06/19/2007
Gay Marriage Bill Passes New York State Assembly Committee
By a vote of 16-5, Governor Eliot Spitzer's gay marriage bill was approved by the New York State Assembly's Judiciary Committee last night. All five opposed were Republicans.
The bill is undergoing an historic debate in the New York State Assembly as I write this post. If you can get an audio or video stream, you can listen here.
The NYT City Room notes: "It’s worth putting this in context. According to the Empire State Pride Agenda, only in California has legislation to pass same-sex marriage been passed by one or both houses of a state legislature. (Both the California senate and assembly did so, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill.) In Connecticut, a same-sex marriage bill passed a legislative committee but never made it to the floor. Massachusetts legalized gay marriage through a court decision rather than through legislation."
The Senate is where the bill faces its toughest challenge as a majority there remain staunchly against it. Republicans hold a two seat advantage.
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Posted 5:10 PM EST by Andy in Eliot Spitzer, Gay Marriage, New York, News | Permalink
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RE: "Massachusetts legalized gay marriage through a court decision rather than through legislation."
True enough...if you don't pay attention to anything that has happened since that court decision. But we shouldn't let our opponents get away with that characterization, much less friends or the media who haven't been following things closely enough.
Twice this year the 2 houses of the Massachusetts legislature sitting in joint session have voted in favor of the status quo -- legal same-sex marriage. The votes have been to 134 to 62 (January 2, 2007) and 151 to 45 (June 14, 2007).
Those are majorities of 68% and 77%!
Posted by: Bill | Jun 19, 2007 5:08:06 PM
As a frustrated resident of California, could we please switch Governors with the State of New York?
Arnie might actually like being Governor of New York. He has a lot of family in that area of the Country...
Posted by: Dave | Jun 19, 2007 5:08:07 PM
Jeez..I'd marry Eliot Spitzer ANY day!
Posted by: tom | Jun 19, 2007 5:31:07 PM
There goes New York City again, always having to play catch-up to the trendsetters in Boston....
Posted by: masshole | Jun 19, 2007 6:16:43 PM
^^^^ LOL seriously? I used to live in Boston, and it will always amuse me how insecure and inferior Bostonians tend to be towards NYC. I'll never understand it.
Posted by: Cory | Jun 19, 2007 6:24:00 PM
Benefits to same-sex couples in NY State with a "gay marriage" law would be good news, but I think before it wins approval it wlll be modified.
Posted by: Stephen | Jun 20, 2007 4:26:12 AM