Marriage Equality Wins in New York State

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by: Colorado Pols

Sofia Resnick writes for the American Independent news network:

“I cannot deny a person, a human being, a worker … people across this state … the same rights I have with my wife,” said New York Sen. Mark J. Grisanti (R-60th District) before declaring the 33rd “yes” vote the New York Senate needed to pass the Marriage Equality Act.

“I’m not here as just a Catholic,” Grisanti told his colleagues on the Senate floor Friday night, five days past the state’s original legislative-session deadline. “I’m also here as an attorney … I cannot legally [argue] against same-sex marriage.”

With Grisanti’s vote, the final tally was 33-29. Four Republican state senators joined 29 Democrats in their affirmative voting.

Thirty days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs the bill – which he promised to do Friday night, speaking at a press conference – all individuals of appropriate age and legal status will be able to marry in New York, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Nic Garcia of Out Front Colorado circles back with our own Rep. Mark Ferrandino for his thoughts–as you know, legislation recognizing civil unions in this state came within a hair’s breadth of passage this year, attracting some GOP support in the Colorado Senate and inspiring the same kind of after-the-fact soulsearching from other Republicans who voted no one more time. It’s important to note also that Colorado’s legislation didn’t modify the definition of “marriage” in the Colorado Constitution, so the bar is, at least in theory, even lower here.

“It disappoints me we weren’t able to do [civil unions] this year in Colorado,” Ferrandino said.

But there’s hope, he argues. The composition of New York’s legislature is nearly identical to Colorado’s. In both states one chamber is controlled by Democrats and another Republicans, by one seat. Moreover, Ferrandino points out, both states have pro-equality governors.

“Hopefully, this vote will give Republican House leadership more courage to make it happen here,” Ferrandino said. He said New York’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage will be conversation in Colorado’s GOP.

“It’s national news,” he said. “It will be conversation amongst supporters in the House. Hopefully it will provide more leverage to argue for a full floor vote.”

17 thoughts on “Marriage Equality Wins in New York State”

Ellie says:

June 26, 2011 at 4:55 pm

Maybe there’s hope for Colorado,yet.

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Say Hey Kid says:

June 26, 2011 at 6:36 pm

Get the latest news before the regular press has it.

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c rork says:

June 26, 2011 at 7:24 pm

Cuomo sheperded this bill, negotiated language and stood up for it in national media.

Hick was invisible on, well, everything.

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1. DavidThi808 says:
  
  June 26, 2011 at 8:19 pm
  
  And how will that impact his plan to be the VP candidate in ’16?
  
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  1. RedGreen says:
    
    June 26, 2011 at 9:44 pm
    
    and he issued statements of enthusiastic support. But compared to how hard Cuomo worked in New York, Hickenlooper was sitting back and watching.
    
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    1. Diogenesdemar says:
      
      June 27, 2011 at 12:29 am
      
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2. c rork says:
  
  June 26, 2011 at 9:21 pm
  
  on every single major issue that came up. Civil unions, school funding, ASSET; I could go on.
  
  In fact, his major achievement was to give political cover to the Republicans on a tax increase.
  
  I’m just glad he vetoed the S-CHIP fees bill so I could see there’s a (D) after his name.
  
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  1. Ignatius O'Reilly says:
    
    June 27, 2011 at 1:25 am
    
    hung the Senate Democrats out to dry by having them sign onto a cut in poor kids’ health insurance — and then vetoing the bill.(Senate Dems actually opposed the insurance cut, but supported it as part of a budget compromise).
    
    Hick does have principles, but the main one is making himself look good, even if he has to throw friends under the bus to do it.
    
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Ray Springfield says:

June 26, 2011 at 7:31 pm

…………

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1. Gray in the mountains says:
  
  June 26, 2011 at 8:04 pm
  
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DavidThi808 says:

June 26, 2011 at 8:22 pm

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raymond1 says:

June 26, 2011 at 9:41 pm

The composition of New York’s legislature is nearly identical to Colorado’s. In both states one chamber is controlled by Democrats and another Republicans, by one seat.

Huge difference: in the northeast and maybe the west coast, liberal Republicans haven’t been as fully banished from the party as they’ve been in virtually every other region. Name 4 Republicans in the state legislature who would be caught dead (a) voting for gay marriage (not just civil unions) and (b) saying something like this NY republican:

“I cannot deny a person, a human being, a worker … the same rights I have with my wife…. I’m also here as an attorney … I cannot legally [argue] against same-sex marriage.”

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BlueCat says:

June 26, 2011 at 10:22 pm

a great predictor of other states where R votes would be needed. NY was long home to the most famous of the old Republican liberals and still has districts where actual moderate Rs, moderate even by the old standards, are not only electable but preferred. Wouldn’t hold my breath for Colorado to follow suit any time soon.

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Diogenesdemar says:

June 27, 2011 at 1:00 am

been having a huge fight all weekend. She says I’m a big, insensitive dumbass; . . . but, maybe Republicans are right about gay unions ruining this marriage.

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1. Ralphie says:
  
  June 27, 2011 at 5:03 am
  
  those damned queers made you into a big, insensitive dumbass.
  
  No wonder we need to protect marriage. See what happens as soon as you let other people play?
  
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  1. Diogenesdemar says:
    
    June 27, 2011 at 6:39 am
    
    after this bill passes and I’m getting the unabridged version of all my trangressions back to the early-80’s.
    
    “This Was Your Life” isn’t nearly so entertaining when it’s narrated by an angry wife.
    
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    1. Ralphie says:
      
      June 27, 2011 at 7:47 pm
      
      and it doesn’t involve same-sex marriage.
      
      Diamonds.
      
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