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Saturday, February 27th, 2010
After being stalled in the Legislature for 17 years, the New York State Senate has finally joined the Assembly in passing the Family Health Care Decisions Act that enables a loved one to made health care decisions when the patient is not able to do so. The bill places a same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner, just like a spouse, ahead of a surviving child or parent in making these decisions. Governor Paterson has said he will sign the bill into law when it is sent to him.
New York has been one of just two states where without a health care proxy, no one-not a domestic partner, spouse, or family member-could make health care decisions when the patient lacked the ability to do so. This gap in state law has sometimes forced loved ones to seek medical decision-making authority from a judge at the very time they should be focusing all their attention on caring for their partner.
The enactment of this legislation will allow loved ones including same-sex spouses who were married out-of-state or fit the domestic partnership definition to have the ability to make these decisions.
Full Story from Outcome
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Posted in family health care decision act, new york, ny, senate | No Responses »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Central Park’s Bethesda Angel looked out at scores of brides wreathed in crowns of fake white hydrangea and grooms in thrift-store formalwear. “Enjoy the last two minutes of your marriage,” Rev. Billy Talen of the Church of Life After Shopping yelled, as on the most romantic day of the year the blissful couples prepared to negate their nuptials in solidarity with the same-sex marriage movement.
The happy twosomes — some married, some in long-term relationships — arranged themselves before a floral trellis. The theatrical activist and former mayoral candidate, who typically preaches an anti-consumerist gospel, then stepped forward to take a rather slushy pulpit, officiating the Valentine’s Day mass “unwedding.”
“Can I have a same-sex-elujah?” the Reverend bellowed, as his ashy blond pompadour bounced.
Full Story from the Village Voice
Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.
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Posted in Gay Marriage, marriage equality, new york, ny, rally, same sex marriage, unmarriage | No Responses »
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
Four members of Queer Rising chained themselves together and attempted a blockade of Manhattan’s marriage bureau on the morning of February 12 after several same-sex couples entered the bureau and were denied marriage licenses.
“The system is broken,” said Alan L. Bounville as he stood at the entrance of the bureau chained to three other men. “We the people have the power to fix the system.”
Arrested with Bounville were Jake Goodman, Gabriel Yuri Bollag, and Justin Elzie. The four were arraigned late in the day on February 12 and each was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, a violation, and one count of obstruction of governmental administration, a misdemeanor.
Full Story from Gay City News
Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.
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Posted in arrested, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, new york, protest, protesters, same sex marriage | No Responses »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
Irish American lesbian Kitty Lambert (pictured above center) and her longtime partner Cheryl attempted to apply for a marriage license in Buffalo, New York yesterday. When her request was denied, Lambert turned to the crowd that had gathered.
With news cameras rolling, Kitty asked for any male who would be willing to get married to her. A gay man named Ed, a total stranger to her, stepped forward and volunteered. They briefly exchanged information and presented the appropriate documents along with $40.
City staff verified the information, and proceeded to give them a marriage license. Kitty’s point in approaching the City Clerk for a marriage license is that there is no religious basis for marriage, and it serves only as a legally binding contract in our society.
Full Story from Irish Central
Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.
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Posted in Gay Marriage, lesbian, marriage equality, new york, protest, same sex marriage | No Responses »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
A bill that would withhold the cost of implementing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is expected to be announced tonight by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at a gay fundraiser, the New York Times reported. Gillibrand is the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) ninth annual greater New York fundraiser in Manhattan. HRC, the nation’s largest gay rights advocate, recently endorsed Gillibrand’s 2010 candidacy.
The bill seeks to deny funding to the military for the costs of implementing the policy that bans gay troops from serving openly in Armed Forces. Gillibrand is expected to introduce her proposal as an amendment to the federal budget.
The policy has come under heavy scrutiny since President Obama called for an end to the law during his first State of the Union address. On Tuesday, the Pentagon’s top brass – Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates – told a key Senate panel considering the issue that the military should end the policy.
Full Story from On Top Magazine
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Posted in bill, dadt, de-fund, don't ask don't tell, Kirsten Gillibrand, new york, ny, Senator | No Responses »
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
REPUBLICAN state Sens. John Bonacic and William Larkin say the same rights provided to male-female married couples in New York could be extended to same-sex couples — but only under terms that identify the relationships as “civil unions.” Both senators oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York and voted it against it when the matter came up in their chamber last month. The Senate rejected the same-sex marriage bill just hours after the Assembly approved it on Dec. 2.
The five state senators who represent the Mid-Hudson Valley — Bonacic, Larkin, Stephen Saland, James Seward and Vincent Leibell — voted “no.” All are Republicans.
Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, said during a recent telephone interview that terms used to define marriage are “deep rooted in every religion in the country and in the world.”
Full Story from the Daily Freeman
Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.
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Posted in civil unions, Gay Marriage, gop, marriage equality, new york, republican, same sex marriage, senators | No Responses »
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
A special New York Senate committee is likely to recommend that his fellow Senators consider ousting state Sen. Hiram Monserrate for beating up his domestic partner.
You may remember, Monserrate, a Queens Democrat, was convicted in October of misdemeanor assault, and was sentenced to 3 years probation, ordered to serve 250 hours of community service and undergo a year’s worth of counseling for jealousy and anger issues, for slashing his live in girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, in the face with a broken glass last year after dragging her across the lobby of his apartment building.
You may also remember Monserrate joined Republican senators last month to “defend traditional marriage” and vote against marriage equality legislation for New York State.
Full Story from Lez Get Real: http://lezgetreal.com/?p=24354
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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, hiram monserrate, new york, ny, ousting, Queens, Senator | No Responses »
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Governor David Paterson received a standing ovation at the LGBT Community Center in lower Manhattan earlier today as he signed an executive order to ban discrimination against transgender state employees. “For far too long… the transgender community has had to wait for the same equality others enjoy based on employment,” he said. “That ends today.”
Empire State Pride Agenda executive director Alan Van Capelle, Michael Silverman of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, Melissa Sklarz of the New York Transgender Rights Organization, Glennda Testone of the Center and Pauline Park of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy were among those who joined Paterson on the stage. State Sen. Tom Duane, state Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Dick Gottfried, Micah Kellner and Danny O’Donnell and City Councilmember-elect Danny Dromm were also in attendance.
“Transgender people, like all New Yorkers, need stability, and it starts in the workplace,” Sklarz said.
Full Story from Edge Boston: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=100172
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 discrimination ban, executive order, governor david paterson, new york, ny, state employees, transgender | No Responses »
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
The wound is still fresh for gay and lesbian constituents of Queens and state senators like Hiram Monserrate (D-East Elmhurst), who voted against same-sex marriage two weeks ago. Organized by groups like the LGBT Coalition of Queens and the Western Queens Same Sex Marriage Alliance, protesters marched on Monserrate’s office in East Elmhurst Saturday and Sen. George Onorato’s (D-Astoria) office Sunday.
Although the politicians and their staffers were not in the offices, the group got plenty of looks — both positive and skeptical — from Corona residents as they marched north from Roosevelt Avenue.
“I want everyone to hear that I am not a second-class citizen,” said Sara Pomar, a same-sex marriage activist from Woodside. “It is irrelevant, my sexuality, but we all deserve the same civil rights.”
Full Story from YourNabe.com: http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2009/12/17/queens/queenstredrnc12162009.txt
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 astoria, gay marriage vote, george onorato, hiram monserrate, new york, protesters, Queens, senate, senators | No Responses »
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 »
