Love, always: Same-sex couples should have the right to marry in New York
On this Valentine’s Day — a day dedicated to love — chances are better than they have ever been that marriage equality will become law in New York state this year. But it is far from assured. A bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage was defeated in the Senate at the end of 2009. Andrew Cuomo made its passage a plank in his gubernatorial campaign platform. The new governor mentioned it in his first State of the State address in January. As recently as Wednesday, Cuomo reiterated his intention to pursue a vote in the state Legislature within the next few months. “We’ll be working very hard to pass it,” he told reporters after a speech at Hofstra University. The measure, perennially passed by the state Assembly, failed in the Senate by a 38-24 vote in December 2009. Every Republican senator voted no; they were joined by eight Democrats, who were then in the majority. Despite Cuomo’s support, the bill’s prospects this time around are even muddier. The Senate has flipped back to Republican control, and although Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos opposes legalizing same-sex marriage, he has said he would not block a vote on the legislation. Advocates for marriage equality have public opinion on their side. In late January, a Quinnipiac University poll found New York state voters support legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry by 56 percent to 37 percent. That was the highest approval margin ever for that poll, and represents an astonishing turnaround from 2004, when New Yorkers opposed gay marriage 55 percent to 37 percent. The tide may be turning as more people view same-sex marriage through the prism of civil rights. Civil marriage — and the 2,462 protections and responsibilities conferred by it — is a right that all other New Yorkers enjoy. Denying those protections to committed, loving gay couples because of their sexual orientation is increasingly seen as an injustice. It is important to make the distinction between civil marriage and religious marriage. Civil marriage does not require the blessing of any religious institution, and no religious institution would be required to perform gay marriages under legislation permitting civil same-sex marriage. Marriage binds loving couples. It’s time that extended to same-sex couples in New York. More: http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2011/02/lov_always_same-sex_couples_sh.html -- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
