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Loading ...Poll: Wide support for gay marriage in NY
04.20.2009 4:29pm EDT
(New York City) A new poll shows that there is broad support for same-sex marriage in New York State, but not for Gov. David Paterson (D).
The Siena College poll released Monday was taken just days before Paterson unveiled legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry in the Empire State.The poll found 53 percent of voters approve of same-sex marriage, while 39 percent are opposed.
But the governor’s approval ratings continued to drop.
Only 27 percent of voters view Paterson favorably, while 63 percent viewed him unfavorably. Only 12 percent of voters would elect Paterson in 2010, the Siena poll found.
Paterson’s bill would allow civil marriages between same-sex couples.
“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 Thursday news conference, calling on the state Senate to allow a vote on the bill.
The legislation is similar to a bill that passed the Assembly in 2007 but was stonewalled by the GOP, which controlled the state 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.
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.
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.
This month, 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.
Re David M. Gibson (April 20, 6:14 p.m.)
You said ‘…so often wondered how such narrow-minded people can ever reach positions of power or authority or both…’
I am a cradle Canadian, I don’t understand your political system as well as I would like to, and you have every right to tell me to mind my own business.
However, I am also a cradle catholic, I’ve done my homework, and I found a quote that may be relevant and inspirational to all of us.
If you’ll excuse my historical pedantry, it goes something like this:
‘Authority sometimes proceeds from reason, but reason never from authority.’
It comes from the quill of one Johannes Scotus Eriugena (800-877), often known as John Scotus or John the Scot, one of the most original and audacious minds of the Middle Ages who represents the Age of Reason moving in the womb of the Age of Faith. Of course he got into trouble with the papacy (Honorius III) who ordered his books be burned in 1225.
The fact remains that John Scotus deserves his place in history and so will brilliant Americans rainbow children (like all of you) on two conditions: that you avoid blogging under the effect of an excessive amount of alcohol in your bloodstream, and that you do not let your perfectly justified emotions fog up your reason.
Finally, let us never forget that it was the drag queens who triggered the Stonewall Riots, and they are perfectly capable of empowering the rest of us by showing us how to affirm ourselves exactly as we are. Drag queens of the world, we need your support!!!!
@ Bud Evans–well said, in many areas!
@ Aiden–good question. Why is it there hasn’t been a GOP uproar about recognizing marriages performed out of state (Mass, VT, CT, Ontario, Quebec…), but somehow the DEMS are the ones fanning the fires about a GOP backlash (therefore you homos better stay seated in the back of the bus)?
Who cares what a poll says? It might be an accurate measure of public sentiment, but it depends on what’s being asked and how it’s being asked. The Bradley Effect? Hmm…well…just as there are those who will never vote for a nonwhite candidate (or a candidate not of their color), so too are there people who will always be racist, or sexist, or will harbor some other bias. Some people will always believe that gays are wrong and sick and sinful. The difference lies in whether or not major political parties endorse such inappropriate sentiment. When a political party endorses discrimination, that’s a violation of the Constitution (”all men are created equal”). The Equal Rights Amendment (never passed, thanks Illinois) was–is–necessary because of sophistry (”Constitution doesn’t say anything about women”). Now, the Dems have shown themselves generally content to deal with gender discrimination in an incremental manner, so I don’t expect any courage from them when it comes to gays. The GOP? I’ve seen pictures of the La Brea Tar Pits. Don’t need to look twice to know there are dinosaur fossils in the muck. Same for the GOP.
It’s ridiculous that this battle is necessary. It’s a necessary battle because we don’t hold our politicians to account. The argument of a small third-party liberal bloc in Congress is interesting. Say three in the Senate and twelve in the House. Already you see how the Senate will jockey in close votes to secure the vote of one independent. It only takes a few.
Maybe we elected the wrong man to be the first black president. Paterson has been on point for us since he first set foot in that Albany cesspool. Not a safe political stance then and certainly not now with his poll numbers in the toilet. He could have stayed out and let the panderers in the legislature bury this again like some “leaders” who want to “kick the can down the road” or others who are flipflopping now like fish out of water. Compare his call to action to that of the Govenator in LALA Land(or a president). Promises made are promises kept! The difference between a leader of all the people and a political party hack! I don’t know what Aholes conduct these polls but my phone didn’t ring. If it had I’d say gonernor no – Paterson for President!!!
>Once the ‘phobes start trying to switch the argument from equal protection to protect our children – and they WILL try – the support melts away.
The key is to be ready to mount an effective defense ahead of time.
ya, I’d hardly call 53/45 (I think that was the number) a wide margin of support. How many of those polled would make us suffer from the Bradley effect.
I just don’t get why the argument isn’t being used that same-sex marriage is already recognized in NY. You just have to spend your money elsewhere to get the marriage done in another state. NY is being rather closed minded here if those senators don’t see that. Even those opposed should see that all they are doing is losing revenue and aren’t supporting same-sex marriage, just the money lost from it.
I disagree with the sentiment, by some in the GLBT community, that: “…it may stop our momentum if we force a vote too soon.”
They didn’t have the votes in Vermont to override the Governor’s veto at first, but they tried again anyway — and they won. What if they would have just folded their tents and said that it was a lost cause and went home? In that case, Vermont would not be the fourth truly free state in America.
We are now down to several apartheid states in the US and far too many despotic states where loving same-sex couples are forced into a pernicious classification as being legally estranged from one another — even when they live under the same roof and have been mutually supportive for decades.
But the tide is turning in our favor. As more states come on board, eventually the “good faith and credit” clause of the US Constitution will have to be invoked and DOMA (both federally and state adopted) will ultimately be challenged in federal court. And even if Congress repeals the federal DOMA (not likely), state DOMAs will still have to be challenged as well.
