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02/07/2009
NY Squadron leader to gay troops: '09 is iffy but equality is inevitable
Here in NY, we've heard mixed things about the potential to get a marriage bill through in this legislative session. However, it seems that one of its champions, freshman state Sen. Daniel Squadron, is not so optimistic about gays' ability to book their Empire State building wedding in either of the next two years. This from Huff Po's Ryan J. Davis:
Daniel Squadron, the twenty-nine year old freshman New York State Senator, is ready to take the lead on gay marriage in New York. Squadron said his goal was, "making this a law as quickly as possible," last night at a meeting of the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn. He came to discuss strategy with leading activists and received plenty of feedback.
However, Squadron is not optimistic about passing gay marriage in the 2009 Senate session and believes that 2010 will be even tougher, due to the election year. "Looking at the members, it's hard to get to thirty-two votes," he admitted. Thirty-two is the magic number to pass a bill in the New York State Senate.
Gay Marriage In New York Unlikely in '09 or '10 [Huff Po]
So is he lowering expectations or simply acknowledging reality? Maybe a little of both. But one thing is for certain: Nothing's gonna be accomplished by simply bitching. We have to make real connections, changing the hearts and minds of those with stubborn views on what constitutes a proper "I do" swapping. We have to show up for NY events (The Empire State Pride Agenda's Equality & Justice Day, April 28) the way we showed up to protest California matters. And when we hear anyone sitting in the local diner, kvetching about those militant gays and their inability to just accept their fate as domestic partnered at best, we have to rationally explain that equality was never meant to be like that diner's Early Bird Special: Only available to those who come in a certain fashion.
We do all that we can do, which is actually quite a lot. In turn, we will show the Empire State's feet-draggers why the should hit the ground running on this long overdue issue. Then we do win (which is an inevitable) we will take to the streets to celebrate the victory in which we actually had a role, which is much sweeter than pounding the pavement to protest something that our own stagnancy helped bring about.
**SHOW UP: The Empire State Pride Agenda's Equality & Justice Day, April 28
Your thoughts
Isn't Ryan Davis the guy who published the article a couple of weeks before last year's California Supreme Court decision where he informed us that the court was going to rule in our favor? I wonder if he has any insider information on the prop H8 case?
Posted by: Dick Mills | Feb 7, 2009 12:01:40 PM
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