New York governor to push bill legalizing same-sex marriage

[Forkboy]

ALBANY, N.Y. - Governor David A. Paterson of New York plans to introduce legislation this week to legalize same-sex marriage, reviving a bill that died in 2007 and still faces strong opposition despite a new Democratic majority in the state Senate.

Paterson, talking to reporters yesterday in Hempstead, N.Y., said "there is clearly a problem" when gays and lesbians in civil unions are denied 1,200 to 1,350 civil protections such as healthcare and pension rights because they are not married.

"The timing was always right. It's just who is willing to take that step, and I am," Paterson said. "I think it is, as other states are showing, the only ethical way to treat people who want to live together in peace under the civil law. So my general feeling about all these issues is the right ethical decision will inevitably be the right political decision."

In radio interviews last week Paterson said he believes it will eventually become law. But polls show legalizing gay marriage remains controversial in New York.

And some gay marriage advocates are worried that bringing the issue up in New York before there is clear support could set back efforts to legalize it.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/04/15/new_york_governor_to_push_bill_legalizing_same_sex_marriage/

[cali]

1. From what I've read, it will be very difficult to pass

this legislation in the NY Senate. I've heard a lot of speculation that Paterson is grandstanding and knows the prep work has not been done.

[Forkboy]

3. Well, I have no problems when people grandstand for the right cause.

But yes, from what I've heard (more than just this short article) it'll be very tough to pass. But I'd rather people tried to do the right thing and fail then not try at all because that failure might come to pass.

[cali]

6. Well, what I[ve heard comes from folks on VT's Freedom to Marry

Taskforce, who fear that the governor is a) grandstanding and b) getting rid of this hot potato in a non-election year so he won't have to deal with it next year. They feel that he's not doing the right thing. As one of them said, the VT legislature was responsive to taking direction from them about when to bring the marriage legislation up.

[Skittles]

2. good for him

I wish others would show his kind of courage instead of sticking with the same old homophobic civil union bullshit

[Forkboy]

4. It's damned old, but I see things starting to change quicker now.

I remember when Mass decided it was ok for gay people to marry and how many predicted the end of society as we know it. But what happened is that nothing happened. The world kept turning, and now it's barely even talked about here by anyone outside of those terminally against the concept. I think more and more states now see that this isn't the end of the world and that it won't cause mass rioting. :)

[Skittles]

5. I do see improvement

I still remember when interracial marriage was controversial and now that seems so ridiculous; I'm hoping gay marriage takes that path too