” … hopefully for the better.
If we can rout the Republican fascists in the NY Senate in November, we’ll take a giant step into the 21st Century …
politically and culturally. It is imperative for the Democrats
to sweep the elections this Fall. The dinosaurs and their elitist bigotry need to be relegated to the dust bin of history where they belong … they can take the religio-crazies with them … they are an anachronism as well. They have been a cancer on the human condition since the Bronze Age.
One of the next states to move forward, and give the religious right hypocrites another black eye. Cheers