NY Gay Marriage Bill Could Go to Vote Soon - NY Governor to Call Special Sessions for Hung Senate

New York Governor David Paterson ordered the state Senate into special session beginning Tuesday in an effort to end the struggle for power over the chamber. After a staged coup by Republican Senators two weeks ago, the New York Senate became "hung" when the GOP leader (a Democrat who originally joined the renegade Republican takeover) stepped down and left the chamber vote at a tied 31-31, an incomplete forum for passing bi-partisan legislation.

For LGBT citizens of New York, this could mean that the proposed gay marriage bill by Governor Paterson may go up for vote after all. When polled by NY1, a local news station, nearly two thirds of the Senators either did not respond or indicated that they did not support same sex marriage.

The Governor said he will make Senators stay in Albany indefinitely until they act.

According to the Associated Press, Patterson said "I will convene a special session every day until they do. That means Saturday, Sundays, that includes July 4. There will be no excuses and there will be no tolerance to noncompliance with this order."

The 2009 session ends today.

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NY Gay Marriage Bill Up for Vote: Senators Who Would Vote 'No'

Gay Marriage Rights are up for vote in New York!
(pictured left: NY Governor David Patterson)

New York Governor David Patterson introduced a gay marriage bill that would legalize same sex marriage in New York. On Tuesday, May 12, 2009 the bill passed an assembly vote of 82 to 52, moving the legislation to the NY State Senate.

In an interesting turn of events on Monday, June 8, Republicans staged a coup and seized power of the NY Senate. Some speculate Republicans are attempting to take seat in an effort to majority rule on upcoming legislation like the same sex marriage bill. Democratic Senators have only been seated for five months when the Republicans voted them out today, just two weeks short of a term.

A frustrated and angry Governor Patterson released a statement today in a live press conference regarding the Senate take-over:

"The actions taken on the senate floor today need to be exposed for what they are, an unnecessary distraction to government, dressed up in the cloak - falsely - of reform and good government," Paterson said in a statement.

"...I don’t care if I am the only one standing, but someone has got to stand up and say that this is wrong."


NY1, conducted a poll among all 62 New York State Senators recently on the legalization of same sex marriage. Below are the results, and they are astonishing!

This is a perfect opportunity to stand up and do something: write these Senators! Tell the ones who would vote 'Yes' - 'Thank you!'

Especially for those Senators who would vote 'No,' now is the time to make your voice heard. These Senators need to know what the people think! Urge them to vote FOR the legalization of same sex marriage in NY.

I've done an extensive amount of research FOR YOU to help make this process easier. Click the name of the Senator to send a personal email! THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO! You can also connect to those Senators who have a Facebook page listed. A download link for all Senators' email addresses is at the end of this blog entry.

Would vote "Yes" (Email All Supporters)

Eric Adams, D-Brooklyn: Email | Facebook
Neil Breslin, D-Delmar: Email
Martin Dilan, D-Brooklyn: Email | Facebook
Thomas Duane, D-Manhattan: Email
Pedro Espada, D-Bronx: Email
Craig Johnson, D-Nassau: Email
Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx/Westchester: Email
Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan: Email
Velmanette Montgomery, D-Brooklyn: Email
Suzi Oppenheimer, D-Westchester: Email | Facebook
Kevin Parker, D-Brookyn: Email
Bill Perkins, D-Manhattan: Email
Diane Savino, D-Staten Island/Brooklyn: Email
Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan/Bronx: Email | Facebook
Jose Serrano, D-Bronx/Manhattan: Email
Malcolm Smith, D-Queens: Email | Facebook
Daniel Squadron, D-Brooklyn/Manhattan: Email
Toby Ann Stavisky, D-Queens: Email | Facebook
Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Westchester: Email | Facebook
Antoine Thompson, D-Buffalo: Email

Would vote "No" (Email all NON-Supporters)

