Logo

FINALLY, the Governor of New York, David Paterson, is putting all his political capital behind the legislation to legalize Gay Marriage in New York. At a press conference in Manhattan, Gov. Paterson stressed his commitment to bring equal rights to all new yorkers while calling for an end to “a legal system that has systematically discriminated against all of them.” He added: “We have all known the wrath of discrimination, we have all felt the pain and insult of hatred. We stand to tell the world that we want equality for everyone. We stand to tell the world that we want marriage equality in New York State.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senator Thomas K. Duane, State Assemblyman Daniel J. O’Donnell, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn ( the previous three openly gay) and Representative José Serrano were by his side. Schumer, Gillibrand and Smith, all in favor of the legislation, were absent.


Mayor Bloomberg said that “tide is turning” on same-sex marriage and that while people with religious beliefs may differ in their views on marriage, “it is not the state’s place to define marriage in a way that excludes a segment of the population from the legal benefits associated with marriage, and that’s why I’m here today”.
Senator Daniel O’Donnell, who sponsored a previous bill to authorize same-sex marriage, noted that there were 85 votes in the Assembly for the 2007 bill and added with conviction “I was born in this state, I was raised in this state, I was educated in this state, I’m an elected official in this state, I pay taxes this state, I want a piece of paper from this government just like the rest of you.” Senator Thomas Duane vowed to carry the bill in the Senate and said “I absolutely look forward to standing with you governor, when you sign this wonderful piece of legislation into law.”
Opposition is already coming from State Senator Rubén Díaz, Jr., who is mounting a campaign to derail the approval of the legislation. Another sure foe is the new head of the New York Archdiocese, Timothy Dolan. They are on the loosing side of history.