NY Senate Votes For Marriage Equality!!

YEAH! It's been a busy week getting ready for pride!

The jeep is looking amazing and I haven't lost my mind yet.

This is so fabulous! Every bit helps!

BY Celeste Katz

It's over: The New York State Senate has voted to legalize gay marriage by a vote of 33 - 29 tonight.



After a session at times charged with heartbreak and at others with anger, Republican lawmakers voted to put the legalization of same-sex nuptials just over the 32-vote threshhold needed.



The bill will go to Gov. Cuomo, who's made it a top agenda item, for his signature. As supporters of the bill burst into applause, cheers and chants of "USA!" Cuomo himself strode onto the Senate floor.



During the discussion, watched on a Senate livestream by well over 46,000 people, State Sen. Tom Duane spoke of telling his parents that he was gay, and their fearful response that gays lived lonely lives subject to discrimination and even violence.



Duane, who is also HIV+, spoke of making the case for domestic partner benefits and protections against hate crimes as a City Councilman and a senator. He thanked Gov. Cuomo for his "incredible and truthful and strong leadership" on this issue. He also thanked Skelos.



"Marriage says that we are a family. Louis and I are a family," a sometimes-tearful Duane said, speaking of his longtime partner. "It provides security and peace of mind... Marriage recognizes that love and commitment."



State Sen. Mark Grisanti, who was targeted by Lady Gaga and other activists, took the floor -- and ended up receiving a major ovation -- to say he'd "struggled with this immensely... As a Catholic I was raised to believe that marriage was between a man and a woman... I'm also here [with] a background as an attorney."



He said that those who voted for him may question his integrity because of his vote to legalize marriage equality, but "I cannot legally come up with an argument against same-sex marriage," he said, adding that his research shows civil unions lead to chaos rather than true equality. "I believe that you can be wiser today than yesterday, if you do the work."



Under-indictment Brooklyn Sen. Carl Kruger, who voted against legalizing same-sex marriage last time it came up, said tonight's vote was not a big change in his position, but "a reaffirmation of what a family is." He said on behalf of his community, "the right and the freedoms that this Empire State has built its reputation on should live forever. I vote yes."



The religious exemption amendments applied to the bill passed by a vote of 36 - 26.



Sen. Steve Saland, one of the last GOP fence-sitters, spoke at length about the exemptions for religious organizations built into the legislation after much debate.



"What's important about this bill is that it contains a number of additions and a number of changes and very, very critically important is the presence of an inseverability clause at the conclusion of the bill." In particular, he said the exemptions were meant to protect religious or religiously affiliated groups, non-profits, etc. from civil or government actions.



He also noted the initial proposal said a clergyman or minister did not have to solemnize a marriage, and refusal to do so would not create a civil claim cause of action. Saland said protections would also extend to houses of worship by providing that state or local government could not penalize them for declining to perform gay weddings.



"I would really like to add on a personal note that I have as many people are aware, certainly struggled over this issue. It has been an extremely issue to deal with, coming from a rather traditional background and having been married for some 46 years," as well as coming from a family that preached tolerance and respect for others.



"My quandary was all the folks who wrote me all the thousands of letters (and) emails... They all asked me to do the right thing. I'm not sure I can do the right thing by all the proponents and opponents. My decision (is) going to disappoint (some)," he said. "I feel to do otherwise would fly in the face of my upbringing. I know my vote is a vote of conscience and I certainly am at peace with my vote... I feel that if my parents were here, they would tell me I would have done the right thing."



Saland declined to yield to Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr. on the religious exemption portion of the vote. Diaz, of course, has been one of the most fiery opponents of gay marriage throughout the debate, and suggested Saland's refusal to yield might be construed as Saland being "ashamed" of his vote.



"For the second time, we are trying to redefine marriage," said Diaz, who is also a minister.



"They are making the Republican party do what the Democrats failed to do when they were in the majority," he said, calling the GOP the party that "always protected traditional values" has become a "tool of the Democratic voters."



He and Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, who is presiding over the Senate, got into an procedural argument about the amount of time alotted to Diaz to speak. He similarly accused Duffy of being ashamed to allow further floor discussion of the bill. "I am proudly voting no," he concluded.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/06/ny-senate-votes-for-marriage-equality

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