Paterson Sets Special Session in NY Senate for November 10;
Marriage Equality Bill on Agenda
New York Governor David Paterson has called the State Senate back to Albany for an extraordinary session on Tuesday, November 10, and the marriage equality bill is on the agenda.
The Empire State Pride Agenda released a statement this afternoon:
"Marriage equality has been an issue Governor Paterson has long championed and we are thrilled he has called the State Senate back to Albany next Tuesday and put the marriage equality bill on the agenda. We now expect that we will get the respectful debate and vote that we’ve been waiting for since June. There is never a wrong time or inconvenient time to debate human rights legislation because it’s always the right time. As long as a group of New Yorkers are being denied equal rights, addressing issues like marriage equality must always be a priority. Support for providing equal rights to LGBT New Yorkers has always been bipartisan, and we expect that this bill will be no different. We look forward to hearing our lives and our families debated on the Senate floor next Tuesday. It’s now time that each of the 62 State Senators vote their conscience on this bill that has great implications for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in all parts of the state."
Although Paterson has the power to set an agenda, he cannot make lawmakers act on it, and it remains unclear where the votes lie. The session begins at noon on Tuesday.
New Yorkers, the time to contact your senator is now. You can do so easily HERE.
Can it be voted on by the public and ripped away a month after? If so, don't fucking bother.
Posted by: Gridlock | Nov 5, 2009 7:44:07 PM
New York does not have a citizen-originated initiative/referendum process, no:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-159963982.html
Posted by: mcc | Nov 5, 2009 8:58:08 PM
Has Gov. Corzine or anyone else actually in the New Jersey government said anything publicly since the election about the possibility of marriage equality during the lame duck session?
Posted by: mcc | Nov 5, 2009 9:00:52 PM
I thought Corzine had - or there was speculation - but i can't find it now, so i guess not
Posted by: Jonny | Nov 5, 2009 11:24:00 PM
Alright New Yorkers - the rest of us are counting on you! Call your representatives and let's get this done!
END GAY APARTHEID NOW!!!!!
Posted by: Beef and Fur | Nov 5, 2009 11:57:00 PM
New York isn't a referendum state.
Good for New York.
Ever see what's euphemistically called a "voter information pamphlet" in California?
It is about the size of a phone book and contains enough legalese to make even a law student or congressional aide tremble with fear. And I'm supposed to believe that all the Joe the Plumber types are going to read through that and come to the most informed, wisest decision?
Somebody in Athens must have been high when they came up with this system of governance.
Posted by: John | Nov 6, 2009 3:21:40 AM
Great...if it passes. If not, Paterson will have, in desperation, trashed marriage equality in NY. I can't believe this guy is gonna run for a full term! I used to like him, but when your approval rating is between George W. Bush and H1N1, why stand in the way?
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | Nov 6, 2009 8:39:48 AM
We may not have a voter-referendum law as there are in other states, but you can be certain that if any marriage-equality legislation gets enacted in NY, the NOM bigots flock here. What we'll end up with is a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as "between one man and one woman". The LGBT community had better get ready for this fight because a victory by NOM in NY--more than California, Maine or any other state--would be the death blow for the marriage equality movement, if not the entire gay rights movement.
Posted by: mike | Nov 6, 2009 2:15:00 PM
Bring it on NOM! Love to get a chance to kick some ass. Try that shit in NYC and see what happens. Gloves are off people!
Posted by: Lucifer | Nov 7, 2009 8:17:54 PM
WAY TO GO NY! it's about time! No one has the right to tell someone who they can or can't marry. LEGALIZE
Posted by: Katy | Nov 9, 2009 12:02:32 AM