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Loading ...Paterson unveils gay marriage bill
04.16.2009 11:16am EDT
(New York City) As expected, New York Gov. David Paterson (D) unveiled legislation Thursday morning to allow same-sex couples to marry in the Empire State.
Standing beside New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R), openly gay Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D) and state leaders and union leaders, Paterson said “Marriage equality is about basic civil rights and freedom. That is why we stand together today to embrace civil rights for every New Yorker.”Paterson’s bill would amend the domestic relations law allowing civil marriages between same-sex couples, and he called on the Legislature to approve the bill.
“The timing is always right. It’s just a matter of who is willing to take the step, and I am,” said Paterson at a news conference.
The bill is similar to one 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.
Both Smith and Paterson have been outspoken supporters of marriage equality, but while Smith wants a “go slowly” approach the governor said a vote should be held this session.
The group Marriage Equality said it supports the governor’s move to end discrimination against same-sex families.
“They are taxpaying law abiding citizens just like myself and every other New Yorker and they deserve the same responsibilities, the same legal rights and respect and the Legislature should go through with this,” said spokesperson Ibby Carothers.
Lambda Legal which has fought legal challenges across the country for same-sex marriage also applauded Paterson.
Lambda President Kevin Cathcart posed the question: “New York is now bordered by four jurisdictions that provide marriage equality for same–sex couples: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Canada — which calls the question, ‘Why are same-sex couples in New York forced to leave their home state to obtain protection for their relationships?’”
Republicans and religious conservatives have vowed to defeat the measure. They will meet later today to discus how to block the bill in the Legislature. The meetings are being led of State Senator Reuben Diaz, a Bronx Democrat and a minister.
New York City’s new Roman Catholic Archbishop, Timothy Dolan, on Wednesday said he would actively work to ensure the measure never passes.
“You can bet I’ll be active, present and articulate,” said Dolan. “We bishops aren’t into politics, we’re into principles…I won’t shy away from the fact. I realize with gratitude and humility that the pulpit has prominence that takes some getting used to.”
Earlier this month a poll was released showing that nearly three-quarters of voters in New York State support recognition of same-sex couples, but are divided on whether that should be marriage or civil unions.
The Quinnipiac University found that 41 percent support gay marriage, while 33 percent favored civil unions. Only 19 percent said same-sex couples should have no legal recognition in the state.
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, however, could be taken up by the legislature.
Last May, while the legislature dithered over gay marriage, Paterson issued an executive order recognizing the marriages of all New York same-sex couples who were married in areas where they are legal.
Last week Vermont became the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. Days earlier the Iowa Supreme Court struck down a law banning gay marriage as unconstitutional.
Same-sex marriage also is legal in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Marriage equality legislation is being considered in New Hampshire. It already has passed the House and is currently before the Senate.
In California, the Supreme Court is expected to rule this spring on the legality of Prop 8 the voter approved measure banning gay marriage in that state.
Seriously, can the media representing the LGBT community stop referring to marriage equality pursuits as “Gay Marriage”? Really?! We are asking for the SAME rights as straight couples. Nothing more. Nothing LESS.
Here we go. My husband and I live in New York, and were married in Massachusetts last year on our 25th anniversary. Wish it could have been here, but we didn’t want to wait – 25 is a landmark number. Plus, our son graduates from university this year, and the spotlight turns to him & his boyfriend.
New York is not nearly as progressive as people think. Maybe in NYC, but that’s a tiny part of a big state. I’m finding so many other gay couples I know or meet have been married in Canada, Massachusetts, or will soon in Connecticut or Vermont. New York could certainly benefit from the money spent on all these nuptials. Do I have faith our state government will come through? Not so much. The democrats are not too much more evolved than the republicans in office here. Maybe they’ll get it through this time. I hope marriage equality happens here. Can’t even count the number of emails & letters I’ve sent to our reps. As have my friends and family. Everyone needs to get involved in this in their own and every other state , whether we want to be married or not.
Interesting article on the topic:
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/04/the_eyes_of_the_country_are_no.html
IT’s ALL GOOD: … and remember in EVERY COUNTRY and STATE where there is currently Marriage Equality, Heterosexual Divorce rates have FALLEN.. .e.g. Only fact you can draw from this SSM is GOOD for ‘traditional’ marriage.
Good stuff in Original NYTimes article and in the update: Here from 11:13 update:….
Mr. Paterson, who has been pummeled in public opinion polls over his handling of the state’s fiscal crisis, is taking on a level of involvement unusual for a governor, inserting himself directly into the ongoing campaign in Albany to gather the votes needed to pass the bill. Currently the measure does not have enough support in the State Senate, which Democrats seized last fall and control by a thin margin, 32 to 30.
A number of Democrats have expressed reservations about legalizing marriages of gay and lesbian couples, but advocates of same-sex marriage have urged politicians to have a public debate and place themselves on the record by holding a roll-call vote, come what may.
“This is a civil rights issues,” Mr. Paterson said, citing issues like hospital visitations, health insurance coverage and inheritance that are connected with marriage. He called for an end to “a legal system that has systematically discriminated against all of them.”
He continued:
Anyone that has ever experienced degradation or intolerance would understand the solemn duty and how important it actually is. Anyone that’s ever experienced antisemitism or racism, any New Yorker who is an immigrant, who has experienced discrimination, any woman who has faced harassment at work or suffered violence at home, any disabled person who has been mocked or marginalized, understands what we’re talking about here. We have all known the wrath of discrimination. We have all felt the pain and the insult of hatred. This is why we are all standing here today. We stand to tell the world that we want equality for everyone. We stand to tell the world that we want marriage equality in New York State.
