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NJ: Gay Marriage Group to Withhold Money from Some Democratic Lawmakers

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

New Jersey’s most influential gay civil-rights group pledged Friday to withhold financial support from Democratic lawmakers who did not vote for the same-sex marriage bill. The lack of campaign contributions will cost future candidates hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Steven Goldstein of Teaneck, founder and director of Garden State Equality.

Senator Loretta Weinberg comforts Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality after the gay marriage bill was defeated at the Statehouse in Trenton.

“The gay ATM is done,” Goldstein said. “In a bigger sense, the progressive [issues] ATM is done.”
The state Senate on Thursday defeated the gay-marriage bill, 20-14, with three Democrats not voting: Sen. Paul Sarlo of Wood-Ridge, incoming Senate President Steve Sweeney of Gloucester County and Sen. James Beach of Camden County. Two other senators were absent; another seat is vacant.

Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/garden_state_equality_pledges.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in campaign donations, democrats, garden state equality, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, new jersey, nj, same sex marriage, withhold | No Responses »

NY: Activists Using Guerilla Tactics Against Anti Gay Marriage Senators

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Civil rights organizers have employed rallies and demonstrations to call attention to injustices for generations, but some LGBT activists in New York who remain enraged by the state Senate’s vote against marriage for same-sex couples have begun to resort to guerrilla tactics and other forms of civil disobedience.

The Dec. 2 vote against the marriage bill represented a significant setback in efforts to extend marriage to gays and lesbians in the Empire State. Many Democratic senators had initially said they supported the bill’s passage, but eight eventually voted against the measure. And the protests began almost immediately.

Activists confronted state Sen. Carl Kruger [D-Brooklyn] as he left the Senate floor in Albany, accusing him of being closeted and telling him he betrayed his LGBT supporters.

Full Story from Edge Boston: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=100804

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in anti gay marriage, democrats, Gay Marriage, guerilla tactics, marriage equality, protests, same sex marriage, senators | No Responses »

NY: Gay Activists to Fight to Remove Democrats Who Betrayed Gay Marriage Vote

Monday, December 7th, 2009

The rhetoric is ratcheted up to 11 after last week’s overwhelming rejection of same-sex marriage in the state Senate, which left gay-rights activists reeling. “It’s going to be a bloodbath,” one gay “operative” tells the Daily News. “We’re going to use every single weapon in our quiver to take these people out. We either need to replace them or scare the hell out of them so they do the right thing.” Activists say they’ll focus their efforts on the Democrats who they feel betrayed them, and number one on the list of Senator Joseph P. Addabbo of Queens.

Some analysts believe that because the alphabetically-advanced Addabbo voted second in the roll call, his “no” sent a message to subsequent swing voters that the measure would not pass, creating a domi-no effect. Addabbo has sought to draw a line between his personal opinion on same-sex marriage (which he refuses to divulge) and the will of his constituency. Speaking to reporters about his vote, he said:

“To this day, I have kept my personal belief out of it, and it’s still personal…It is my belief, and it’s only my belief. I voted, again, the will of the people in my district. First and foremost, I am very thankful to everyone who got me to where I am as a state senator. I am grateful to all those in the gay community that supported me—whether it be financially or with the hours of volunteer work. I’m grateful to them, but never once did I say to anyone or any particular entity what my position was on the issue…”

Full Story from Gothamist.com: http://gothamist.com/2009/12/07/gay_activists_promise_bloodbath_aft.php

Click here for gay marriage resourcesi in New York.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in democrats, gay activists, Gay Marriage, new york, vote | No Responses »

NJ: 200 Democrats Call for Gay Marriage Vote

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Seeking to sway their party’s leaders with a sweeping show of support, more than 200 core Democrats sent a letter today urging the passage of a gay marriage law before the legislative session runs out.

The letter, initially signed by elected leaders, government workers, fundraisers and campaign staffers, also was signed by at least a thousand New Jerseyans after it was posted on MarriageEqualityNJ.com.

“We appreciate that this is a difficult issue for some state legislators. But marriage equality is an idea whose time has come. We are confident that the voters will stand by those elected officials who do the right thing,” the letter states.

Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/200_nj_dems_press_for_vote_on.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in democrats, Gay Marriage, letter, new jersey, nj | No Responses »

NJ: Democrats Ready to Throw Gays Under the Bus, Again?

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Support for gay marriage in Trenton is draining away like water from a tub as nervous legislators scurry towards safer political ground. “I can’t say I’m confident now,” says Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), a lead sponsor. “I think we still have a pretty good chance. But people are getting nervous and weak-kneed.”

Bad as that sounds, know that Weinberg is spinning this as best she can. Several other senators, supporters and opponents, say the movement is all but dead.

“They’ve lost the momentum,” says Sen. Kip Bateman, a Somerset Republican who considered supporting the measure until last week. “I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Full Story from NJ.com: http://blog.nj.com/njv_tom_moran/2009/11/a_surprisingly_dark_day_for_ga.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in democrats, Gay Marriage, new jersey, nj | No Responses »