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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.


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.

NJ: How the Senators Voted on Gay Marriage

Friday, January 8th, 2010

The 20-14 roll call vote by which the New Jersey Senate on Thursday defeated a bill to legalize gay marriage. Voting “no” were 6 Democrats and 14 Republicans. Voting “yes” were 13 Democrats and 1 Republican. It would have taken 21 “yes” votes to pass.

Democrats – Yes

Buono, Metuchen; Codey, West Orange; Cunningham, Jersey City; Gill, Montclair; Gordon, Fair Lawn; Lesniak, Elizabeth; Ruiz, Newark; Scutari, Linden; Smith, Piscataway; Stack, Union City; Vitale, Woodbridge; Weinberg, Teaneck; Whalen, Atlantic City.

Democrats – No

Girgenti, Hawthorne; Madden, Washington Township, Gloucester County; Rice, Newark; Sacco, North Bergen; Turner, Trenton; Van Drew, Dennis.

Democrats – Not voting

Beach, Voorhees; Sarlo, Wood-Ridge; Sweeney, West Deptford.

Republicans – Yes

Baroni, Hamilton.

Republicans – No

Bateman, Branchburg; Beck, Red Bank; Bucco, Denville; Cardinale, Demarest; Connors, Surf City; Doherty, Washington Township, Warren County; Haines, Springfield; S. Kean, Wall; T. Kean, Westfield; Kyrillos, Middletown; Oroho, Franklin Borough; O’Toole, Cedar Grove; Pennacchio, Montville; Singer, Lakewood.

Republicans – Not voting

Allen, Edgewater Park; Ciesla, Brick.

Full Story from the Daily Record: http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100108/UPDATES01/301080003/1005/NEWS01

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.

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.

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.

NY: Which Democrats Have to Go to Pass Gay Marriage in the Senate?

Friday, December 4th, 2009

The state Senate vote Wednesday defeating gay marriage, while devastating to supporters of marriage equality, clarified the road map they must follow to make it the law in New York state. The bill needed nine more votes, and gay activist Corey Johnson, a veteran political operative, says that’s attainable by 2011.

But he emphasizes, “The first priority is definitely to protect the 24 members who voted yes.” Dave Valesky of Syracuse and Brian Foley of Long Island will get the most help because they could face viable Republican challengers.

Of the eight Democrats who voted against the bill, two in Queens might have been on their way out already. George Onorato has been in office for 26 years, following 15 years as a union treasurer, and could retire (possible successors Assemblyman Mike Gianaris and Councilman Eric Gioia are pro-marriage). Hiram Monserrate was looking at a serious challenge from Assemblyman Joel Peralta even before Monserrate abandoned his support for gay marriage. Peralta favors marriage equality and is in line for major campaign donations from its supporters.

Full Story from York Business: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091204/INS/912039986

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.