Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, June 14, 2011
LGBTQITSLFA Marriage Equality Within Reach in NY
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 7:47 PM
NYT update here. Marriage equality just needs one more vote. If you're a Slogger who lives in New York, these are the wavering Senators that need to hear from you. If you live in their district, so much the better. If you grew up in their district and live in Seattle or someplace else now, call 'em anyway—and then call your relatives back at home and ask them to call.
Senator Gregory R. Ball of Putnam County (845) 279-3773
Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. of Suffolk County (516) 882-0630
Senator J. Kemp Hannon of Nassau County (516) 739-1700
Senator Andrew J. Lanza of Staten Island (718) 984-4073
Senator Betty Little of Glens Falls (518) 743-0968
Senator Mark Grisanti of Erie County (518) 455-3240
Senator Stephen M. Saland of Poughkeepsie (845) 463-0840
List via Towleroad.
3
Just wondering if any of the people at SLOG could talk about a gay wedding they've been to lately to put a human face on it.
Any recent engagements?
Any recent engagements?
4
Shows the difference a powerful governor makes. Can you picture what it would be like to have gay marriage in New York?
5
(By the way, I'm still somewhat upset at the Democrats and their ineptitude, because I got pretty excited last time around, and then they failed miserably. You fucking get the votes and then you fucking hold the vote. LBJ, people. LB fucking J.)
6
Also, for those who haven't noticed, Dan's "it gets better" Google Chrome ad has been playing on the top banner of the NYTimes website all day (at least for me). Good timing.
7
Done. I live in Buffalo (Erie County) and Sen. Mark Grisanti has said he is on the fence. I have sent him and email in the past as well. I'll be hitting up friends and family in the area to do the same!
8
@5
I disagree.
Even if you know that you will fail you still have the vote on the measure. Then you know who is on record as being for you and who is against you.
That's what happened in 2010. Based on the losing vote in 2009, several anti- marriage equality Democrats were thrown out in the 2010 Democratic primary after they were specifically targeted by LGBT groups.
And now, every Democrat except for one, is supportive of the measure.
And the Republican Senate leader is going to hold a vote, in large part because he's worried that the Republicans can lose the State Senate on just this one issue.
We would not be where we are today, in 2011, if there had not been that losing vote in 2009.
I disagree.
Even if you know that you will fail you still have the vote on the measure. Then you know who is on record as being for you and who is against you.
That's what happened in 2010. Based on the losing vote in 2009, several anti- marriage equality Democrats were thrown out in the 2010 Democratic primary after they were specifically targeted by LGBT groups.
And now, every Democrat except for one, is supportive of the measure.
And the Republican Senate leader is going to hold a vote, in large part because he's worried that the Republicans can lose the State Senate on just this one issue.
We would not be where we are today, in 2011, if there had not been that losing vote in 2009.
9
@5
Remember Harvey Milk. He lost 4 times before he actually got elected to office.
Also, change doesn't happened in a vacuum. Every civil rights victory was preceded by years of heartbreak and loses. Rather it be woman suffrage, racial equality or labor rights.
We are where we are due to decades of painful losses. But every time we lose, we gain supporters, since more and more people realize the pain that is caused by LGBT citizens being treated like 2nd class citizens.
Remember Harvey Milk. He lost 4 times before he actually got elected to office.
Also, change doesn't happened in a vacuum. Every civil rights victory was preceded by years of heartbreak and loses. Rather it be woman suffrage, racial equality or labor rights.
We are where we are due to decades of painful losses. But every time we lose, we gain supporters, since more and more people realize the pain that is caused by LGBT citizens being treated like 2nd class citizens.
10
It's time to have marriage equality in Washington.
In the next legislative session, the legislature must pass marriage equality.
If it does not, then Equal Rights Washington should go to the ballot with an initiative that creates marriage equality.
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If we do lose it will be close and we can then see how far we are from the goal post.
In the next legislative session, the legislature must pass marriage equality.
If it does not, then Equal Rights Washington should go to the ballot with an initiative that creates marriage equality.
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If we do lose it will be close and we can then see how far we are from the goal post.
11
@8: in 2010, three pro-equality senators got defeated and three anti-equality senators got defeated. If the terrain is different now, it is because we have a strong governor, not because the people rose up and threw out the bigots.
I don't know much about Harvey Milk, except that he outed Oliver Sipple, which seems like a dick move. Did he achieve some big legislative accomplishment that I'm unaware of?
Anyway there's obviously no harm in running for election when you might lose. The question is, do you bring a bill to the floor for a vote when you have either been out-maneuvered by your opponents or you simply don't know what will happen? I guess sometimes that's an effective strategy, but it's obviously risky. In 2009 the bill fell far short and showed just how few votes gay marriage could garner. The issue was dead until a new governor was inaugurated.
And by the way, my guess is that if gay marriage wins, it will be because a few Republican senators had their arms twisted by Bloomberg and Cuomo, not because they think it will help them win elections. So calling a snap vote now would almost certainly not work - they would just vote "no" and go home to an approving electorate. But by all means, don't bother to strategize, because Harvey Milk blah blah blah.
I don't know much about Harvey Milk, except that he outed Oliver Sipple, which seems like a dick move. Did he achieve some big legislative accomplishment that I'm unaware of?
Anyway there's obviously no harm in running for election when you might lose. The question is, do you bring a bill to the floor for a vote when you have either been out-maneuvered by your opponents or you simply don't know what will happen? I guess sometimes that's an effective strategy, but it's obviously risky. In 2009 the bill fell far short and showed just how few votes gay marriage could garner. The issue was dead until a new governor was inaugurated.
And by the way, my guess is that if gay marriage wins, it will be because a few Republican senators had their arms twisted by Bloomberg and Cuomo, not because they think it will help them win elections. So calling a snap vote now would almost certainly not work - they would just vote "no" and go home to an approving electorate. But by all means, don't bother to strategize, because Harvey Milk blah blah blah.
12
Leagal Love in the Northeast! Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire (my favorite). Come on New York!!
13
Gay weddings are just like straight weddings. Two overwhelmed, very happy human beings, up in front of their family and friends, committing to each other for life. It's wonderful.
15
I used to live in Hyde Park, NY so I called my old Senator, Steve Saland's office and told his staff to support Marriage Equality. Staff advised that he's reading the bill and has yet to make a decision.
16
This has become a national issue--people will be calling from around the country. Many senate staff are just logging for and against votes. I spoke to everyone on this list today. I urge everyone to call and support marriage equality.
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