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Gay marriage: New York stands on edge of history
BANANASTOCK
“I think even if Jesus asked for his [Sen. Ruben Diaz] support for equality, he would say no.” –Dirk McCall
All they need is one more vote. New York could become the sixth U.S. state to allow same-sex marriage, if the state Senate votes tomorrow on a gay-marriage bill Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced Tuesday.
That bill needs support from just one more senator to pass. Cuomo has said in the past he wouldn’t introduce the bill unless he was sure it had enough support to become law.
“We’ve never been this close before,” said Dirk McCall, director of the Bronx Community Pride Center. “We’re on the cusp; we just need one more Republican.”
If the Republican-controlled Senate decides to bring the bill up for a vote, it would likely do so tomorrow, as lawmakers break on Monday for a lengthy recess.
Earlier this week, five state senators who previously voted against the bill said they are now in favor. Their switch gives the legislation the support of 31 senators, with 32 needed for approval.
New York’s Democrat-dominated Assembly has easily passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage three times in recent years, and were expected to do so again last night.
But the bill has always stalled in the Senate. Sen. Ruben Diaz, a Pentecostal minister from the Bronx, is the only Democratic senator who does not support same-sex marriage.
Five other states — Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont — plus the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage and 10 states allow civil unions. If the bill passes, same-sex couples could start marrying in New York 30 days later. The bill would not compel clergy to conduct the marriages.
Cuomo: Now is the time
Cuomo, a Democrat in his first year in office, vowed to make same-sex marriage a priority during the final weeks of the legislative session. “For too long, same-sex couples have been denied the freedom to marry, as well as hundreds of rights that other New Yorkers take for granted,” said Cuomo.
McCall praised Cuomo’s political skills, making progress on gay marriage where Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson before him have failed. “Gov. Cuomo had the right strategy this time,” said McCall. “He knows how to work the Legislature.” –Carly Baldwin/Metro
That bill needs support from just one more senator to pass. Cuomo has said in the past he wouldn’t introduce the bill unless he was sure it had enough support to become law.
“We’ve never been this close before,” said Dirk McCall, director of the Bronx Community Pride Center. “We’re on the cusp; we just need one more Republican.”
If the Republican-controlled Senate decides to bring the bill up for a vote, it would likely do so tomorrow, as lawmakers break on Monday for a lengthy recess.
Earlier this week, five state senators who previously voted against the bill said they are now in favor. Their switch gives the legislation the support of 31 senators, with 32 needed for approval.
New York’s Democrat-dominated Assembly has easily passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage three times in recent years, and were expected to do so again last night.
But the bill has always stalled in the Senate. Sen. Ruben Diaz, a Pentecostal minister from the Bronx, is the only Democratic senator who does not support same-sex marriage.
Five other states — Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont — plus the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage and 10 states allow civil unions. If the bill passes, same-sex couples could start marrying in New York 30 days later. The bill would not compel clergy to conduct the marriages.
Cuomo: Now is the time
Cuomo, a Democrat in his first year in office, vowed to make same-sex marriage a priority during the final weeks of the legislative session. “For too long, same-sex couples have been denied the freedom to marry, as well as hundreds of rights that other New Yorkers take for granted,” said Cuomo.
McCall praised Cuomo’s political skills, making progress on gay marriage where Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson before him have failed. “Gov. Cuomo had the right strategy this time,” said McCall. “He knows how to work the Legislature.” –Carly Baldwin/Metro
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