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Loading ...Paterson joins gays calling for passage of rights bills
04.28.2009 3:47pm EDT
(Albany, New York) Gov David Paterson joined thousands of gay rights activists rallying Tuesday in front of the Capitol for the passage of bills allowing same-sex marriage, safe schools, and transgender rights.
The governor blasted people who use religion to condemn same-sex marriage, but abandon the principles of their faith in failing to protect LGBT youth from being victims of hate crimes.Busses brought activists from across the state to Albany for Tuesday’s rally. Among the supporters who joined the rally, in addition to the governor, were Kate Hathaway, mother of actor Anne Hathaway; Alan Lubin of New York State United Teachers; and members of the clergy, business community and labor organizations.
Assembly members Daniel O’Donnell and Richard Gottfried also addressed the rally. The openly gay O’Donnell is the sponsor of a Paterson-backed bill that would bring equal marriage to New York.
The legislation is similar to a bill that passed the Assembly in 2007, but was stonewalled by the then-GOP controlled Senate.
Democrats now control the Senate, but State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith (D) has said he does not have the votes to pass marriage equality legislation and will not bring the bill to a vote.
Following the rally, LGBT advocates fanned out through the legislature to lobby for passage of equal marriage, plus the schools and trans rights bills.
The Dignity for All Students Act would create legal protections for public school students in New York State from harassment and bullying, including verbal abuse and physical attacks on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act was passed by the Assembly in April but has not been taken up by the Senate.
It would bans discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, credit, public accommodations, and other areas of everyday life.
The same bill was approved by the Assembly last year, but never came to a vote in the Senate.
even if marriage does pass in ny it will mean ziltch in the eyes of my and my wifes employer THE NASTY POST OFFICE
Karen – there is activity in DC re a partial repeal of DOMA, which would allow the US govt to grant full FEDERAL marriage rights to gay people all over the country.
I don’t think it will happen this year, but it is the beginning of another chapter in exposing the homophobic churches, who use Jesus name for hatred.
The Taliban, the KKK, and the middle age Catholic church, and the slavery / segregation forever So. Baptists and southern independent (usually quasi-so baptists churches still exist.
I think they are the so called missing link between man and primates which some churches always say disproves evolution.
Buy them a mirror.
Why am I less than enthused about the idea of my human dignity being determined by the voting public? Give people the choice, and they will more often than not choose to give voice to their prejudice. I’m watching these pieces of legislation with no small measure of trepidation and, yes, even hope. I hope that my countrymen will do the right thing, that they will acknowledge and accept everyone’s right to live an “everyday life.” And if they do not, I still have hope that the higher authorities in the Supreme Court will ultimately vote in not just my favor, but the favor of ALL people.
Yeah, Karen… it all begins with baby steps. You can’t take the leap from discrimination to total acceptance in a single piece of legislation. Equality will take time, but every little bit helps. And nothing will move it along faster than constant vigilance from all of us.