New York State Senator Tom Duane recently said he's received assurances of support from 32 senators on marriage equality, which is evidently making homophobic senator Ruben Diaz Sr. nervous.
The New York Daily News' Elizabeth Benjamin reports that Diaz Sr. has put out a press release demanding to know the cards Duane says he's holding:
"If Senator Tom Duane has the necessary Senate votes to pass thehomosexual marriage bill in New York State, then he should release the
names of those Senators who are supporting the bill. If not, he should
shut up. If any member of the State Senate is so ashamed to have their
names released or to release their own names for this or for any
pending legislation, then they clearly feel ashamed of their position. If any Senators are unwilling to release their names prior to
voting for the homosexual marriage bill, they are sending a clear
message to the gay community and to the whole State of New York that
these Senators are unwilling to let the public know and that they are
ashamed to be publicly associated with the gay community. Any Senator who commits himself or herself to something, should be
man or woman enough to take a stand and stand by his or her
convictions."
Replied Duane via a spokesman: "LOL".
The full release at NYDN.
A survey taken by NY1 and released late yesterday showed solid support from 20 senators, with 10 undecided, and 5 who wouldn't say. 27 were solid "no" votes. In late April, the Log Cabin Republicans reported that GOP leadership in the state would not pressure senators to make a vote one way or the other, allowing them to make a "conscience vote" on the issue.
