Chuck Schumer Comes Out For Gay Marriage

[t0dd]

Now both U.S. Senators and the governor from NY support marriage equality..

From "The Daily Politics"

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/03/schumer-flips-on-gay-marriage.html

At a private risotto dinner last night with gay leaders and elected officials at Gramercy Tavern last night, Sen. Chuck Schumer reversed himself on the issue of same-sex marriage, saying he not only now supports it but also backs a full reversal of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Schumer's office confirmed the meeting and also the senior senator's change of heart, issuing the following statement from the Brooklyn Democrat (who is traveling upstate today):

"It’s time. Equality is something that has always been a hallmark of America and no group should be deprived of it. New York, which has always been at the forefront on issues of equality, is appropriately poised to take a lead on this issue."


It's hard to overstate the significance of this in the eyes of gay marriage advocates.

With the ascent of Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Hillary Clinton's vacant US Senate seat, Schumer was the last remaining statewide elected official who backed civil unions over full marriage equality.

(Recall that one of the first issues Gillibrand "evolved" on was marriage, although her office has insisted she always personally supported it).

Clinton's departure from the New York political stage arguably gave Schumer some breathing room on this issue.

Both Clinton and Schumer were under pressure from the gay community (which includes some very heavy-hitting political donors) to change their position from supporting civil unions to backing marriage, but they both refused to budge.

[imdjh]

1. I'm never really sure who he is, but good for him. Better late than never.

[ThomCat]

2. This can only mean that there are some rich LGBT donors

he's trying to hit up for money. Schumer certainly wouldn't be supporting anything because of purely ethical beliefs or nearly anything so ideal.

[bluedawg12]

3. That's pretty much how it works.

You donate enough, you get a plate at the table, you get heard, you rub elbows with power.

Well, at least there are wealthy gay Democratic donors.