The New York State Assembly has passed a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state by a vote of 89-52. The vote in 2007 was 85-61.
No date has been set for the Senate vote, which will be a much tougher battle than the Assembly. Congratulations to all, especially assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, for securing passage of the bill as he did two years ago.
Said Alan van Capelle of the Empire State Pride Agenda: "The only remaining barrier to ending second-class status for gay and
lesbian families in New York is now the State Senate. To every single member of the State Senate I say this: The
landscape has shifted in New York. Do you want to be on the right side
or the wrong side of history when the story is written about how
marriage equality came to New York? Your grandchildren will want to
know how you voted on this important human rights issue. This is a
legacy vote."
Senate foes of marriage equality, led by Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., will hold a rally outside Governor David Paterson's Manhattan offices on Sunday, joined by the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization. Said Diaz: "We are demonstrating to show our dissatisfaction with the governor and the bill."