Darrel Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent: Email
John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse: Email | Facebook
Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx: Email | Facebook
Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna: Email
John Flanagan, R-Suffolk: Email
Charles Fuschillo, R-Nassau/Suffolk: Email
Martin Golden, R-Brooklyn: Email | Facebook
Joseph Griffo, R-Rome: Email
Shirley Huntley, D-Queens: Email | Facebook
Carl Kruger, D-Brooklyn: Email
Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island: Email
William Larkin, R-Cornwall: Email
Kenneth LaValle, R-Suffolk: Email
Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton: Email
Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury: Email | Facebook
Carl Marcellino, R-Nassau/Suffolk: Email
George Maziarz, R-Newfane: Email | Facebook
Michael Nozzolio, R-Seneca Falls: Email | Facebook
George Onorato, D-Queens: Email
Senator Onorato sent me a personal email explaining he believes marriage is between a man and a woman. Tell him you disagree!
Frank Padavan, R-Queens/Bronx/Nassau: Email
Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Amherst: Email
Joseph Robach, R-Greece: Email | Facebook
Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie: Email | Facebook
James Seward, R-Milford: Email
Dean Skelos, R-Nassau: Email
William Stachowski, D-Buffalo: Email | Facebook
Dale Volker, R-Depew: Email | Facebook
George Winner, R-Elmira: Email | Facebook
Catharine Young, R-Olean: Email | Facebook

Undecided (Email ALL Undecided Senators)

John Bonacic, R-Mt. Hope: Email | Facebook
Brian Foley, D-Suffolk: Email
Ruth Hassell-Thompson, D-Bronx/Westchester: Email
Owen Johnson, R-Suffolk: Email
Kemp Hannon, R-Nassau: Email
Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga: Email | Facebook
Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens: Email
John Sampson, D-Brooklyn: Email
David Valesky, D-Oneida: Email

Wouldn't Say (Email ALL Senators Who Wouldn't Say')

Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens: Email
James Alesi, R-East Rochester: Email | Facebook
Vincent Leibell, R-Westchester: Email
Thomas Morahan, R-Rockland: Email

Download ALL Senators' Email Addresses (Text File)

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Dick Cheney Announces 'Support' for Gay Marriage, But Only Half Ass

Former Vice President Dick Cheney spoke out at the National Press Club on Monday, announcing his support of gay marriage, but only on the state level.

"I think that freedom means freedom for everyone," replied the former V.P. "As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. Any kind of arrangement they wish. The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this, I don't support. I do believe that the historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis. ... But I don't have any problem with that. People ought to get a shot at that." [quote courtesy The Huffington Post]

Gee, thanks Cheney.  But, personally, I believe that basic human rights like marriage should not be considered on a state-by-state basis.  It only further alienates Americans in this union we call a country.  Are we Americans 1st or are we state residents first?  I'm confused.

I think I'm an American first - I just happen to reside in New York.  I can choose to live anywhere in America because I love the country and I have the basic right to move to any U.S. state as a citizen.  I should be afforded other basis human rights that my country affords me as a citizen of its union, like marriage.  If there's too much power put on the state level in terms of these rights...what's next?  States succeeding from the union?  I mean - come on already.  Thanks, Cheney, for HALF ASS standing up for your lesbian daughter.  I wonder how she'll feel if she gets married one day, but it's not recognized by other states that she visits or decides to move to....

Pushing these kinds of things back to the state is a total cop-out in my opinion, and it's a completely political thing to do.  Think about it:  if these decisions were made federally, then politicians would have to answer to the constituents who fund their programs - constituents who may disagree with politicians' decisions.  Legalizing same sex marriage on the federal level would piss off all those private sector investors who urge politicians to "move" bills through the hopper.

Legalizing marriage in Massachusetts is great.  But, not legalizing it in California only further alienates U.S. citizens as free peoples.  This divides our country; it does not bring us together.

On the other hand, I understand that some decisions should be on a state-by-state basis.  Giving ALL the power to the U.S. government would create a totalitarian structure, thus depleting democractic core values and principals.

Basic human rights, however...those should be a no-brainer for a country - these rights should be afforded to EVERY citizen of a country, not on a state-by-state basis.

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California Supreme Court Prop 8 Ruling Challenged, Cases to be Heard in U.S. District Court

On Tuesday, May 26, the California Supreme Court ruled six to one in favor of upholding Proposition 8, the state amendment that denied same sex couples the right to marry.  The initial passing of Prop 8 in November 2008 also revoked the 18,000 marriage licenses granted previously in California.  Although the Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, it ruled to recognize the 18,000 marriage licenses that were granted prior to the Supreme Court's decision.