Sadly, all that the anti-marriage-equality state amendments and federal anti-gay legislation (like DOMA and DADT) are accomplishing is just to erode the US Constitution’s once unimpeachable Bill of Rights. They have made it appear as if this universal declaration of civil liberties is not worth the parchment it was hand written on. The Constitution was created to protect each and every one of us from the whims of the mob. Birthrights were established that were meant to be inalienable. That is not a reliable promise anymore.
Obviously, the US Constitution has had to be amended to allow the same rights of citizenship to be extended to racial minorities and to women who were intentionally excluded — but same-sex oriented citizens never were explicitly excluded as the aforementioned groups apparently were. The US Constitution is the only thing of value which the United States offered in the form of a civilizing contribution to human society, and even it is still subject to threats of evisceration then it does not conform to group prejudices and religion-based bigotry — i.e. the so-called Defense of Marriage Amendment.
Sure, seeking legislative relief is risky business — nevertheless, it is still a viable legal option open to us. But to imply that demanding legislative action “may stop our momentum” is like saying if I fall off a horse I’m trying to learn to ride, then it would be better if I just come back in a few weeks or months or years later and then maybe try again after the horse decides to be tamer. No, you actually lose the “momentum” when you give up trying. Never give up and never relent for a moment. You’re only defeated when you run out of hope, and the desire to take advantage of each and every opportunity that presents itself.
Yes, we must start to weed out all of the hypocrites who take our money and our votes. Likewise, we must actively campaign for the genuinely caring politicians who actually have earned our respect and our support.
I say go ahead with the vote — come what may. If we lose, then we throw those bums out who lied to us; if we win, then we reward our supporters. It is a simple proposition, because eventually we will win. History is on our side, and people in power are starting to think about their own contribution to this last great civil rights struggle in America. Will they be on the winning side of history or on the losing side? Believe me, they’re thinking about their legacy too.
Our rights are not (as Obama’s Secretary of Defense, Gates, implied — no doubt echoing Obama’s own repulsive apathy towards us) something that you can put off indefinitely, or as Gates actually said: “…let’s just kick that can down the road a while.”
Imagine, our equality is nothing more than just a rusty old tin can that needs to be kicked out of the way whenever possible. Uh huh, “change you can believe in” alright. So for all of you who insisted that we chose between the lesser of two evil, well you got your wish — more institutionalized evil for the sake of political expediency with loyalty only to its own ambition.
We have been told, even by some of our political “friends”, basically not to look to Washington for solutions to “our problems” anytime soon. So, be sure to remind them not to look to us on election day in 2010 and 2012 either. There are always third party alternatives. Only ten percent of congress in control of a liberal third party could swing things in our favor as both Democrats and Republicans vie to caucus with that third party for legislative advantage.
Other than that, it looks like we’re on our own, kids!
The state by state strategy is starting to look like the best approach so far. So now, more than ever, we must take advantage of the fact that the train has left the station — so, get on board or stand out of the way. There is no other choice, because sitting on our hands and just watching while others fight our battles against those who would turn back the clock is not an option anymore.
@ Bud Evans, 2009
This is one Long Islander who has been a Gay rights and an AIDS activist for over twenty years – and I am very proud and fully support my Governor Paterson.
The wheels of history grind slowly; too slowly for most of us, but I have witnessed changes for good.
For the first time in over 40 years, Long Island has elected two Democrats to the State Senate. This body has been called ‘the place where good ideas go to die’ for so long now; we must keep the pressure on high, on strong, and remain relentless in pursuit of equality.
The State Senate is divided so evenly that we may lose this year. That would be tragic.
I guess I am most annoyed that not ONE single Republican Senator has come forward for us.
Not one? Is there any Log Cabiner out there (under their rocks) who truly believes that the GOP gives a damn about you?
Keep up the good fight folks!
@ David Gibson: Huh?
If it does pass this time, it doesn’t mean Patterson’ ass is out of the fire. Barring a biblical rebound of financial services in NYC, and long-gone manufacturing Upstate, and an equally magical cleansing of both the legislature and the entire apparatus of state government, it’s extremely unlikely Patterson will be elected to his own term. So what? Truth is the state Dem party seems more homophobic than anybody wants to admit. Why not say it out loud? Their actions say they’re less than thrilled. The Senate speaker is clearly more interested in the power of his job than in the responsibilities of his job. Whenever someone tells you that “now’s not a good time,” that usually means now is not a good time FOR THEM. Keep that in mind, New Yorkers, because once again your state Senate is out for self-interest instead of public interest. Bluntly put, do you wanna be the pimp or the ho?
Poor Paterson. He really needs to get with the program and get his head out of the sand. I so often wonder how such narrow minded people can ever reach positions of power or authority or both with their extremely narrow view of the world around them. Good for the great state of New York. Boo for Paterson.
John, you make a great point but having lived in California before, I can say that there WAS a lot of complacency in the state. In addition, political correctness goes WAY too far in CA. NO on 8 couldn’t even show a gay couple or take on religion head on. We have learned a lot of lessons since then and as for New York state, the east coast generally has a much more aggressive mentality so I don’t think the homophobes will have as much success as they did in California. This is my hope, of course.
They probably conducted this poll in Chelsea. I wonder what the people upstate NY and Long Island think? Polls are meaningless.
Not to rain on the parade, but that’s pretty much what the Field Poll showed in California as late as August, 2008. Once the ‘phobes start trying to switch the argument from equal protection to protect our children – and they WILL try – the support melts away.