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11/11/2008
Referen-dumb: Another progressive state, another possibility for majority tyranny
Here in NYC, we've long been made ecstatic by the prospect of a Democratic Senate who would finally vote in favor of marriage equality. After all, the Assembly did the right thing last year, and our governor is more than ready to sign off on the reasoned, principled progress. So we gay activists placed our proverbial eggs in the Democratic Senate basket and waited patiently for them to hatch.
Well we got our slim Dem majority. But now a so-called "gang of three" Senate Democrats (one a Senator-elect) wants to make our city wedding dreams much harder for us. How? Well, by putting our rights up for a public vote:
After a lengthy late-afternoon meeting, members of the Gang of Three remain united with no immediate plans to follow the lead of their erstwhile compatriot, Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate, who endorsed Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith for majority leader over the weekend.
The biggest news to come out of the get-together, which took place at an Italian restaurant on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, is that the three Democrats - Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., Sen. Carl Kruger and Senator-elect Pedro Espada Jr. - are calling for a referendum, rather than legislative action, on gay marriage.
Gang Of 3 Agrees On Gay Marriage Referendum, No Senate Leader [Daily News]
Now, New York doesn't have the same initiative process as California, so it's unclear as to what, exactly, these three even mean by this potential vote. But one thing is for sure: Getting us our equality ain't the goal. These three, led by the notoriously gay-unfriendly Diaz (who has vowed that he won't support a Senate leader who would bring a marriage equality bill to a floor vote), are clearly trying to replace potential lesbian brides' garter belts with balls and chains. And that just isn't what New York is oar at least should be) all about!
Your thoughts
Are there any Republican senators that might be on our side?
Posted by: RainbowPhoenix | Nov 11, 2008 7:04:58 PM
Here though.... GAUNTLET THROW DOWN... by EQUALITY UTAH, this from 11/10 Press Release.
Equality UTAH will ask for EQUAL Rights for GLBT Utahns in their Legislature: " I take LDS Church leaders at their word that they are not anti-gay and that they sincerely understand that gay and transgender individuals and their families are in need of certain legal protections and basic benefits. I appreciate their statements that they do not oppose legal protections for gay people like those already enacted in California lawthat do not conflict with their genuinely held beliefs about marriage. This is our chance to come together and work to enact basic legal protections for gay Utahns. I am hopeful that the LDS Church will accept our invitation to heal our communities by bringing its considerable social and political influence to bear in support of laws that prevent discrimination and provide for the legitimate needs of all Utahns and their families." ~Senator Scott McCoy
Posted by: LOrion | Nov 11, 2008 7:06:08 PM
Already been posted, LOrion.
http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2008/11/rights-group-to.html
Posted by: aaa | Nov 11, 2008 8:02:05 PM
Anybody in New York want to step to the plate to replace these three senators and are open to gay marriage? I would but I don't live in New York and I don't have the political know-how either.
Just curious but what do the latest polls show on support for same-sex marriage in New York? I checked Google and found an article back in June of this year that shows a majority support gay marriage but not by much.
Posted by: Sam | Nov 12, 2008 10:20:29 AM
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