Tuesday's decision caused an uproar when thousands took to the streets in major cities all across America to rally against Prop 8.  Organized by Robyn Tyler, a plaintiff in one of three cases filed against the State of California, the "Day of Decision" rally brought together congressional district leaders, LGBT rights organizations, members from LAMBDA Legal, LGBT citizens and straight allies to send a clear message that the fight for equality is not over.

Day of Decision rallies merely took a seat behind other breaking news in the media when President Obama nominated the first ever Latina to the U.S. Supreme Court the same day as California's ruling on Prop 8.

Tyler announced in a statement to Daily Queer News on May 27, 2009:

"No civil rights movement has ever lost.  Never.  We will win.  It’s not an “if” its a when.  Only we are going to have to fight like hell.  Shame on the California Supreme Court.  Six of them, except Justice Moreno, issued a cowardly decision based on one word...not amendment, not revision, but re-election.

I pledge that my wife Diane Olson and  I, and the 18,000 other couples who were married in the California prior to Nov. 5, 2009, will be part of a grassroots army of love warriors, and will never stop fighting until all of our rights are won, here in California, and on a Federal level for all of us in every State. Let us take our anger, and our passion to the streets, and never, ever get off. And if the National Democratic party does not, after 35 years of promises to our community, make sure we have full equal rights in this country, the gay divorce you are going to see is the gay communities divorce from the Democratic party.   We are a civil rights movement.  It’s time we acted like one."

The three cases filed against the State of California have now been elevated and are set to be heard federally in a U.S. District Court on July 2, 2009, sources say.

Stay up-to-date on all advances of marriage equality and LGBT rights issues by subscribing to Anything But Straight Blog.

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California Supreme Court Upholds Prop 8, Denies Same Sex Marriage

California Supreme Court announced its decision today to uphold Proposition 8, denying same sex marriage in the state.

All marriages held prior to the ruling will remain valid.

National protests are being held tonight (May 26).  For information on a rally in your city, visit www.dayofdecision.org.

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California Supreme Court to Decide on Prop 8 Tuesday May 26 @ 9 a.m. PST

Proposition 8, the California state bill that denied and revoked same sex marriage licenses, will go in front of the Supreme Court today at 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

The controversial bill has received millions of dollars in funding from right-wing conservatives leading up to the initial passing of the state constitutional ammendment during the 2008 November election.

While millions of people worldwide rejoiced at the election of President Barrack Obama, millions of others were shocked at the result of Proposition 8, especially in a seemingly liberal state like California.

Expect to watch live coverage of the Supreme Court's decision on CNN.

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Remembering Stonewall: 40 Years of Gay Pride

It's hard to believe, but 40 years have passed since the Stonewall riots in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City.

In June 1969, eight police officers entered the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street to "randomly" check IDs. One-by-one, the officers escorted gays, lesbians and drag queens out the door and into squad cars. At 1:10 a.m., the bar patrons fought back.

Apparently, one of the bar patrons uprooted a parking meter and wedged it against the door, trapping cops and agents inside. After wrecking the place, the police called in reinforcements.

Outside, someone had set a fire while the crowd grew in the small Greenwich Village streets.

For the next three days, queers of every suit, drag queens and allies stood outside Stonewall Inn, rioting, protesting and chanting "Gay Power".

The Stonewall Riots were the first time in history that the LGBT community stood up and fought back against an oppressive society. From this event, a new gay movement emerged where the gays finally had enough and demanded inclusion.

Year 2009 marks 40 years since the Stonewall Riots. The New York City Pride Parade on June 28 is sure to be the largest gay pride celebration of all time.

Today, the Stonewall Inn maintains its unique "dive" atmosphere in the Village; a place where gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders of all types meet for happy hour drinks, friendly games of pool and that "down home" feel only this establishment can afford. The Stonewall was recently rennoated and stands tall today.

I'm proud and happy to say that, as a new New York City resident, I found my way to the Village a few weeks ago and had a few drinks at Stonewall. It was both surreal and comforting all at once. The bartender was very friendly, as were my fellow barstool mates. Lesbians played a game of pool behind me, while I sipped on a Blue Moon on draft.

To commemorate 40 years of Pride, Bitchy Teez has designed a collector's edition T-shirt. Grab yours today and wear it with pride. Only $22 - order online now! http://www.cafepress.com/40years.386299235

Other 40 Years of Pride merchandise is available, too:

www.cafepress.com/40years

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