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New York Mayoral Candidate Christine Quinn Marries Partner

Monday, May 21st, 2012

Out Lesbian Christine Quinn Marries Partner Kim Catullo

Christine Quinn, a leading mayoral candidate for 2013, and Catullo, an attorney, married in an evening ceremony at the Highline Stages in Chelsea attended by family members, friends and the city and state’s political elite.

The roster of elected officials among the nearly 300 invited guests included Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Nydia Velazquez, Joseph Crowley, and Charles Rangel, State Senator Tom Duane, Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell, and a dozen City Council members. Other political figures in attendance according to various reports included Sally Susman, Quinn’s finance chairwoman and a major Obama campaign bundler, labor leader Randi Weingarten and the lobbyist Emily Giske, who introduced Quinn to Catullo in 2001.

The evening ceremony was closed to the press, but journalists outside the venue offered Twitter updates about the comings and goings. Gay City News reports that shortly after 7 p.m., a spokesman emerged to announce that Quinn and Catullo, who are both 45, were officially married. Former Chief Judge Judith Kaye, who wrote the dissent in a 2006 court ruling that found same-sex couples had no right to marry in New York, officiated. Audra McDonald sang “She Loves” by George and Ira Gershwin before heading uptown to Broadway, where she is appearing in Porgy and Bess.

Gay City News offers more details about what the brides wore and their walk down the aisle.

“Quinn, dressed in a full-length, cream gown designed by Carolina Herrera, was walked down the aisle by her father, Lawrence. Catullo, wearing a cream silk evening suit from Ralph Lauren, was accompanied by her father, Anthony. The couple exchanged rings designed by Doyle & Doyle.

 READ More from The Advocate Article

NY: Senate Passes Family Health Care Decisions Bill

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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NY: 50 Straight Couples Get Unmarried to Protest Gay Marriage Ban

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
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NY: Four Marriage Equality Protesters Arrested

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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NY: Lesbian Marries Male Stranger to Protest Gay Marriage Ban

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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Senator Gillibrand Introduces Bill to De-Fund Don't Ask Don't Tell

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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NY: Two GOP Senators Say No to Gay Marriage, Maybe to Civil Unions

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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NY: Possible Ousting of Anti Gay Marriage Queens Senator

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.

NY: Governor Paterson Bans Discrimination Against Transgender State Employees

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.

NY: Protesters Demonstrate Against Senators Who Voted Down Gay Marriage Bill

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.