He said, “I understand the trepidation and the anxiety that people feel right now,” but said that “rights should not be stifled by fear” and that “silence should not be a response to injustice.”
The City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, a lesbian, said this was “the most thrilling press conference that I have ever been at.” Earlier in her life, she said, she would never have imagined standing with the governor and the mayor declaring their support for marriage equality.
@Thomas P–Good on ya! But I’d still remind you, NYC is NOT a “small” part of the state. NYC is 8 million out of 20 million, and the only reason Upstate’s population isn’t plummeting is because, like Ohio, the economy is and has been so bad that people can’t even afford to leave.
Why should the Dems be held hostage by some bigots within their midst, like Mr Diaz. Is he a minister first, or an Assemblyman? He can’t seem to decide. He is a full-time bigot, and should be called out for it.
Why do the Dems even have this problem? The GOP has succeeded because the party line is quite clear–and people choose to censor their own views instead of demanding change in the party. (This includes Dick Cheney.) That takes discipline, which Dems DO NOT have, which leaves Dems also open to being “nicer” to gays only by default.
I wonder if what the Dems are really afraid of isn’t losing. Maybe they’re really afraid of how many of their own are ready to let their hostility to gays come flying out. Patterson’s a better man for pushing it, regardless of whether it passes or fails, and anybody who criticizes him for opportunism best shut the f up about how they don’t like sitting in the back of the bus. They must not mind it that much, but others do.
You can believe that the Right Wing Religious Charlatans will be working against equality in marriage and to maintain legalized discrimination.
Through Fear and Deception religion Legislates and Legalizes Discrimination and prevent Legislation that would give Equal Rights. Just assess what happened in California with Prop 8!
I think we should start calling gay or same-sex marriage “equal marriage” or something like that. That’ll leave marriage gender and sexual netrual.
Bishop Dolan needs to pay attention to his child molesting priests and leave marriage equality alone.
Arch-Weasel Dolan can kiss my divinely deviant derriere. Wonder how many notches HE has on HIS boy-boinking belt? It’s all right to fraak boys; it’s just not all right to MARRY them.
Yeah.
Right.
Bridge for sale here, half-price while supplies last.
He’s Maledict the XVI’s man … you can take it to the bank that he didn’t get appointed because he’s a compassionate liberal.
Drewski,, sir,, you are so well endowed with that brain of yours.
VERY well said!!
I am not sure why Republicans want a religion based civil law. Haven’t they taken the forefront of the fight against theocracies in Pakistan, Afganastan, Iraq, Iran? If the Catholic Church’s congergations want theocracy, they should emigrated to above named countries. If the Catholic Church is going to function like a political group, they should be taxed like any other political group. America was not founded as a “christian nation”. The founders had enough concern about this to put the “separation of church and state” clause in the US Constitution. I do not want to marry but if you do you should be able to. These folks truly piss me off.
O.k. TWO points here.
1. The Catholic Archdiocese of New York needs to be investigated for a possible revocation of their TAX EXEMPT status.
2. As my sister is a New Yorker, and I’ve spent a good deal of time there, I’ve come to the conclusion that New Yorkers are if nothing else, a pragmatic folk.
I don’t think our side should play heavily on the “look how this hurts our poor…pitiful families”. That should be about 40% of things.
In the case of New York, it’s not really about getting marriage rights, we technically already have marriage rights in New York, as the state already recognizes gay marriages performed elsewhere!
Silly as it sounds, it’s really more about WEDDING rights. Our side should make this clearly known and talk about ALL THE MONEY that the neighboring, gay marriage states are taking away from New York state.
Remind New York how much is spent on venues, flowers, catering, gifts, parties, hotels, transportation etc. as a result of gay weddings.
The pragmatic issue of MONEY is one that New Yorkers can get behind. If our side can play this as an issue of basic economics and portray the ban as a stupid loss of money for the state the business interests in the city will lean HARD on the upstaters in the legislature.
I think adds stressing that the current law DOES NOT keep A single New York State gay couple from obtaining a VALID STATE SANCTIONED marriage would go a long way.
Remind people that same-sex marriages are already legally recognized in the state and that New York law really just serves to send the money spent on the expensive window dressing known as a WEDDING to other interests in other states!
Even if a gay couple just goes to a neighboring state to get hitched with no frills, neighboring states are STILL getting the license fee, and their merchants are still getting the food, hotel and misc. expenditures.
In the current economic climate, I think such a message would go very far, especially if our side could get some well known New York business tycoons to make spots touting this message. Don’t talk about what’s right or wrong and how it’s unfair to the poor gays, just what a stupid loss of money the current law is.
This angle could even give reps from conservative districts cover. They could STILL pretend to be against gay marriage, but claim that since gay marriages are already a legal reality, the existing law just serves to take desperately needed money away from ALL New York families and doesn’t do a thing to prevent gay marriages.
LOrion, can you please give us a reference for your statement that divorce rates have dropped in the states and countries that allow same sex marriage. That would be helpful for us to know, but many people challenge such assertions by demanding sources. Thanks for your help.
It is thown in our face about government should not be involved in religion, so shall it be that religion should not be involved in government. I am a human first and the religion I chose to follow second. My human rights are not dictated by any religion.