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Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Despite the spin, most everyone pushing for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage privately acknowledges that the 24-38 loss in the State Senate was a whopper, and while theories abound, there’s no clear explaination for how the bill was so soundly defeated. Senator Eric Schneiderman started by blaming Republicans.
“If you look at the Assembly, there were lots of Republican yeses,” the liberal Manhattan Democrat said. “I don’t believe it. They clearly decided not to allow a vote of conscience. I know that there were Republicans that wanted to vote yes.”
That’s hardly fair, considering eight Democrats voted against the measure. Democrats—under the leadership of Malcolm Smith—took the chamber’s majority in 2008 after promising advocates that they would pass the marriage bill, and that they would pick candidates who would vote in favor. That did not happen; Joe Addabbo, a senator from southeast Queens, was elected over Serphin Maltese.
Full Story from the NY Observer: http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/thousand-fathers-marriage-inequality
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 bill, failed, Gay Marriage, ny, senate | No Responses »
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
After the State Senate deals with an Assembly-passed $2.8 billion deficit-reduction bill in a special session starting around now, advocates are saying there’s a strong chance they’ll begin debate on the marriage-equality bill that has been waiting outside their chamber doors for months now.
Last night, the State Assembly re-passed their version of the bill, which had been passed in a regular session earlier this year. By passing it in a so-called “extraordinary session,” they ensured that if the Senate passes it in their own extraordinary session today, there are no obstacles to sending it straight to the governor. (A bill can be halted if the versions passed by both bodies are even only slightly different from one another.)
Gay-rights group the Empire State Pride Agenda hailed this move as a sign of “continued momentum.” Of course, nothing ever goes as planned in Albany, so that “momentum” could easily “continue” in a holding pattern for days, if not weeks.
Full Story from NY Magazine: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/12/there_could_be_a_gay_marriage.html
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 Gay Marriage, new york, ny, senate, vote | No Responses »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
The New York Senate will likely vote on a gay marriage bill Tuesday, local NBC affiliate WGRZ reported. A spokesman for state Senator Dale Volker confirmed to the television station that the bill could reach the Senate floor for a vote tomorrow.
The bill remains a priority of Governor David Paterson, who has pledged to sign it into law if it clears its final hurdle in the Senate. Whether Democrats have the votes to approve the measure, however, remains unclear. Several senators reversed course after voters in Maine “vetoed” a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers in the spring. Win or lose, gay activists say they want a vote on the bill to put senators on record.
A similar bill is expected to receive its initial vote in the District of Columbia on Tuesday and final approval before Christmas.
Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4934&MediaType=1&Category=26
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 floor, gay marriage bill, governor david paterson, new york, ny, senate, Tuesday, vote | No Responses »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Gay rights advocates have launched a final push to win support of a same-sex marriage bill in New York, as state lawmakers are slated to gather tomorrow to vote on the measure.
Gov. David Paterson has called legislators to Albany for the vote — saying he believes the measure will win enough support to sign into law. But, sources said negotiations are expected to go late into Monday night as Democratic leaders discuss whether to put the bill to a full vote in the Senate without knowing whether it will have enough votes to pass. The State Assembly passed the bill earlier this year.
Advocates on both sides of the issue lobbied senators over the weekend, but it was still unclear whether the measure could earn the 32 votes needed for approval. Democrats hold a shaky 32-to-30 majority in the Senate — and the measure does not have full support across the party line.
Full Story from NBC NY: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Gay-Marriage-Bill-in-Albany-Faces-Uncertain-Fate-69554487.html
Planning to marry your partner? 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 bill, Gay Marriage, governor david paterson, new york, ny, senate, special session | No Responses »
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
New York Governor David Paterson has scheduled a special session of the state Senate for this Tuesday, November 10. Paterson has placed a marriage equality bill on the session’s agenda.
Yesterday, Corey Johnson and I sat down with Paterson for an exclusive interview with Paterson in his office in Harlem to discuss that bill and ask him whether or not he believes action will actually take place on Tuesday, and what conversations he’s had with Senate leadership that indicate it might be acted upon. We also ask him if he thinks Obama needs to take a stronger position on issues important to the gay and lesbian community like the ballot measure in Maine.
Says Paterson of the marriage equality bill: “People who’ve lived together for 10, 20, 30 years are waiting, hoping that this legislation will pass while they still have the breath to elicit an ‘I do’ on the altar, and I think it’s time that it happens, and if I have to see legislation fail so I can identify who voted against it to better persuade them, then I’ll take that chance.”
Full Story from Towleroad.com: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/paterson.html
Planning to marry your partner? 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 gay marriage. new york, governor david paterson, interview, ny, senate vote | No Responses »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
Gov. David A. Paterson said Thursday that he would include gay marriage on the agenda of an extraordinary session he is calling for Tuesday, potentially setting up the first vote on the issue in the State Senate and a dramatic floor debate.
Senate Democratic leaders could still block the issue from coming to the floor and have done so before, though it appears more likely to be put to a vote this time. Gay rights advocates, who feared holding a vote amid a Senate leadership feud this summer, cheered the governor’s action.
The measure’s chances of passing, though, are seen as far less likely. While a same-sex marriage bill has already been passed twice in the Assembly, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Democrats have a shaky 32-to-30 edge in the chamber, but several Democrats have said they will vote against the measure, and no Republicans are publicly supporting it.
Full Story from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/nyregion/06marriage.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion
Planning to marry your partner? 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 agenda, Gay Marriage, governor david paterson, new york, ny, senate vote | No Responses »
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
One day after withdrawing from the race for the vacant congressional seat of New York’s 23rd district, Dede Scozzafava proved her unworthiness for support by “real” Republicans of the ideological right-wing base of the GOP, and endorsed the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens.
Yesterday’s article on this page, Scozzafava’s withdrawal marks end of GOP echoed the sentiment of many political writers and speakers of the day, when it stated that Scozzafava’s exit from the race was the result of a significant message being sent by the conservative base to the moderates in the Party, get very conservative, or get out.
Full Story from The Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-24111-Liberal-Issues-Examiner~y2009m11d2-Scozzafava-backs-Democrat-in-NY23-race-and-GOP-still-dead
Planning to marry your partner? 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 dede scofazza, district 23, Gay Marriage, gop, new york, ny | No Responses »
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
New York Gov. David Paterson says he expects to sign a same-sex marriage bill into law in the coming weeks.
Paterson says he expects the state Senate to give the measure final legislative approval in the coming weeks and then he will sign it. That would make New York the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage.
Paterson can’t force the Senate to take up the bill and admitted to reporters he can’t guarantee its approval, but he says he’s now confident it will pass, as advocates and sponsors of the bill in Albany have been quietly working to build support.
Full Story from The Chronicle: http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2009/10/31/the_chronicle/news/15.txt
Planning to marry your partner? 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 Gay Marriage, governor david paterson, new york, ny, senate | No Responses »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Governor David Paterson announced Sunday that he is convening the state Legislature on November 10 to address New York’s growing budget deficit.
Before the extraordinary legislative session, Paterson is holding a public leaders meeting in the city this Thursday.
The governor will address the leaders of the State Senate and Assembly on November 9 in Albany to outline what he feels the state needs to do to ensure long-term fiscal stability.
Full Story from NY1: http://ny1.com/7-brooklyn-news-content/news_beats/politics/107896/paterson-to-convene-special-budget-session/
Planning to marry your partner? 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 Gay Marriage, governor david paterson, legislature, new york, ny, special session | No Responses »
